Ardent Craft Ales

Popped in for a quick tasting. Tried the Honey Ginger and fell in love. Looking forward to going back for a flight.
It was pretty quiet for a Sunday, but it still seemed like we waited for the bartendress to stop looking at her phone to check on us. Also, this is the first brewery I’ve stopped at in a very, very long time that charged me for a sticker. Seriously? It’s advertising, that’s why everyone else gives them away for free.
So, for the above –2 stars.

Solid beer lineup. Rotating food trucks. Indoor seating and outdoor heated tent. Staff is cool. Fav beers: Earl Grey, Honey Ginger, Sweet Potato and Sage.

Went to revisit the old stomping grounds in RVA and stumbled upon Ardent – what a cool place. Secluded in an industrial area… outdoor tents with heaters… wood-​fired pizza truck (with awesome pizza… the Zinski is killer). It was the 100^th Batch party, so I had the Smash… a hoppy, golden elixir. The wife (not a huge beer-​fan) had the Earl Grey Brown Ale and loved it! Really cool, chill place (really helpful, friendly staff)…hip without being too «hipster»…

I’ve had nothing but good times and good beer at this place, and I’m not even a hardcore beer lover.
The ambiance is generally relaxed and casual. I’ve come here for group meetups and also brought a group of about 12 here for New Years Eve. Both times there was plenty of space as well as staff checking on us to see if we needed another drink. The Earl Grey Brown Ale release last weekend was the most crowded I’ve ever seen the place and I think that was mainly because it’s a release and it being a Saturday. I still got my beer in less than a ten minute wait with no issues.
I like that this place doesn’t care that you bring your own food. I called just to confirm for my NYE party and the response was «bring what you want, just no booze.»
The bartenders have always been super nice and helpful when I come in. As I mentioned, I’m not a beer lover and every time I’ve gone to order I’ve been offered a sample or a suggestion for something I’ll probably like. I’m into stouts and porters, and the imperial stout is smooth and delicious just as it should be. I was suggested the bourbon barrel aged imperial on NYE, and I picked up a bottle of the rum barrel aged imperial at the EG brown ale release on suggestion from another bartender. Both of these weren’t on the board, so don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Large brewery with some very well done beer. It has a huge seating area inside and I think an even bigger outside seating area. They do some nice barrel aging and had a pretty nice IPA on while we were there. Overall great place and I will likely visit again in the future. Pretty reasonable prices on their beer also.

Ardent is my newest favorite brewery in town. As Jamie D described, they have a friendly staff, great beers, and a great inside tasting room area and awesome outdoor patio for the summer.
On this visit we ordered a flight of light beers because that’s what my friends preferred. Luckily, it included my current favorite of theirs, the sweet potato and sage beer. Ardent has a great selection of beers with something to satisfy everyone without being an overwhelming amount to try. Love, love, love Ardent!!!

Pros: Excellent ambiance (best patio for breweries in RVA), cool single hopped IPA idea
Cons: No standout beer, worst service of any brewery in the area. I live close by, so I’ve given them probably close to 20 chances, but MY FRIENDS WON’T MEET ME HERE BC OF HOW RUDE THE STAFF IS. Unreal that so many people I know are put off by their service, I’ve had to leave the last 2 times without my card bc it took 30+ minutes to get attention outside. I was so upset by recent service that I emailed a national beer magazine that took a pic of me there and requested not to print it.
Isley is right around the corner, please support them bc their staff is a 180 vs here, & the beer quality isn’t even close

I enjoyed the beers in my flight but the food left much to be desired: 3 bland cheeses we had to unwrap ourselves, served with stale crostini for $ 8. The beers are too alcoholic to drink w/​o food, so opt for the food truck instead.
The Saison wasn’t very sour – Strangeways makes better sour beers. I enjoyed the Rye here the most.

This is my go-​to brewery in Richmond.
Their porter is a tasty brew.
Downsides: no parking.
Their beer is expensive.

seemed hipster cool… cold shoulder cool… ain’t got time for that cool… but the IPAs were solid. of all the brewery’s I visited in one day they were probably last place but still decent enough for 4 stars. There’s a malt/​spice in all their brews I’m not a fan of, maybe its the house yeast? or water? Good place, but not my cup of tea.

