The World Beer Cup competition is held every two years. In this year's event, 8,234 beers representing 2,515 breweries were judged. Of the 302 medals awarded, five went to Virginia breweries.
Category: Irish-Style Red Ale
Gold Medal: Bald Irishman, Center of the Universe Brewing - Origin Beer Lab, Ashland, VA
Category: German-Style Altbier
Silver Medal: Alt Bier, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. – Basecamp, Roseland, VA
Category: Robust Porter
Silver Medal: Porter, Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA
Category: Session Beer
Silver Medal: Session Pale Ale, Center of the Universe Brewing, Ashland, VA
Category: Baltic-Style Porter
Bronze Medal: Danzig, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Outpost, Lexington, VA
The only one of these I have not had is Bald Irishman, from Center of the Universe's sister research and development brewery, Origin Beer Lab. With a name like that, it seems like my kind of beer. Since the beer is released annually for St. Patrick's Day, I may have to wait to try it out.
Congratulations to all the winners for keeping Virginia brewing on the world stage.
Showing posts with label Port City. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Port City. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Virginia Winners at GABF
The Great American Beer Festival was held this week in Denver, and as usual, Virginia breweries walked away with numerous awards. There are some familiar beers on this list, as well as some new beers we're just going to have to try.
Small Brewing Company and Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year
Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA Port City Brewing Team
Category: 8 Chili Beer - 79 Entries
Silver: Heir Apparent, Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery, Goochland, VA
Category: 22 American-Belgo-Style Ale - 71 Entries
Bronze: Salad Days American Saison, Pale Fire Brewing Co., Harrisonburg, VA
Category: 34 Bohemian-Style Pilsener - 62 Entries
Gold: Shower Beer, Champion Brewing Co., Charlottesville, VA
Category: 39 Vienna-Style Lager - 46 Entries
Gold: Vienna Lager, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Outpost, Lexington, VA
Category: 52 English-Style India Pale Ale - 42 Entries
Silver: Monumental IPA, Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA
Category: 61 English-Style Mild Ale - 40 Entries
Gold: Mild, Brothers Craft Brewing, Harrisonburg, VA
Category: 74 Belgian-Style Witbier - 82 Entries
Bronze: Optimal Wit, Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA
Category: 75 French- and Belgian-Style Saison - 132 Entries
Gold: Siren’s Lure, Fair Winds Brewing Co., Lorton, VA
Coincidently, Colleen enjoyed this one last week at Capital Ale House. I'll need to go back and order a pint for myself!
Category: 83 Robust Porter - 102 Entries
Silver: Porter, Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA
Congratulations to these fine Virginia breweries, and to all the brewers across the country who walked away with medals. We appreciate your hard work and dedication. View the complete awards list here.
Small Brewing Company and Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year
Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA Port City Brewing Team
Category: 8 Chili Beer - 79 Entries
Silver: Heir Apparent, Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery, Goochland, VA
Category: 22 American-Belgo-Style Ale - 71 Entries
Bronze: Salad Days American Saison, Pale Fire Brewing Co., Harrisonburg, VA
Category: 34 Bohemian-Style Pilsener - 62 Entries
Gold: Shower Beer, Champion Brewing Co., Charlottesville, VA
Category: 39 Vienna-Style Lager - 46 Entries
Gold: Vienna Lager, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Outpost, Lexington, VA
Category: 52 English-Style India Pale Ale - 42 Entries
Silver: Monumental IPA, Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA
Category: 61 English-Style Mild Ale - 40 Entries
Gold: Mild, Brothers Craft Brewing, Harrisonburg, VA
Category: 74 Belgian-Style Witbier - 82 Entries
Bronze: Optimal Wit, Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA
Category: 75 French- and Belgian-Style Saison - 132 Entries
Gold: Siren’s Lure, Fair Winds Brewing Co., Lorton, VA
Coincidently, Colleen enjoyed this one last week at Capital Ale House. I'll need to go back and order a pint for myself!
Category: 83 Robust Porter - 102 Entries
Silver: Porter, Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA
Congratulations to these fine Virginia breweries, and to all the brewers across the country who walked away with medals. We appreciate your hard work and dedication. View the complete awards list here.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Virginia Winners at GABF
The winners at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver were announced this weekend. Fourteen medals were awarded to Virginia breweries. That's up from the count of thirteen last year. In addition to the beer awards, Devils Backbone and brewer Jason Oliver were recognized as the Small Brewing Company and Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year.
