USA, VA: Strangeways Brewing opened in Richmond, Virginia

Strangeways Brewing unveiled its 8,400-square-foot brewery, by pouring its first beer on May, 29, richmondbizsense.com reported on May, 30.

Founder Neil Burton said the brewery has been about four years in the making.

“When something has been in the works that long, you can kind of keep your emotions in check,” Burton said. “But we’re excited to finally have the doors open.”

The brewery, which includes two tasting rooms, will operate from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 2 to 9 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. For now, Strangeways has two flagship beers on tap: Albino Monkey White Ale, and Woodbooger.

Burton said Strangeways will release a new brew within the next two weeks and a fourth one within the next month.

Burton said he plans to work with Old Dominion Mobile Canning, a startup portable canning operation, to get Strangeways in cans and on the shelves of more local retailers.

The brewery will eventually have an in-house bottling operation that will be able to churn out 22-ounce bottles, he said.

“Handling the packaging is almost like running another business,” Burton said. “That will be a few months down the line. Right now, we’re concentrating on drafts.”

Burton said Strangeways has two brewers, Mike Hiller and Chris Cawthon.

31 May, 2013