Saturday at Red Dragon Brewery

Late Saturday afternoon we decided to stop by Red Dragon Brewery in Fredericksburg to try out some of their new beers. Red Dragon is constantly updating their taps with new releases, and we haven't visited in a while, so there was plenty to try.

Red Dragon serves no food, nor can they invite food trucks due to archaic and prohibitive Fredericksburg City regulations. We brought along some chips and guacamole to munch on while we enjoyed the beverages.

I was most interested in the small batch New England IPAs they were offering. The New England IPA seems to be the latest trend in craft beer of late. It's essentially a hazy IPA, with a creamy mouthfeel and tropical fruit flavors and aromas. The mimosa of the beer world perhaps? Some craft beer fans have labeled the style "an abomination," but if it tastes good, who am I to pass it by?

Red Dragon's New England IPA is In the Drink, and in addition to the core beer they were pouring two small batch versions this weekend. I started with the version made with the addition of "Idaho 7" hops. The beer had a full mouthfeel with flavors of pine and fruit. It had an interesting bitterness that might be described as "dank" but pleasant.

In The Drink w/ Idaho 7, Bard's Love 

Next I tried the version made with "Vic Secret" hops. The one had a much "juicier" flavor, with even more citrus notes. The same rich think mouthfeel was present. The two varieties were similar but at the same time noticeably different. Both were quite enjoyable, though I would have to pick the Vic Secret variety as my favorite of the two.

While I was "testing" the New England IPAs, Colleen enjoyed a Bard's Love hefeweizen. This beer has a prominent banana and clove aroma and the flavor to match, along with a rich wheat background. It was interesting to see the hefeweizen being to more clear beer of the two.

We were enjoying ourselves, and had no other plans, so we opted to stay for another round. I was also very interested in the Rose of Sharon Welsh Ale being served on cask. Colleen chose that one for herself, so for variety I selected the Here Be Dragons Gose. The Welsh Ale, or Bitter Ale, had sweet caramel and toffee notes. It quite good and I stole more than a couple sips from Colleen's glass. The Gose had a moderately intense tartness along with a refreshing tropical fruit flavor. I savored the refreshing drink for some time.

It was a very pleasant way to spend the afternoon. We enjoyed some excellent beers while we chatted and people watched. I get Untappd updates from the brewery frequently, and am often frustrated that scheduling prevents me from visiting as often as I'd like. Already, I'm being tempted by upcoming beer release events that have been posted. We are definitely looking forward to our next visit to enjoy even more new offerings.

Red Dragon Brewery and Cask Ale

I was excited to read that Red Dragon Brewery in Fredericksburg has added cask ale to their lineup. They acquired a traditional hand-pumped beer engine from a closed pub in the U.K. and tapped the first beer this weekend. Colleen and I stopped by after lunch on Saturday to try it out.

The beer being served from cask was Daffodil Welsh Ale, a 4.1% ABV English Bitter. The beer was an attractive golden yellow with a frothy pump-induced head. The flavor was moderately bitter with a touch of fruitiness. The hand-pump adds a softness to the mouthfeel that "normally" poured beers lack. We thoroughly enjoyed both the beer and the serving style.

The brewery had twelve beers on tap during this visit, in addition to the cask. That made my decision on a second beer all the more difficult. My love for hops finally won out, and I ordered a Sideways IPA. This is a double dry hopped IPA. The flavor is bold, full of juicy hops, and with a moderate 6.7% ABV.

The food available at Red Dragon is limited to snacks, mostly chips and caramel corn. On a prior visit some packaged food from a local caterer was available. Visitors are welcome, and encouraged, to bring along whatever food they wish to enjoy with the beer. Or you can just enjoy the beer.

We've visited Red Dragon on several occasions since they opened last summer. I've tried nine different beers from the brewery and have never been disappointed. The brewery offers a variety of styles, and the beers are solid and well-done. There were a number of interesting sounding beers on tap that I have yet to try, but our time was limited. I'm looking forward to going back soon.

Red Dragon Brewery Opening Planned For Summer

Fredericksburg will soon have another craft brewery. Red Dragon Brewery was granted a special use permit by the City Council on Tuesday.

A special use permit was required as the planned location is zoned for commercial/transitional office, which does not allow for a brewery. Most speakers at the hearing spoke in favor of the brewery, but one Council member voted in the negative. The permit approval places restrictions on the hours of operation and prohibits outdoor service.

Brewery owners Thomas Evans and Danial Baker plan an English-style pub at the location on Princess Anne Street. A July 2016 opening is anticipated.

Congratulations to Red Dragon on the progress so far. I look forward to visiting this Summer.

Future Home.
Photo from brewery's Facebook page.

You can follow the brewery progress on the Red Dragon Brewery Facebook page.

Red Dragon Brewery Kickstarter

There's another brewery in the works for Fredericksburg. Red Dragon Brewery has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help raise funds for their brewery project.

The Red Dragon Brewery gets its name from the red dragon which appears on the national flag of Wales, which has symbolized this Celtic nation for more than a millennium. The brewery is inspired by the owners' ancestral roots in Ireland, Scotland, England, and in particular, Wales. So, it is with pride in this heritage that the Red Dragon Brewery is committed to producing the very finest of craft beers.

The Red Dragon Brewery team, with your support, has decided to take it to the next level and share the Red Dragon Brewery with you. The brewery will sell beer directly to the public in an onsite taproom. The taproom will be a warm, welcoming place where customers can enjoy beer in a relaxing atmosphere. Beer will also be available in bottles and growlers “to-go”, along with other promotional items such as Red Dragon logo t-shirts and glassware. Tours of the brewery and beer samplings will also be offered.

The Red Dragon Brewery will initially offer you three different styles of beer for its flagship releases:

- St. David’s Stout
- Road Rash Red IPA
- Counting Fireflies Belgium Blonde

In addition, Red Dragon Brewery will produce many traditional styles as well as a variety of experimental beers, creating a different twist on traditional beer. At any given time, the brewery plans to have five to six different beers available on tap for your enjoyment in house or to go.

The folks behind Red Dragon have been brewing beer locally and planning their endeavor for several years. I have no affiliation with the brewery, and to my knowledge, have never met any of the guys involved, although we do have some mutual friends. I look forward to the opportunity to change that in the future and also try out their brews.

You can follow Red Dragon's progress at their Facebook page.