2013 Great American Beer Festival Virginia Winners
Small Brewing Company and Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year
Devils Backbone Brewing Co - Basecamp, Roseland, VA Jason Oliver
Category 21: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer, 49 Entries
Bronze: Rum Barrel Belgian Dubbel Style Ale, Three Brothers Brewing, Harrisonburg, VA
Category 25: Aged Beer, 31 Entries
Bronze: COLOSSAL ONE, Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA
Category 27: Smoke Beer, 79 Entries
Bronze: COLOSSAL TWO, Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA
Category 28: American-Style or International-Style Pilsener, 29 Entries
(No Gold Medal Awarded)
Silver: Gold Leaf Lager, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. – Basecamp, Roseland, VA
Category 35: Vienna-Style Lager, 30 Entries
Silver: Oktoberfest, Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA
Category 36: German-Style Märzen, 51 Entries
Gold: Rhinofest, Lost Rhino Brewing Co., Ashburn, VA
Silver: Octoberfest, Great American Restaurants, Centreville, VA
Category 39: American-Style Dark Lager, 22 Entries
Gold: Old Virginia Dark, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. – Basecamp, Roseland, VA
Category 43: Baltic-Style Porter, 16 Entries
Bronze: Danzig, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. – Basecamp, Roseland, VA
Category 53: Imperial India Pale Ale, 149 Entries
Bronze: Notch 9 Double IPA, Smartmouth Brewing Co., Norfolk, VA
Category 56: English-Style Mild Ale, 35 Entries
Bronze: Ale of Fergus, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. – Basecamp, Roseland, VA
Category 65: German-Style Sour Ale, 46 Entries
Silver: Berliner Metro Weiss, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. – Basecamp, Roseland, VA
Category 68: Belgian-Style Witbier, 66 Entries
Gold: Optimal Wit, Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA
Category 70: Belgian- and French-Style Ale, 71 Entries
Gold: Azreal, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. – Outpost, Lexington, VA
I want to also recognize the lone winner from Maryland. Our friends at Flying Dog Brewery in Frederick, Maryland completed the local sweep in the German-style Märzen category (36) with a Bronze for Dogtoberfest.
Also recognized during the Denver event was Mekong Restaurant. The Richmond Vietnamese restaurant was recently selected as the best beer bar in America in the "Great American Beer Bar" voting sponsored by the Brewers Association.
Congratulations to all the breweries and brewers. You can find a complete listing of all the GABF awards here. There's a few Virginia beers on the winner list I have not had, so it's time to get to work!
2013 Great American Beer Festival Virginia Winners
Small Brewing Company and Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year
Devils Backbone Brewing Co - Basecamp, Roseland, VA Jason Oliver
Category 21: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer, 49 Entries
Bronze: Rum Barrel Belgian Dubbel Style Ale, Three Brothers Brewing, Harrisonburg, VA
Category 25: Aged Beer, 31 Entries
Bronze: COLOSSAL ONE, Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA
Category 27: Smoke Beer, 79 Entries
Bronze: COLOSSAL TWO, Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA
Category 28: American-Style or International-Style Pilsener, 29 Entries
(No Gold Medal Awarded)
Silver: Gold Leaf Lager, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. – Basecamp, Roseland, VA
Category 35: Vienna-Style Lager, 30 Entries
Silver: Oktoberfest, Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA
Category 36: German-Style Märzen, 51 Entries
Gold: Rhinofest, Lost Rhino Brewing Co., Ashburn, VA
Silver: Octoberfest, Great American Restaurants, Centreville, VA
Category 39: American-Style Dark Lager, 22 Entries
Gold: Old Virginia Dark, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. – Basecamp, Roseland, VA
Category 43: Baltic-Style Porter, 16 Entries
Bronze: Danzig, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. – Basecamp, Roseland, VA
Category 53: Imperial India Pale Ale, 149 Entries
Bronze: Notch 9 Double IPA, Smartmouth Brewing Co., Norfolk, VA
Category 56: English-Style Mild Ale, 35 Entries
Bronze: Ale of Fergus, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. – Basecamp, Roseland, VA
Category 65: German-Style Sour Ale, 46 Entries
Silver: Berliner Metro Weiss, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. – Basecamp, Roseland, VA
Category 68: Belgian-Style Witbier, 66 Entries
Gold: Optimal Wit, Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA
Category 70: Belgian- and French-Style Ale, 71 Entries
Gold: Azreal, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. – Outpost, Lexington, VA
I want to also recognize the lone winner from Maryland. Our friends at Flying Dog Brewery in Frederick, Maryland completed the local sweep in the German-style Märzen category (36) with a Bronze for Dogtoberfest.
