Hardywood Park Craft Brewery Announces The Brewer & Artist Series
(Richmond,VA) – Hardywood Park Craft Brewery is set to release a new line of locally inspired beers. The Brewer & Artist Series pairs a Hardywood brewer with a local artist of their choosing. Together they collaborate on the concept behind the beer style and the art that will be displayed on the bottle. “We thought this would be a great opportunity to showcase some of the local talent in the Richmond arts scene and, at the same time, highlight some of our brewers as artists in their own right and offer some insight into the inspiration behind some of their creations” said Patrick Murtaugh, Co-Founder and Master Brewer at Hardywood. The first beer in this series will be available in mid April. Hardywood Walpurgisnacht, is a German style smoked Maibock. It will be a limited, brewery only release.
“As night falls on the 30th of April, people across Europe come together to revel around bonfires, dance, and be merry. Known in Germany as Walpurgisnacht, the festival commemorates the arrival of spring in a folklore-steeped celebration meant to ward off the last evil spirits of winter. Hardywood Walpurgisnacht takes cue from its namesake, welcoming spring with a traditional Maibock brewed with Pilsner, Munich, and Vienna malts that’s accentuated with a generous helping of beechwood-smoked malt, lending a mellow smoky character to this rich, deep-golden lager. The perfect accompaniment for combating the chill of an early spring night or for firing up the grill on those first warm days of the year.”
-Ken Rayher, Brewer
The label art is created by local artist and illustrator, Katie McBride. Her work spans a range of tones and themes – from whimsical, children’s book-style images of animals doing people things; to conceptual editorial illustration; to maps, infographics; and now, pretty metal-looking beer labels.She has also served as a co-chair of the Richmond Illustrators Club, and taught at The Visual Arts Center of Richmond for several years. She holds a B.F.A. from VCU, and also attended the Illustration Academy. More art at www.katiemcbride.com.
About the Brewery
Founded in 2011 by two lifelong friends with a passion for craft beer, Hardywood Park is proud to be a member of the thriving craft beer scene in Richmond, VA. Being environmentally and socially responsible is a core value for Hardywood Park, with all power sourced from renewable energy sources. Hardywood also employs high efficiency equipment which helps minimize water usage at the brewery, recycles its residual grain for composting and feed, uses 100% recycled packaging, uses reclaimed and sustainably “TreeCycled” wood for furniture, fixtures, tap handles and coasters. After three full years in business, Hardywood’s beers have earned the rating of the best brewery in Virginia by the users of Ratebeer.com, a 2014 Great American Beer Festival medal, a 2012 World Beer Cup medal, five Virginia Beer Cup medals, a 2013 Style Weekly Best in Show accolade, a 2013 Virginia Living Magazine Best of Virginia award, a perfect 100 score by Beer Advocate Magazine, and seven of its beers currently rank in the top 50 in the world for their respective style based on BeerAdvocate.com user reviews. The company was awarded the 2013 Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce Business Council Business of the Year Award for the City of Richmond. Hardywood currently distributes throughout the state of Virginia, Washington DC, and eastern Pennsylvania. To learn more about Hardywood Park, please visit us on the web at www.hardywood.com.
