When I first wandered into Cooling Pond Brewery, I didn’t expect to become part of a beer story. I was just a local real estate agent looking for a friendly place to relax, catch a sunset, and sip something cold. But after swapping stories with owner/brewmaster John Pope and “quality-control testing” his latest creations, I found myself fascinated with the process—and, unintentionally, became a beer muse.

What do real estate and beer have in common? More than you might think. In both, it’s all about taste, style, and finding the right fit. A house has to feel like home, just as a beer has to feel like your beer. Some prefer bold and adventurous, while others want easygoing and familiar. And both go down a whole lot smoother when enjoyed on a sunny porch with friends. For me, it’s not unusual for a client relationship to turn into a friendship—sometimes sealed with a signed contract over a cold beer.

Cooling Pond takes its name from Lake Anna’s original role as the “cooling pond” for the nuclear power plant. Today, it cools something much more fun: people gathered together over pints, laughter, and lively debates about which beer pairs best with jet-skiing.

I’ve always had a soft spot for blonde ales, and thankfully, so does John. “Blondes have consistently been popular because of their middle-of-the-road reputation,” he says. “Cooling Pond has used that popularity to introduce our customers to the many faces of beer styles.”

Together, we’ve dreamed up a few new blondes that now have fan followings of their own:

Hard Working Blonde – A crisp, satisfying ale for anyone who’s clocked out but isn’t ready to slow down; JetSki Brigade Blonde – A Belgian-style blonde with clove and banana notes, made for weekends of waves and friendship at Cocktail Cove; and Dirty Blonde – The newest rebel, brewed with terpene hop extracts for a hint of blueberry and a “dank” twist that keeps things interesting.

Beyond the trio, Cooling Pond’s blondes include the Sandbar Blonde, the ultimate “boat beer,” and the New Bridge Blonde, which raises funds for the new EMS/Fire Station. Traditionalists can turn to Contrary Creek Gold, while those who stray from blondes will find lagers like the light LKA Pils, Razn Helles, Vienna Lager, and a crisp Kölsch.

No matter your style, there’s always a pint at Cooling Pond that feels like it was brewed just for you.

Tiffany Hazelwood

Tiffany Hazelwood has a degree in Journalism from the University of Richmond is a full-time Real Estate Broker with Lake Homes Realty, a lake-focused real estate firm, where she serves as the Anchor Agent for the Lake Anna market. She has been a licensed realtor since 2008 and has been specializing in real estate here at the lake since 2016. She has enjoyed writing the real estate section for the Lake Anna Breeze™ since 2019. In her spare time, Tiffany enjoys jet-skiing and boating on the lake, traveling with her husband, Tom, and time with their dogs.