Also recognized during the Denver event was Mekong Restaurant. The Richmond Vietnamese restaurant was recently selected as the best beer bar in America in the "Great American Beer Bar" voting sponsored by the Brewers Association.
Congratulations to all the breweries and brewers. You can find a complete listing of all the GABF awards here. There's a few Virginia beers on the winner list I have not had, so it's time to get to work!
Monday, July 22, 2013
WTOP Top 10 DC Area Breweries
The results of the WTOP listener voting for the Top 10 area breweries are in, and the results are very interesting:
Well done Jeremy and crew!
1. Port City Brewing (VA)I am not too surprised that Port City came out on top. Their beers are quite good and they've received numerous accolades the past couple of years. I was surprised to see BadWolf so far up the list, simply because they are a very young brewery. The brewery opened only a month ago, on June 19. In fact, due to VA ABC regulations they are temporarily closed.
2. Franklin's Restaurant, Brewery & General Store (MD)
3. BadWolf Brewing Company (VA)
4. Lost Rhino Brewing Company (VA)
5. Dogfish Head Brewery (DE)
6. Flying Dog Brewery (MD)
7. Mad Fox Brewing Company (VA)
8. DC Brau Brewing Company (DC)
9. 3 Stars Brewing Company (DC)
10. Sweetwater Tavern & Brewery (VA)
Well done Jeremy and crew!
An Afternoon of Beer & Food
On Saturday, we hosted the Beer and Food Tasting Event we had donated to our school's fundraising auction. Even though we've now put on this event for six years, the days leading up to it are filled with both anxiety and excited anticipation. Choosing just eight beers from the hundreds available is tough enough, but planning the accompanying food menu is a challenge too. The hardest part isn't picking what we're going to serve, it's narrowing it down! Even though planning, and beer shopping, starts weeks in advance, changes happen right up to the day of the event. But the work and stress all pays off when folks arrive and the fun begins.
We had eight people in for the tasting. Over the course of 4 hours we enjoyed eight different beers accompanied by eight different plates of food. I picked beers that showed the wide range of flavors available in craft beer, and purposefully selected beers that are easily found in the area. Colleen did an excellent job with the food. After deciding the type of food we wanted with each beer, she searched for recipes. One of the things that makes this exciting, is that she also uses this as an opportunity to try new recipes, so most of the recipes we've not had before. The menu pairings are based on our prior experiences with beer and food. With few exceptions, we don't repeat things we done previously. If I do say so myself, this menu was one of the best we've put together. All the combinations worked very well, and a few of the pairings were especially notable.
The two opening beers were chosen with a specific purpose in mind. Both beers are lagers, from the same brewery, both are equal in alcohol content, but the beers could hardly be more different. I wanted to address the false adage that dark beers are "heavy" and/or high in alcohol. Devils Backbone Schwartzbier is light bodied and very flavorful beer. One guest even commented before I made my pitch how she was expecting the beer to be heavy, and that she didn't usually like dark beer.
The Dogfish Head Fêstina Peche with Goat Cheese and Salmon Bites was a very popular serving. We'd never tried this combo, and in fact it's been a couple years since I drank this beer, but my memory of it was spot on. The sour, fruity beer stood up well to the strong flavors of the goat cheese and smoked salmon.
We served another grilled sandwich, this time a hearty, Salty-sweet Bacon Panini, with Great Divide Hercules Double IPA. I selected Hercules specifically for the shocking, strong flavor of the beer. One participant took a sip and immediately let out a "eeww"exclamation, so it worked. We all had a good laugh. The flavor of the beer held up well to the strong brie and bacon fillings.
The wrap up course of Flying Dog Horn Dog Barley Wine with Blue Cheese, Sugared Walnuts and Asian Brown-skinned Pears was a fitting, and surprisingly refreshing pairing. I selected a barley wine style ale specifically as a digestif. By this point in the feast everyone is quite full. Even though the beer is high in alcohol, it's a refreshing sipper especially in combination with the sugar-coated walnuts and fresh, juicy pears.
At the end of the afternoon even the more experienced craft beer drinkers in the crowd had a new appreciation and awareness of the variety available. And the one person who noted she really wasn't a beer drinker at the start, concluded that she actually does like it. It's just a matter of finding the right beer!
As good as the beers were, I have to admit that it's the tasty foods prepared by Colleen which make the event special. It's not just the beers that folks talk about, the tasty delights that Colleen prepares always impress. As one participant noted, "I liked the beer, but it was even better when I had the food with it." And that's why we do it.
