Virginia breweries were honored Monday during the 2017 Virginia Craft Beer Cup Awards — including many along the Shenandoah Beerwerks Trail.
Stable Craft Brewing was awarded second place, or silver, for its Britchin Brown Ale in the amber and brown American beer category during the cup, a first for the brewery.
“To even be mentioned, let alone medal, with the many great breweries and beer produced in Virginia, is a huge honor,” Stable Craft head brewer Christopher Fann said. “I couldn’t do this without the great brewing team we have in place and the opportunity and support the Nargis have given me over this past year. We strive day in and day out to make a quality product for people to enjoy, and I am incredibly thankful that the great beer judges rewarded us for all our hard work.”
The Virginia Craft Brewers Guild held the 2017 Virginia Craft Beer Cup Awards Ceremony Monday at WestRock in Richmond. There were more than 240 brewers in attendance to celebrate excellence in craft beer this year, a drop from 280 brewers in 2016, a release said.
The Virginia Craft Beer Cup competition was managed by master Beer Judge Certification Program judge Tom Cannon and 40 judges, the release said. The judging took place May 13 at Fair Winds Brewing Company in Lorton.
This year 356 beers in 24 categories were entered into the competition — a decrease in submitted beers from 2016, which totaled 378 beers.
The Virginia Craft Beer Cup continues to be the largest state competition of its kind in the U.S. the release said.
“The Virginia Craft Beer Cup recognizes brilliant independent craft beer and the creativity of the brewers that make it all happen,” said Brett Vassey, president & CEO, Virginia Craft Brewers Guild, in a release. “Congratulations to all the teams that competed in this year’s Cup.”
Last year, Redbeard Brewing Company was awarded bronze (third place) for its 221b Baker Brown in the old ale and wee heavy category.
In 2015, Redbeard and Seven Arrows Brewing Company walked away gold medals (first place). Seven Arrows for its Skyline Lager in the light lager category and Redbeard for its Pennyroyal Pale Ale under the American pale ale category.
Other winners along the Beerwerks Trail, which encompasses 13 breweries from Harrisonburg to Natural Bridge along Interstate 81, include:
- Pale Fire Brewing
- second for Skinny Dennis, a pale American beer
- second for Village Green, a strong American ale
- Three Notch’d Brewing
- second for Blackwall Porter, a Scottish and Irish ale
- second for No Veto Brown, a brown British ale
- Great Valley Farm Brewing
- first for Lemongrass Basil Saison, a spice, herb or vegetable beer
- third for GVFB stout, a dark British ale
For a complete list of winners, see the press release by the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild.
Source: Click here to read the original story by Laura Peters / News Leader.