20 Great Dark Beers To Try In Virginia

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1. Black Me Stout, Champion Brewing Company

champion

324 6th St SE, Charlottesville, Virginia 22902
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Photo: Champion FB Page

This smooth, full-bodied nectar is a middle ground between a dry stout and an imperial stout. Made with wheat and chocolate malt for low bitterness and round mouthfeel.

2. Space Heater, Three Brothers Brewing

3broshomebody

800 North Main St., Harrisonburg, Virginia 22802
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Photo: Three Brothers FB Page

This winter warmer is a malty English ale complemented by a comforting spice-profile of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice. There’s no better way to warm the home than with good company and good beer.

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3. Woody Stout, Lost Rhino Brewing Co.

rhino

21730 Red Rum Dr. STE 147-157, Ashburn, Virginia 20147
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Photo: Lost Rhino FB Page

Woody Stout is a bourbon-barrel aged stout. This brew has a blend of spicy chocolate, vanilla, and the toasty aroma of coffee.

4. Oatmeal Stout, Forge Brew Works

forge

8532 Terminal Rd. Suite L, Lorton, Virginia 22079
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Photo: Forge FB Page

The Forge take on the British classic, they use extreme amounts of oatmeal to belie the lower ABV of this offering, in addition to chocolate and caramel malts along with the traditional Maris Otter base.

5. The Oxorcist, Old Ox Brewery

oxorcist

44652 Guilford Dr Suite 114, Ashburn, Virginia 20147
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Photo: Old Ox FB Page

This rich brown ale is filled with the aromas and flavors of the season. 100 pounds of pumpkin, innumerable boxes of graham crackers, and subtle spices create a glorious pumpkin pie-inspired ale. A sip or two will really turn your head…

6. Raspberry Stout, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

hardywood

2408-2410 Ownby Lane Richmond, VA, 23220
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Photo: Hardywood Park FB Page

Brewed with heaps of chocolate malt, cacao nibs, and local, late season red raspberries from Agriberry Farm, Hardywood Raspberry Stout captures the essence of a decadent raspberry truffle in liquid form. A beguiling ale, this stout’s enticing cocoa aromatics build to a flavorful crescendo of full bodied dark chocolate, subsiding with a pleasantly sweet, tart raspberry jam laced finish.

7. Round Hill Root Ale, Corcoran Brewing Co.

corcoran

205 Hirst Rd Suite 105, Purcellville, Virginia
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Photo: Corcoran FB Page

This is no soft drink for children! Ale brewed with malt, honey from Hamilton, cane sugar, very lightly hopped, and spiced with roots, wintergreen leaves, vanilla beans. Hops: Nugget, Liberty. Roots: Sarsaparilla, licorice, yucca, ginger.

8. Ibrik, O’Connor Brewing Co.

oconnor1

211 West 24th St, Norfolk, VA 23517
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Photo: O’Connor FB Page

Ibrik is an imperial stout named for the special pots used in the production of Turkish coffee. It brings together light roasted coffee with dark roasted malts to create a beer with a complex, malty palate. The use of freshly ground cardamom and Ceylon cinnamon draw further inspiration from Turkish coffee and create subtle spice notes that entwine with the rich character of this beer.

9. Unseasonable Stout, Center of the Universe Brewing

cotu

11293 Air Park Rd. Ashland, VA 23005
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Photo: untappd.com/user/maki188/checkin/144840972

This Imperial Stout is bursting with flavors of coffee, dark chocolate, and cherry. This beer clocks in at 9.5% and the hops can be felt from start to finish.

10. Orange Is The New Stout, Center of the Universe Brewing & O’Connor Brewing Co.

cotuoco

See Above | Photo: FB

Center of the Universe and O’Connor Brewing proudly present an imperial chocolate stout crafted with oranges and sea salt. Like a liquid chocolate truffle, its deep, rich flavors are sure to keep your spirits warm and bright all winter long.

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11. Homebody, Three Brothers Brewing

3broshomebody

800 North Main St., Harrisonburg, Virginia 22802
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Photo: Three Brothers FB Page

In the quiet cold of winter, this sour brown ale, aged on cherries and vanilla beans, is the only company you’ll need. After all, home is where the tart is.