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| Table ready for people, food and beer |
Vienna Lager
Devils Backbone Brewery, Roseland, Virginia
Vienna Lager (4.9% ABV)
Paired with Artichoke Dip and Tortilla Chips
Schwartz Bier
Devils Backbone Brewery, Roseland, Virginia
Schwartzbier (4.9% ABV)
Paired with Antipasto Platter
Port City Optimal Wit
Port City Brewing, Alexandria, Virginia
Belgian White Ale (5.0% ABV)
Paired with Peaches and Cream French Toast Casserole
Festina Pêche
Dogfish Head Brewery, Milton, Delaware
Berliner Weissbier (4.5% ABV)
Paired with Goat Cheese and Salmon Bites
Grateful Pale Ale
Star Hill Brewery, Crozet, Virginia
American Pale Ale (4.7% ABV)
Paired with Pork BBQ and Cornbread
Hercules Double IPA
Great Divide Brewing Company, Denver, Colorado
American Double/Imperial IPA (10% ABV)
Paired with Salty-Sweet Bacon Panini
Morning Glory Espresso Stout
Old Dominion Brewing Company, Dover, Delaware
American Double / Imperial Stout (9.0% ABV)
Paired with Chocolate Lava Cake
Horn Dog Barley Wine
Flying Dog Brewery, Frederick, Maryland
Barley Wine Style Ale (10.2% ABV)
Paired with Blue Cheese, Sugared Walnuts and Pears
The two opening beers were chosen with a specific purpose in mind. Both beers are lagers, from the same brewery, both are equal in alcohol content, but the beers could hardly be more different. I wanted to address the false adage that dark beers are "heavy" and/or high in alcohol. Devils Backbone Schwartzbier is light bodied and very flavorful beer. One guest even commented before I made my pitch how she was expecting the beer to be heavy, and that she didn't usually like dark beer.
The Dogfish Head Fêstina Peche with Goat Cheese and Salmon Bites was a very popular serving. We'd never tried this combo, and in fact it's been a couple years since I drank this beer, but my memory of it was spot on. The sour, fruity beer stood up well to the strong flavors of the goat cheese and smoked salmon.
We served another grilled sandwich, this time a hearty, Salty-sweet Bacon Panini, with Great Divide Hercules Double IPA. I selected Hercules specifically for the shocking, strong flavor of the beer. One participant took a sip and immediately let out a "eeww"exclamation, so it worked. We all had a good laugh. The flavor of the beer held up well to the strong brie and bacon fillings.
The wrap up course of Flying Dog Horn Dog Barley Wine with Blue Cheese, Sugared Walnuts and Asian Brown-skinned Pears was a fitting, and surprisingly refreshing pairing. I selected a barley wine style ale specifically as a digestif. By this point in the feast everyone is quite full. Even though the beer is high in alcohol, it's a refreshing sipper especially in combination with the sugar-coated walnuts and fresh, juicy pears.
At the end of the afternoon even the more experienced craft beer drinkers in the crowd had a new appreciation and awareness of the variety available. And the one person who noted she really wasn't a beer drinker at the start, concluded that she actually does like it. It's just a matter of finding the right beer!
As good as the beers were, I have to admit that it's the tasty foods prepared by Colleen which make the event special. It's not just the beers that folks talk about, the tasty delights that Colleen prepares always impress. As one participant noted, "I liked the beer, but it was even better when I had the food with it." And that's why we do it.
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| All done but the cleanup |
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Celebrating Epiphany
Sunday evening we marked the end of the Christmas season by hosting our annual Epiphany open house. It was a fun-filled evening with good friends, good food, good conversation, and of course good beer.
As she always does, Colleen loaded the dining room table with copious delights for the palate. Each year she makes a point to find some new dishes for the feast, and this year was no exception. Two dishes we deemed "keepers" will definitely be making return appearances soon. The Sausage and Pickled Onions, and a new version of Spicy Buffalo Wings, were definite hits. Our guests contributed many sweet desserts too. I wish I had remembered to take pictures of the table full of tasty treats.
This year I decided to focus the beer selection on Virginia breweries. Specifically, I picked out Devils Backbone Vienna Lager, Port City Optimal Wit, and Starr Hill Northern Lights IPA. With a few dozen other beers always available from the beer fridge, some non-Virginia beers also made appearances. For a friend who requested a "dark beer" I pulled out a few bottles of Dominion Oak Barrel Stout. Of course, we always have Sierra Nevada Celebration on hand this time of year. The wine flowed freely as well for guest who preferred a grape-based beverage.
