Draft beer before security runs dry? That’s Sam Adams at RIC.
Sam Adams Celebrates Richmond sits airside in Terminal 1 at Richmond International, and most locals treat it as the default bar once they clear security and see how few other options exist. It’s a bar-first setup: long counter, TVs, and a row of taps pouring Sam Adams plus a couple of regional or seasonal drafts. Expect airport pricing, with pints running roughly $9–$12 and basic appetizers in the $10–$15 range.
Food here plays second string. Reviews and photos skew heavily toward drafts and bar snacks rather than full entrées, and several flyers say they stick to one appetizer with their beer. Think wings, nachos, or a flatbread you can finish in 20–30 minutes, not a drawn‑out sit-down meal. If you actually want a real dinner at RIC, you’re usually better off eating in town before heading to the airport or grabbing something quick from another concession near your gate.
The bar turns into a holding pen during peak morning and evening banks, and especially during weather delays. TripAdvisor users mention it filling up fast, with noise levels jumping once two or three delayed departures dump passengers into the same small footprint. When that happens, it’s standing room only, and it can take 10+ minutes just to catch a server’s eye for a second round.
Regulars work around this by checking their gate number first, then doubling back here if they see a 30‑ to 60‑minute window. That keeps them close enough to hear boarding calls from nearby gates while they finish a single draft. They usually stop at one beer and one plate, especially given the prices, then grab water and head out when boarding hits Group 2 or 3.
Practical tip: If you land on a delay and Sam Adams is already two‑deep at the bar, skip the table waitlist and order a draft to‑go in a plastic cup; you can drink it in the main concourse while you hover closer to your gate.