Draw Brewing News Today

After more than a year of legal and regulatory wrangling, KavaClub looks to finally be on its way to selling its namesake drink. 

It's the second local brewery this month to announce its pending closure, following Isley Brewing's exit from Scott's Addition.

“If the Commonwealth feels so strongly, they should be slamming shut every vape shop and every gas station (that’s selling kava and kratom),” Bryant said. “If it’s really a public health issue, that’s the response that should be happening.”

The ruling at Tuesday's hearing leaves KavaClub and founder Fred Bryant in continued regulatory limbo, which began shortly after it announced its plans to open at the beginning of the year and serve the psychoactive drink kava.

KavaClub, which will produce and serve a non-alcoholic and psychoactive drink, filed a motion in Richmond Circuit Court seeking a temporary injunction that would allow it to open for business at 1529 W. Main St.

Richmond is one of the best pure beer cities in the East--here's a complete guide to the more than 40 breweries in the RVA area.

KavaClub, Richmond’s first kava bar, was set to open in May. Then the Richmond City Health Department denied its permit.

Kava doesn’t contain alcohol, but it provides drinkers with feelings of mild euphoria and relaxation and has been used for centuries as a ceremonial and social drink.

“We were never able to get back the people that we had before COVID,” said owner Brad Cooper of pulling the plug after a four-year run.

Launched in 2018 as an offshoot of Chesterfield-based Steam Bell Beer Works, Canon & Draw struggled to return to its pre-pandemic levels, owner Brad Cooper said.