The Lager from Devils Backbone seemed to be the most popular libation during the evening. I think I'll be picking up more this week. Look for a review soon.
Apparently there was a football game going on at the same time as the party so we were convinced to have the television tuned on (but no sound) during the evening. (I admit to being wholly indifferent to professional sports.) This did have the effect of spreading the crowd out a bit, instead of everyone congregating in the kitchen as is typical. The folks watching game thinned as the evening wore on though. A smaller hearty group gathered outside on the deck where the beer cooler was stationed.
This is, I believe, the ninth year we've been marking the Feast of the Epiphany with a grand celebration. The days leading up to the event are exhausting; the hours leading up to the event are stressful; and the recovery and cleanup afterwards is tiring. However, the chance to celebrate with friends is looked forward to with much anticipation. Although the conversations did include the current issues we face as Catholics and Americans, the good times and true hope that filled the evening overrode all that. I'm already looking forward to next year.
As she always does, Colleen loaded the dining room table with copious delights for the palate. Each year she makes a point to find some new dishes for the feast, and this year was no exception. Two dishes we deemed "keepers" will definitely be making return appearances soon. The Sausage and Pickled Onions, and a new version of Spicy Buffalo Wings, were definite hits. Our guests contributed many sweet desserts too. I wish I had remembered to take pictures of the table full of tasty treats.
This year I decided to focus the beer selection on Virginia breweries. Specifically, I picked out Devils Backbone Vienna Lager, Port City Optimal Wit, and Starr Hill Northern Lights IPA. With a few dozen other beers always available from the beer fridge, some non-Virginia beers also made appearances. For a friend who requested a "dark beer" I pulled out a few bottles of Dominion Oak Barrel Stout. Of course, we always have Sierra Nevada Celebration on hand this time of year. The wine flowed freely as well for guest who preferred a grape-based beverage.
The Lager from Devils Backbone seemed to be the most popular libation during the evening. I think I'll be picking up more this week. Look for a review soon.
Apparently there was a football game going on at the same time as the party so we were convinced to have the television tuned on (but no sound) during the evening. (I admit to being wholly indifferent to professional sports.) This did have the effect of spreading the crowd out a bit, instead of everyone congregating in the kitchen as is typical. The folks watching game thinned as the evening wore on though. A smaller hearty group gathered outside on the deck where the beer cooler was stationed.
This is, I believe, the ninth year we've been marking the Feast of the Epiphany with a grand celebration. The days leading up to the event are exhausting; the hours leading up to the event are stressful; and the recovery and cleanup afterwards is tiring. However, the chance to celebrate with friends is looked forward to with much anticipation. Although the conversations did include the current issues we face as Catholics and Americans, the good times and true hope that filled the evening overrode all that. I'm already looking forward to next year.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Virginia GABF Winners
Virginia Craft Brewers brought home a Lucky 13 awards from the Great American Beer Festival held this week in Denver, CO. The big winner was Devils Backbone which walked away with the Small Brewpub and Brewer title and 8 category medals.
2012 GABF VIRGINIA WINNERS
Small Brewpub and Small Brewpub Brewer of the Year
Devils Backbone Brewing Company - Basecamp, Roseland, VA
Devils Backbone Brewery Team
Individual Awards:
Category: 17 Gluten-Free Beer, 20 Entries
Gold: Nikki’s Gluten Free Honey Pale Ale, Rock Bottom Arlington, Arlington, VA
Category: 21 Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer, 51 Entries
Bronze: Local Species, Blue Mountain Barrel House, Arrington, VA
Category: 28 American-Style or International-Style Pilsener, 26 Entries
Bronze: Gold Leaf Lager, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Outpost, Lexington, VA
Category: 35 Vienna-Style Lager, 36 Entries
Gold: Vienna Lager, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Outpost, Lexington, VA
Category: 39 American-Style Dark Lager, 12 Entries
Silver: Old Virginia Dark, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Basecamp, Roseland, VA
Category: 41 Bock, 33 Entries
Silver: Elixer Maibock, Mad Fox Brewing Co., Falls Church, VA
Bronze: Turbo Cougar, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Outpost, Lexington, VA
Category: 43 Baltic-Style Porter, 31 Entries
Silver: Danzig, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Basecamp, Roseland, VA
Category: 48 English-Style India Pale Ale, 54 Entries
Bronze: Monumental IPA, Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA
Category: 65 German-Style Sour Ale, 29 Entries
Gold: Berliner Metro Weiss, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Basecamp, Roseland, VA
Category: 76 Classic Irish-Style Dry Stout, 16 Entries
Bronze: Ramsey’s Draft Stout, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Basecamp, Roseland, VA
Category: 77 Foreign-Style Stout, 25 Entries
Bronze: Ramsey’s Export Stout, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Basecamp, Roseland, VA
Congratulations to all the Virginia winners. It looks like there are a few more Virginia beers I need to search out. You can see the entire awards list here.