It took me a while to try Ardent brewery and I think it’s safe to say it could be one of my new favorite breweries in Richmond, even after my short visit! You may think it’s in a sketchy area, but Scott’s Addition is starting to get pretty sweet.
We got there right when it opened on a Friday and within half an hour there was a large crowd out on the large patio and inside. There was a BBQ tent that was a nice, delicious addition. I tried a flight and all of the beer was tasty! Since we came in October all of the beer was a little festive. Definitely give the sweet potato and sage a try! The Radler was real good, it tasted a little bit like sprite, it would be very refreshing in the summer!
Also, everyone working there gets an A+, they were super nice and helpful.

I’m not much of a beer drinker, but enjoyed the sweet potato and sage beer, as well as the porter. Great vibe as well, plenty of room outside and more private seating inside.

Best beer hang out in Richmond. This opinion is based both on atmosphere and the beer. The only negative is the lack of food though sometimes they have a food truck, but don’t let that stop you. They do let you bring pizza from close-​by establishments. First the scene. It’s in Scott’s Addition which itself has a funky vibe. But what really matters is the large outdoor patio with benches, picnic tables, and the feeling is festive and fun. Service is friendly and chill. Doggies and kids roam but its (usually) not a distraction. All ages, all types. Come in office clothes or shorts. It doesn’t matter. It’s Ardent. And the beer. Many styles and offerings. Robust, hoppy, and the unparalleled honey ginger. To quote an old beer commercial… «It don’t get no better’n this». Some places try to have too many infusions and sourcings and the descriptors, frankly, sound more like a perfume than a beer, (and don’t taste much better.) Here it’s the real deal. It’s just good solid beer served under the blue sky or the stars. Love this place.

Honey ginger seasonal is best \m/

Great new spot in Scott’s Addition. Good beer, great patio. A food truck is onsite to compliment the limited menu.

This is the best brewery in richmond hands down, especially if you like IPAs. It has a really cool outdoor area which is perfect for a nice summer or fall night. You can get little appetizers here but not really a main course. They do have food trucks occasionally. But seriously the beer here is all that matters, it’s awesome. Try the citra IPA.

Incredible Craft beers with an UBER helpful staff? Yes please. Great vibe, with a beer garden, where you can smoke a great cigar like an effing baller, while drinking aforementioned incredible beer? Yes please.
What a great place to hang with friends or bring co-​workers. What a great place to not like the over-​the-​top IPA hoppiness that tastes like necking with an over-​perfumer in high school. The wait staff will: A) Not judge and lead you to a maltier choice, (love their Robust Porter), as well as B) Turn you on to an IPA that you actually enjoyed because she SOLD IT with passion and urgent care!
Love this place and the vision of the owners.

Sat down at the bar and tried to order a beer. The bartender told me I needed to go wait in line to order a beer. At the bar. While I was sitting at the bar. Which is quite possibly the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever been told by a bar tender.
Someone should explain to Ardent how bars work.
In fairness, I’ve had their beers before and they are very good. But this absurd piece of performance art by the bartender is enough to earn them a one-​star rating in my book.

The staff at Blue Bee Cider had recommended we stop at this brewery, and had they not recommended it then it would not have been on my radar at all.
Most people who stop in Richmond for a brewery tour, most likely head to Hardywood. Hardywood is well known for their specialty beers like the Gingerbread Stout, however there’s almost so much thick gingerbread beer you can drink.
If you’re looking for a brewery that offers solid pours of the classics (ie. saison, IPAs, belgian browns, rye) this is your brewery. Everything Ardent pours is done right. I have toured breweries from San Diego to Colorado to Pennsylvania to here, and I have to say this is the most impressive local brewery around.
Do not underestimate the beer flights, they are generous. I split one between me and a friend although both of us are all of a combined height of like eight feet tall, we are serious beer drinkers and could not work our way through the flight.
I am absolutely in love with the sweet potato and sage autumn ale, which is a farmhouse saison. The Virginia Common is also a light ale/​lager that is easy to drink. The belgian brown has a great aroma and tastes like caramel. I loved the citrus IPA here and I don’t even like IPAs usually. Not to hoppy with a citrus/​flowery scent.
I love their huge heated lit up beer garden and the inside tap room is pretty cozy with long benches and tables and a pretty sizeable bar as well.
So Ardent has come a long way from being a garage operation to a pretty fantastic brewery in the course of four years. I can’t wait to stop by in the summer to check out the beer garden and try some honey ginger ale with the dog in tow.

It’s spelled Ardent. And it’s awesome yo.
Stopped here on a brewery tour of the neighborhood and it was among the favorites! The honey ginger and sweet potato/​sage were some of the craftier and delicious beers we’ve had. Would definitely return!