The checklist for your weekend afternoon brewery tour will soon get a little longer. Starr Hill Brewery, which started as a Charlottesville music hall in 1999 and has evolved into the largest craft beer-maker in Virginia, recently announced its plans to open a Richmond location in Scott’s Addition this summer. Known for its flagship brews like the Northern Lights pale ale and seasonal offerings like the Snow Blind doppelbock lager, Starr Hill distributes all over the state and has a second brewery and taproom in Roanoke.

According to general manager Allie Hochman, the company’s brewers, under the guidance of brew master Robbie O’Cain, will all work at the Starr Hill Beer Hall and Rooftop on a rotating basis. The brewery will have both classics and Richmond-specific beers on tap, including experimentations like oak-fermented beers and wild ales.

“We’re really excited to use this space to stretch our legs a little bit in brewing,” Hochman says. “We’re going to be primarily just focusing on brewing beer, because that’s what we do best.”

There won’t be a restaurant on-site, she says, but guests can expect to see food trucks on the premises. The brewery will share a building with Tazza Kitchen and Hochman says some sort of collaboration with the restaurant could be on the horizon. In homage to its origins as a music venue, the space will also include a small stage to showcase local musicians. Sports will play on the televisions and a projector, interactive activities like lawn games will be available and events will include things like beer dinners in collaboration with local restaurants, educational sessions with brewers and rooftop yoga sessions.

“We’re really focusing on customer experience,” Hochman says. “I think a lot of people think they know us because we’ve been around for 20 years this year, but I think we’ve got a few things up our sleeves.”

Construction on the Starr Hill Beer Hall and Rooftop has begun, and it’s expected to open late this summer.

Starr Hill Beer Hall and Rooftop
3406 W. Leigh St.
starrhill.com/richmond-beer-hall-rooftop