2012 GABF VIRGINIA WINNERS
Small Brewpub and Small Brewpub Brewer of the Year
Devils Backbone Brewing Company - Basecamp, Roseland, VA
Devils Backbone Brewery Team
Individual Awards:
Category: 17 Gluten-Free Beer, 20 Entries
Gold: Nikki’s Gluten Free Honey Pale Ale, Rock Bottom Arlington, Arlington, VA
Category: 21 Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer, 51 Entries
Bronze: Local Species, Blue Mountain Barrel House, Arrington, VA
Category: 28 American-Style or International-Style Pilsener, 26 Entries
Bronze: Gold Leaf Lager, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Outpost, Lexington, VA
Category: 35 Vienna-Style Lager, 36 Entries
Gold: Vienna Lager, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Outpost, Lexington, VA
Category: 39 American-Style Dark Lager, 12 Entries
Silver: Old Virginia Dark, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Basecamp, Roseland, VA
Category: 41 Bock, 33 Entries
Silver: Elixer Maibock, Mad Fox Brewing Co., Falls Church, VA
Bronze: Turbo Cougar, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Outpost, Lexington, VA
Category: 43 Baltic-Style Porter, 31 Entries
Silver: Danzig, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Basecamp, Roseland, VA
Category: 48 English-Style India Pale Ale, 54 Entries
Bronze: Monumental IPA, Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA
Category: 65 German-Style Sour Ale, 29 Entries
Gold: Berliner Metro Weiss, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Basecamp, Roseland, VA
Category: 76 Classic Irish-Style Dry Stout, 16 Entries
Bronze: Ramsey’s Draft Stout, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Basecamp, Roseland, VA
Category: 77 Foreign-Style Stout, 25 Entries
Bronze: Ramsey’s Export Stout, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Basecamp, Roseland, VA
Congratulations to all the Virginia winners. It looks like there are a few more Virginia beers I need to search out. You can see the entire awards list here.
Monday, August 27, 2012
VA Craft Brewers Cup Winners
The 1st Annual VA Craft Brewers’ Festival and VA Craft Brewers Cup was held at Devils Backbone Brewery in Nelson County, VA this past Saturday. I had a previous engagement so was unable to attend, but the event was by all counts a success.
The first VA Craft Brewer's Cup winners are listed below. Sadly, there are a few beers on this list I've not tried yet. That must be corrected soon!
2012 Virginia Craft Brewers Cup Winner (Best Overall Beer)
Devils Backbone Brewing Company: Schwarzbier
Pale Ale:
Gold: Port City Monumental IPA
Silver: Starr Hill Double Platinum
Bronze: Mad Fox English Summer Ale
Dark:
Gold: Capital City Oatmeal Stout
Silver: Hardywood Park Gingerbread Stout
Bronze: Port City Porter
Lager:
Gold: Devil’s Backbone Schwarzbier
Silver: Lost Rhino Rhinofest
Bronze: Starr Hill Festie
Belgian:
Gold: Wild Wolf Blonde Hunny
Silver: Devil’s Backbone Azrael
Bronze: Port City Optimal Wit
Specialty:
Gold: The River Brewing Co Farmhouse Heffeweizen
Silver: Lost Rhino Rye Wit
Bronze: Wild Wolf Ginger Lager
Congratulations to all the winners!
See the Virginia Craft Brewers Fest website for more information.
The first VA Craft Brewer's Cup winners are listed below. Sadly, there are a few beers on this list I've not tried yet. That must be corrected soon!
