Photo by Amanda Marable
Danny Wolf (left), brewmaster of Wild Wolf Brewing Co., shows Virginia Pride board members where Saisons of Love is made
This year, for the first time ever, Virginia Pride will have its own official beer. The honey pepper saison, Saisons of Love, will be released on Aug. 27 at a Babe’s of Carytown Pride pre-party event — just in time for PrideFest 2015 on Sept. 12 at Brown's Island.
Nellysford's WIld Wolf Brewing Co. was tapped to craft the brew, and Virginia Pride board members Ashe Cordle and Brian Reach, along with Richmond Business Association president Bary Hausrath, met with Danny (the brewmaster) and Mary Wolf (the brewery's owner), eventually settling on Egyptian basil, lemon verbena, lemongrass and grilled lemons as key ingredients. The blend will include citra hops to add even more citrus-forward notes to the session-able 5.5 percent ABV saison.
The Wolfs, who comprise one of the country's only mother-and-son brewery teams, are very excited to partner with Virginia Pride (and were involved in the festival last year), and hope to continue to release the beer in consecutive years.
“I love that they chose us to do the beer," Mary Wolf says over a cold one at the brewery. "We are thrilled that a saison was their choice for a base beer. We have good practice with saisons here at the brewery; their spice blend is phenomenal, very drinkable, a good flavor punch.” Wild Wolf Brewing Co. recently installed its own canning line and hopes to can the Virginia Pride Beer in 2016.
If you miss the Babe’s launch, the brewery will release a sister batch of Saisons of Love later this year.
