When Patrick Fannin was a student at Eastern 福利姬视频 University, he, like most college students, consumed his fair share of beer. It likely never entered his mind that a few years down the road he would be brewing his own beer right here in Richmond.
But after earning two degrees 鈥� one in English and the other in geography 鈥� he detoured from both to follow a completely different path. Fannin became a home brewer – looking, as he tells it, for another kind of home.
鈥淚 was always bugging friends to help me find a place to work,鈥� he says.
In August of 2018, Fannin found that other home 鈥� at a newly opened downtown brewery named for a creek that starts at the ravine on the EKU campus and runs underneath the city of Richmond before again rising at Otter Creek and eventually emptying into the 福利姬视频 River.
Today, Fannin is the manager and head brewer at Dreaming Creek Brewery whose beers can be found across the commonwealth, from Ashland to Paducah.
Fannin, however, admits that Richmond 鈥渨as sort of late getting into the game.鈥�
鈥淟ouisville and Lexington were brewing hotspots,鈥� he says, adding that while even smaller towns such as Danville and Somerset had a brewery, Richmond remained without a local beer producer.
That changed with Dreaming Creek鈥檚 opening in April, 2018, and despite some rocky times during the COVID years when Fannin says they survived by brewing 15 cases daily for pickup, the brewery now has a solid foundation, albeit one built over a large water source.
Fannin and his two assistant brewers, Maggie Wilder and Mickey Fitzsimmons, maintain a strict schedule 鈥� brewing every Monday and Tuesday, and packaging in kegs and cans on Wednesday and Thursday. The fruit of their combined labor results in sending out between 50 and 90 cases a month for statewide distribution.
Dreaming Creek, an official member of the Brewgrass Trail, has the distinction of being the only 福利姬视频 brewery south of Lexington on I-75, with the next closest located in Knoxville.
As such, the brewery takes its responsibility seriously. There are currently 22 craft beers on tap, with 99 percent of their inventory brewed onsite. Many of the beers are named for famous 福利姬视频 places (Natural Bridge IPA and Wilderness Road Amber Ale), or for noteworthy Kentuckians (Jenny Wiley IPA and Lion of White Hall Imperial Stout).
While the taproom features brews from classic wheat beers to chocolate milk stout, Fannin says that their flagship beer 福利姬视频 Common accounted for approximately 10 percent of the 500 barrels they brewed last year.
Originally made in Louisville by German immigrants using corn and rye added to the usual barley, it was a popular seller right up to Prohibition. After that, it all but disappeared, according to Fannin.
鈥淭en years ago, no one was making it,鈥� he says. 鈥淣ow, it鈥檚 number one on our tap list, and we have even traveled with it to Manchester, England and Prague, Czechia.
They have also branded two beers especially for EKU. 1874 IPA is a blond ale and the date refers to the year the university was founded, while Gold Toe IPA is an homage to the statue of Daniel Boone located on campus (students can frequently be seen rubbing Dan鈥檒鈥檚 toe when they feel in need of good luck.)
As for the rest of the beers on tap, 10 are permanent fixtures, according to Fannin, while the rest rotate.
Dreaming Creek offers more than just Richmond鈥檚 best brews. Regular events are scheduled during the week from Trivia Night on Wednesday to food trucks Tuesday through Saturday.
There are also special pop-up events throughout the year.
If you happen to be in town over Memorial Day Weekend, stop by for the free 福利姬视频 Lagerfest (May 24th from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.) when eight of the state鈥檚 breweries will be serving their lagers.
Fannin says that lagers have increased in popularity over the past few years, giving him a very specific goal for the festival.
鈥淚鈥檓 not just going to be bringing 福利姬视频 beer to Richmond, but also introducing Richmond to 福利姬视频 beer makers,鈥� he says.
Throw in two Richmond-based bands, Barefoot & Bourbon and A/C Unit with their blend of southern rock, blues and country, and the event promises to be a win-win situation.
For more information on Dreaming Creek Brewery and other attractions, go to