2012 Virginia Craft Brewers Cup Winner (Best Overall Beer)
Devils Backbone Brewing Company: Schwarzbier
Pale Ale:
Gold: Port City Monumental IPA
Silver: Starr Hill Double Platinum
Bronze: Mad Fox English Summer Ale
Dark:
Gold: Capital City Oatmeal Stout
Silver: Hardywood Park Gingerbread Stout
Bronze: Port City Porter
Lager:
Gold: Devil’s Backbone Schwarzbier
Silver: Lost Rhino Rhinofest
Bronze: Starr Hill Festie
Belgian:
Gold: Wild Wolf Blonde Hunny
Silver: Devil’s Backbone Azrael
Bronze: Port City Optimal Wit
Specialty:
Gold: The River Brewing Co Farmhouse Heffeweizen
Silver: Lost Rhino Rye Wit
Bronze: Wild Wolf Ginger Lager
Congratulations to all the winners!
See the Virginia Craft Brewers Fest website for more information.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Beer & Food Tasting, Round 2
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| Click menu to embiggen |
We hosted round two of our 2012 Beer & Food tasting extravaganza this weekend. Based on feedback from the first round, and availability of some menu items, we made just a few adjustments to the menu we presented in May. Colleen spent the days leading up to the event, planning and preparing the foods that were to be served with each course. Without a doubt, her cuisine is as big of a draw as the beer. Our son worked hard serving and clearing throughout the afternoon. For this gathering it was an all male guest list, and they each came with a big thirst and appetite. After a brief introduction to beer and food pairing, tasting procedures, glassware, and a prayer, we got down to the eating and drinking. I purposefully chose beers that are available year round, and brewed domestically. (Although one of the selected breweries is owned by a foreign company.)
The first two pairings, Starr Hill Jomo Lager with Artichoke Dip and Tortilla Chips, and Victory Prima Pils with Cheddar Bacon Bites were meant to be "appetizers." These beers are craft versions of beer styles that many folks are familiar with. Next up was the Port City Optimal Wit and a Peaches and Cream French Toast Casserole. This combo made quite an impression and Colleen promised to share the recipe with the men's wives. Next up was an old favorite of mine, and one that I've not enjoyed in a while, Heavy Seas Loose Cannon IPA. I have to admit that when I was shopping for a hoppy beer to serve with the spicy Buffalo Chicken Sliders, I selected the beer for me. As expected, the beer was a hit with the other men as well.
Halfway through the list of beers now, we took a short breather to chat about other things. This gave Colleen a chance to catch up in the kitchen as well. We had a very enjoyable non-beer conversation about travel, guns, and society, before diving back in.
The next selection of Oskar Blues Old Chub with Spicy Beef and Provolone Semolina Panini was another hit that was followed by requests for the recipe. The slow cooked beef was a variation of this recipe, prepared with a Brown Ale. The Scottish Ale was an unfamiliar style to some of the participants, but one they'll seek out again. Next we changed gears a bit and served Ommegang Hennepin Saison with Olivada and Mozzarella on French Bread Crostini. One of my favorite pairings, the rich olive and garlic flavors of the olivada go exceedingly well with the spices of the Saison.
Finally we moved on to the "dessert" segment of the feast. Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout paired with a bowl of rich vanilla ice cream and a few chunks of Sea Salt Soirée Dark Chocolate. The rich roasted espresso flavor of the stout served to accentuate the flavors of the ice cream and chocolate. Lastly we brought out Brooklyn Local 2 with Stilton Blue Cheese, Sugared Walnuts, and Red Pear wedges. The mixed plated offered both matched (sweet fruit and walnuts) and contrasting (cheese) flavors. This course served as a light and refreshing ending to the meal.
After about a four hour exploration of beer, we finished over coffee and more conversation. It's always a lot of work to prepare for such and event, and there's no little bit of stress from wanting to entertain well and provide a tasty and enjoyable representation of craft beer. But once it's over, it all seems worth it. It's extremely fun and folks always enjoy themselves. I consider the afternoon a success if our guests leave with a new appreciation of beer and food. And since this done as a benefit for our son's school, it's even better.
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| The aftermath |
Monday, July 9, 2012
When Life Gives You Lemons...
... make beer.
That certainly could be the motto of Port City Brewing. When last week's derecho knocked out their power, the Alexandria brewery had 13,000 gallons of beer fermenting, and no way to keep it cool. The company acquired a generator and saved the beer, but it turned out that one batch fermented a little warmer than planned.
California Common, or Steam Beer, is created by fermenting lager yeasts at warmer temperatures. The most commonly known beer in this style is Anchor Steam from the Anchor Brewing Company. The term "Steam Beer" is copyrighted by the California brewery so other beers in this style are referred to as "California Common."
See "Local beermaker brews derecho-inspired beverage" for more on Port City's handling of the storm.
