WILLIAMSBURG — When Alewerks Brewing Company first opened its doors in 2006, the Virginia craft beer scene was not nearly as robust as it is today.
At that time, there were just a handful of microbreweries scattered throughout the Commonwealth. The other challenge faced by Alewerks was being located in the same city as a massive Anheuser-Busch production facility.
However, over the last fifteen years, the “little brewery that could” claimed a steady foothold in the Virginia market with wildly popular core beers such as Weekend Lager, Chesapeake Pale Ale and and Superb IPA. They also made huge strides in beer innovation with adventurous seasonal brews such as Tangerine Wheat, Shortcake strawberry blonde ale, and the always in demand Pumpkin spiced ale.
As locally-brewed beer became more popular, so, too, did the Alewerks taproom. So popular that in 2017, it opened up a satellite taproom in the Williamsburg Premium Outlets, 5711-36 Richmond Road. The Little Auxiliary Brewery (L.A.B.) serves as both expanded retail space and a test kitchen for experimental brews. On Sunday, Sept. 26 the L.A.B. will release Alewerks first ever hard seltzer.
In order to celebrate a decade and a half of brewing, Alewerks will throw a party on Saturday, Sept. 25 from noon to 9 p.m. The celebration, also known as Jubilee XV, will be held at the main brewery, located at 189B Ewell Road.
It is a free event that will feature the release of five different beers, including four barrel aged variations of “Jubilee XV Belgian Dark Strong Ale” as well as “In Our DNA Kvass.”
For those looking to eat, FoodaTude food truck and Rocco’s Smokehouse Grill will be on site throughout the day.
Live music will start at noon with Richmond–based indie-electronic loop artist, Danny Jams takes the stage. At 4 p.m. the Brian Carmona and his band will perform a unique brand of blues rock with Latin, R&B and funk influences until 7 p.m.
