Inside Ardent: Scaling Up, Innovation, and Community at Richmond’s Craft Beer Hub

Welcome back to The DC Beer Show, your hub for all things craft beer across DC, Maryland, and Virginia! This episode, we welcome Tasha Dixon from Ardent Craft Ales in Richmond, Virginia, for a lively conversation packed with brewing insights, local flavor, and community celebrations.

The show kicks off with the crew sharing what’s in their glasses—expect shout-outs to Trillium’s foeder-aged lager, Ardent’s Bohemian Pilsner and IPA 14, and a juicy Kolsch from Bearchase. 

Tasha dives into Ardent’s brewing philosophy, revealing the story behind their flagship IPA 14 (it’s all about that 14th, all-Citra batch!) and the magic of scaling up their canning operations with a lean, cross-trained team. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to juggle 12- and 16-ounce cans or wrangle small-batch innovation into a flagship core lineup, this behind-the-scenes peek is for you!

Get ready for some hop talk as Tasha explains the role of Yakima Chief’s Cryo Pop hops in Ardent’s vibrant “Pop!” pale ale, and dishes on tweaking recipes for maximum aroma on a budget. The episode takes a fun detour into cannabis-inspired brewing, with Tasha describing her forays into terpene beers—think Pineapple Express and Winner Winner. While there’s no THC or CBD involved (yet, Virginia law!), these botanic brews deliver big “wow” factor and bring curious crowds into the taproom.

The conversation also digs into the resilience and evolution of the Richmond beer scene. Tasha speaks candidly about recent brewery closures in the area, the pressures of leases, and the importance of community support—plus what makes Richmond’s Scott’s Addition neighborhood such a vibrant, collaborative hotspot for breweries, cideries, and distilleries.

With Pride Month upon us, Tasha shares how Ardent and their Scotts Addition neighbors are teaming up for a Pride Bar Crawl, with special releases (including a berry seltzer called “Berry Proud”), passports, and proceeds benefiting Richmond Habitat for Humanity’s Pride Build. Expect plenty of events throughout June and again for Virginia Pride in September, all designed to foster inclusion and celebration across the community.

As always, our hosts shout out coming events in DC and the broader DMV, including Womxn’s Brew Culture Club meetups at Denizens, a members-only beer share at Sovereign, and the Wheatland Spring Land Beer Fest (hello, Tre Fontane!). They also salute longtime Richmond beer fans—special birthday cheers to Frank Chang!—and encourage everyone to experience Richmond’s hospitality, food, and ever-evolving beer scene.

The episode wraps up with a heartfelt toast to closed and closing breweries, the promise of more openings ahead, and the enduring truth: Beer always helps. So grab your favorite brew and join us for another round with The DC Beer Show—where the spirit of craft, community, and creativity never stops flowing!

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