12. Virginia Black Bear, Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery

lickinghole1

4100 Knolls Point Dr., Goochland, Virginia 23063
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Photo: Lickinghole Creek FB Page

Bold and aggressive best describe the Virginia Black Bear. Ten Specialty Grains comprise the backbone of the beer and high alpha American hops give the bear her teeth. Notes of dark chocolate and coffee abound. Used as the base beer for the Enlightened Despot, the Virginia Black Bear has escaped to wander where she wants. Beware the bear.

13. Vanilla Virginia Black Bear, Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery

lickinghole

4100 Knolls Point Dr., Goochland, Virginia 23063
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Photo: Lickinghole Creek FB Page

Vanilla Virginia Black Bear is the yang to Virginia Black Bear’s yin. Ten Vanilla Specialty Grains comprise the backbone of the bear and high alpha American hops give the bear his teeth. Notes of dark chocolate and coffee abound and fresh vanilla rounds out the flavor. Used as the base beer for Illuminatos, the Vanilla Virginia Black Bear has casually drifted to meander where he wants. Watch out, he hugs.

14. Chinquapin Chestnut Porter, Old Bust Head Brewing Company

bust1

7134 Lineweaver Rd, Warrenton, Virginia 20187
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Photo: Old Bust Head FB Page

Rich and full bodied, the Chinquapin Chestnut Porter is sure to please fans of more robust beer styles. Not content with just paying homage to the American Chestnut, or Chinquapin, by name, every batch of Chinquapin Chestnut Porter is made with a heaping portion of real chestnuts. Brewed together with a blend of dark malts, our porter has hints of cocoa, roasted malts, coffee, and, of course, hearty and sweet chestnuts.

15. TrailHead Nut Brown Ale, Soaring Ridge Craft Brewers

soaring

523 Shenandoah Ave. NW, Roanoke, Virginia 24016
Website | Facebook | Photo: Soaring Ridge FB Page

A hearty blend of two row barley, UK Crystal, and roasted barley give this beer a pleasant malty feel that is sweet on the palate. The hint of nut and chocolate, complimented by the English hops, makes this beer a smooth and balanced treat.

16. Gold Cup Russian Imperial Stout, Old Bust Head Brewing Company

bust2

7134 Lineweaver Rd, Warrenton, Virginia 20187
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Photo: Old Bust Head FB Page

Named for the golden chalice bestowed on the winner of the Virginia Gold Cup races—an antique cup first granted to horse and rider by Catherine the Great—this Russian Imperial Stout with its black, velvety, opulence is as rich and complex as the Czarina who was a fan of the dark brew. A dark-berry sweetness underlies roasted tones of bittersweet chocolate and espresso coating the mouth with a smooth, lingering, fullness worthy of the cup!

17. Beer Hound Brewery

hound

201 Waters Pl #102, Culpeper, VA 22701
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Photo: Beer Hound FB Page

Fang is an Oatmeal Stout that pours black with brown highlights. Fang features a creamy tan head and has the aroma of coffee, dark unsweetened chocolate, and biscuit. It has a flavor that bursts dark chocolate and lightly roasted coffee, tempered with a full mouth feel. Fang’s full-bodied chocolate character and smooth drink ability tames the “bite” of this wonderful ale.

18. Long Black Veil, Port City Brewing Company

port

3950 Wheeler Ave, Alexandria, VA 22304
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Photo: Port City FB Page

Long Black Veil a dark beer with a lot of (hop) character. Centennial and Magnum hops contribute citrus and floral aromas and an aggressive hop flavor. The Long Black Veil is jet black in color with a crema-like head. Port City uses generous amounts of dark malt for balance alongside the hop character. The complex flavor and textures lead to a satisfying and refreshing finish.

19. Hermenator Doppelbock, Seven Arrows Brewing Company

sevenarrows

2508 Jefferson Hwy. Suite 1, Waynesboro, Virginia 22980
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Photo: Seven Arrows FB Page

The Hermenator Doppelbock is an intensely malty beer. This beer has significant meladoidins that are accompanied by some toasty and chocolate flavors that are balanced by a light caramel backbone. The finish of the beer is extremely clean with slight sweetness on the finish.

20. Double Dizzy Russian Imperial, Double Dizzy Brewery

dizzy

Amelia Court House, Virginia 23002
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Photo: Double Dizzy FPage

A full bodied Russian Imperial with a nice malty finish. This beer will let you know you have something in your mouth. Coffee and Chocolate after notes.

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