USA, VA: Three Leg Run opens new brewery with more than just beer on the menu

With a name inspired by the odd gait of an old dog, the region’s newest brewer has debuted in Chester with more than just beer on the menu, the Richmond BizSense reported on March 31.

Three Leg Run opened last month at 4418 W. Hundred Road, offering beer, wine and mead made on-site.

The new spot is run by Chester locals and married couple Steve and Melissa Clayton, who leased the space in late 2020. The building had been vacant for years after being left empty by a seafood restaurant. Steve said it was tough sledding to get the space ready to house their brewery-winery-meadery combo.

“The buildout was torture,” Clayton said. “Once we got the ball finally rolling it was fine, but it took forever to start.”

The name Three Leg Run is a nod to both an old dog the Claytons had who always ran with one of his hind legs hovering off the ground, and the three types of alcohol they offer. Steve said he oversees the brewing and mead-making, while Melissa makes the wine.

In addition to bottles of its wine, Three Leg Run has 10 taps, with eight serving beer and two serving mead.

“The two that have been most popular are El Vikingo, which is our Mexican lager, and Paper Boy, our brown ale,” Clayton said. He added that they’re also currently pouring hibiscus ginger and peach meads.

Pints of beer at Three Leg Run are all $7, as are 12-ounce pours of mead. Its wine lineup includes a Moscato, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, which are all priced between $6 and $8.

With a two-barrel brewing system, Clayton said he doesn’t think he has the capacity yet to get into distribution.

“Who knows down the road with distribution,” he said. “But I do plan on having a limited amount of cans available for to-go sales here.”

The back of the 3,200-square-foot building also includes a small kitchen, where Clayton said they make standard brewery fare like soft pretzels, boneless chicken wings and pimento cheese dip.

Three Leg Run is the 45th brewery in the Richmond region, and second to open in Chesterfield County in recent months. In late December, Triple Crossing Beer opened its third taproom at Winterfield Crossing in Midlothian.

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