Event | Hardywood Park Craft Brewery and Food Truck Court


Let’s just say Summer is officially here and it screams for patio parties and rooftop vibes. I’ve lately been on the hunt a little family time and found the perfect place to carve out a few minutes with good eats and cool drinks.

Hardywood Park Craft Brewery turned out to be the perfect place. Hardywood is a warehouse brewery, a taproom, and merchandising area. There are now 3 locations in the Virginian area. We stopped into the Richmond location for a post-holiday dinner. 

Their website states co-founders, Eric McKay and Patrick Murtaugh are inspired by a family history and connection to brewing. As someone that is still a newbie into the world of craft brewing, I was excited to try what they had to offer. It’s exciting to discover that there is a whole world of craft beers options that taste completely different from the mainstream American beer that I became acquainted with in my first years of adulthood.

A few quick notes about Hardywood:
  • Power is sourced from renewable energy. 
  • Use recycled packaging.
  • Use sustainable materials whenever possible.

The Drinks 

So what did we try?! We decided to start our outdoor Summer evening with a feel-good fruity flavor. So we opted to try one of their pilot series ales called MaMaw’s Mean Cobbler. This beer will have you adding “Y'all” to your vocabulary within minutes. Now I’m going to give you a description of this deliciousness!


We followed up with another refreshing fruity note. We chose to give Hardywood’s recently released Virginia Blackberry. Its debut was celebrated by the brewery on June 30th. Which of course is brewed with 3800 lbs. locally sourced blackberries from Agriberry Farm



Side Note (Henrico, VA): Agriberry Farms goodies are available at Dorey Farms Farmers Market 


So the rest of there drinks...

They carry their flagship bottled beers, canned ales, even a barrel series that encompasses a multitude of things all aged in barrels to impart unique flavors on their recipes. While chatting at the Warehouse Taproom, we did sample the Cuvee' Peach. It's a white wine barrel aged Belgian-aged golden ale. Beer from a white wine barrel?! So good!




What really tickled my fancy is their Virginian Roots Series! As a newbie transplant to the Richmond area, I really wanted to learn more about this series. It features flavors like Peach, Raspberry, Pumpkin and a host of other ingredients. This series also includes the Virginian Blackberry we guzzled earlier in the evening.












#BuyLocal

So where else can you can get your hands on their goods?

They're currently available at the local taproom and also carried in a few local grocers and restaurants. You can use their Beer Finder to scout out where it's available.
Once we’d finished our delectable treats, we stepped inside their Warehouse Taproom for a little bit more information about the company and a break from the high humidity tends to keeps the Summer nights temperatures warm after dark. I found out that they started Hardywood in 2011 and have been pretty award-winning since.



So, what exactly is at this location? It contains their warehouse brewery, a taproom, and merchandising area. Including all available beers in stock and hats, shirts, even pet stuff. While talking with the bartender, Hubby and I discovered that if you purchase a growler you can bring it back it to refill. Richmond has a serious craft brewing community and is home to 20+ local breweries. You can tell the support of each other is evident in their practices. Hardywood will fill another brewery's branded-growler for you as well, no problem. All in the name of serving you the customer, great craft beer sustainably. 







You can stop by the brewery between Tuesday and Thursday weekly and enjoy a plethora of options on tap, bottled and canned in the Gallery Taproom. You can even try their Francine's Lemonade if you're looking for something non-alcoholic. You can also enjoy free live music every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The event we attended at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery was located at 2408-2410 Ownby Lane. It was open from 4-9PM with Richmond Food Truck Court starting at 5PM!



Now, about the food truck court! Here is the line-up of nine featured vendors.

Slideways Mobile Bistro
Saucy's BBQ
BoDillaz
Arroz RVA
Taqueria Panchito**
Cheezilla's Grilled Cheese**
The Dog Wagon
Go Go Vegan Go
Gelati Celesti Ice Cream**
**MsNaturallyRandom Sampled


















This is much more than a grilled cheese truck! This is called the "Mighty Mac" and it is mighty indeed. This truck has so many options to try! Hubby and Pumpkin (my daughter) said that had no regrets for this selection. I'm currently doing Keto so I was only a jealous on-looker at the meaty cheezy masterpiece that sat across from me. *rolls eyes until I pass out* 


Taqueria Panchito 

We tried their Chorizo Taco and Chicken Taco. Both tacos came topped with cilantro and onions.  I generally do not like heavy cilantro but this wasn't overwhelming. It was what I've come to know as authentic AF and good. I think it's definitely good enough to warrant going to check out their brick and mortar location to test out more of their menu. I didn't dig into the corn tortillas #ThanksKeto but they we both soft and fresh in texture. I see a Barbacoa taco in my near future. 

Gelati Celesti Ice Cream
























I really enjoyed that the offered what they called "toddler" size cup that's smaller than their "small". Often times the serving sizes at ice cream places is always too much for me and I hate throwing food away. This was the perfect-sized dessert. Pumpkin tried the Strawberry and added sprinkles and I opted for the Salted Caramel. Both were really good. By the way, here's a little secret about me...I'm kinda' an ice cream snob. I'm super picky about my creamy sweet treats and Gelati Celesti definitely makes the cut! You can see more on my Instagram Story Highlights labeled RVA EVENTS!  As well as a total visual recap of the entire event. 

Do you want to check out Hardywood and the Richmond Food Court? 

You have two more opportunities to check out the food court and their seasonal craft beers! July 12 and July 19. You can find those dates line-up for local participating food trucks on their Facebook Page!





If you know of any other upcoming Eat & Sip local events, let me know!

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