Jun 9, 2018
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery's founders Eric McKay and Patrick Murtaugh have known each other most of their lives. After sampling some homebrew on a farm in Australia the stage was set. After many years working in the craft beer industry, they were destined to open their own brewery. McKay became Richmond, Virginia's first Certified Cicerone and while attending brewing school Murtaugh found out his family's brewing history goes back several generations.
From the time they opened in 2011, Hardywood Park has strived to 'Brew With Purpose.' They implement that mantra in their recipes, employee and customer relations, brewing with local ingredients, and minimizing their impact on the environment. The brewery has grown to include three locations and expanded distribution offering a huge variety of styles and variants. Their sought-after Gingerbread Stout taught them about dealing with hordes of consumers and is still anticipated each year.
McKay and Murtaugh visited the Beer Guys Radio studios on their recent Atlanta market launch. We sampled several of their beers while talking about their history, brewery growth, keeping up with demand, future expansion plans, brewing for Broadway, Brian shares a terrible collaboration suggestion, and we invent the Candall™.
In the news, Brian gives us the scoop on ABInBev dirty tactics, NOFX acting foolish and getting the boot from beer sponsors, and Boston Beer Co.'s big fines in New York.
an Pilsner