That certainly could be the motto of Port City Brewing. When last week's derecho knocked out their power, the Alexandria brewery had 13,000 gallons of beer fermenting, and no way to keep it cool. The company acquired a generator and saved the beer, but it turned out that one batch fermented a little warmer than planned.
[Brewery founder Bill Butcher] says one batch of lager beer - roughly 120 kegs worth - fermented differently than the brewers originally intended.
"It turns out that there's actually a style of beer called 'California common beer' or 'steam beer' that is intentionally fermented this way, and so our lager beer will end up being a California common beer," Butcher says. "We're going to call it 'Derecho Common.'"
The beer will be available on draft only in the brewery's tasting room and in restaurants and bars around the D.C. area that were affected by the storm.
"From what we can tell, the beer is developing nicely, the flavors are going to be great, and we'll get it out in early August," Butcher says.
California Common, or Steam Beer, is created by fermenting lager yeasts at warmer temperatures. The most commonly known beer in this style is Anchor Steam from the Anchor Brewing Company. The term "Steam Beer" is copyrighted by the California brewery so other beers in this style are referred to as "California Common."
See "Local beermaker brews derecho-inspired beverage" for more on Port City's handling of the storm.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Beer and Food Tasting Event
This weekend we held the first of two beer and food tasting events we donated to benefit the school's fund raising activities. These tastings are always a lot of fun to do, and always a lot of work. Admittedly, I had the easier part. I selected the beers and did a lot of talking about them. Colleen spent the day before, and the morning of, cooking all the food to be served. She also worked in the kitchen to prepare the dishes for serving. Food serving, and clearing between each course, was handled deftly by our son.
I selected beers that were readily available in our area, and represented some of the variety of American Craft beer. Of course, there were many beers I could have included but we did want these folks to go home eventually!
Jomo Lager
Starr Hill Brewery, Crozet, Virginia
Amber Lager (4.6% ABV)
Paired with Artichoke Dip and Tortilla Chips
Prima Pils
Victory Brewing Company, Downingtown, Pennsylvania
German Pilsener (5.3% ABV)
Paired with Cheddar Bacon Bites
Port City Optimal Wit
Port City Brewing, Alexandria, Virginia
Belgian White Ale (5.0% ABV)
Paired with Peaches and Cream French Toast Casserole
Bell’s Pale Ale
Bell’s Brewing, Kalamazoo, Michigan
American Pale Ale (5.2% ABV)
Paired with Buffalo Chicken Sliders
Dale’s Old Chub
Oskar Blues Brewing, Longmont, Colorado
Scottish Strong Ale (8% ABV)
Paired with Spicy Beef and Provolone Ciabatta Panini
Flying Dog Wildeman
Flying Dog, Frederick, Maryland
Farmhouse IPA (7.5% ABV)
Paired with Olivada and Mozzarella on French Bread Crostini
Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
North Coast Brewing Company, Fort Bragg, California
Russian Imperial Stout (9.0% ABV)
Paired with Brownies and Ice Cream
Brooklyn Local 2
Brooklyn Brewery, Brooklyn, New York
Belgian Dark Ale (9.0% ABV)
Paired with Stilton Cheese, Sugared Walnuts, and Pears
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Port City Monumental IPA
Port City Monumental IPA is hazy copper in color. A hard pour creates a moderate, but persistent off-white head. The smell is mild, with caramel malt notes. The taste is rich in malt flavor and is slightly sweet. Some enjoyable citrus zest bitterness comes through at the end. The finish is clean with a short-lived aftertaste.
The IPA was the beer I was most looking forward to reviewing out of the Port City beers. It's a fine beer, but in my opinion, the least exciting of the bunch so far. I drank it on several occasions just to be sure of my thoughts. I enjoyed each bottle I opened and I wouldn't advise anyone against buying Monumental IPA, it's a fine, if average, example of the style. Of course, that statement should be tempered by my personal preferences for a little more "extreme" in my IPAs. I might pick it up again, but the Pale Ale and the Optimal Wit would be my first choices from the brewery.
The final beer from Port City is their Porter. I'll probably save that review for cooler weather.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Port City Optimal Wit
Port City Optimal Wit is unfiltered and pours a cloudy, straw color with a thin white head. The strong aroma is full of peppery spices. The flavor follows the distinctive aroma. There's a nice blend of spices; pepper, orange zest, cloves, with a small hint of lemon tartness. As it warms a bit a honey scent becomes more evident within the spicy nose. The beer is moderately effervescent, and retains these delicate bubbles to the end. It finishes clean with little aftertaste. The persistent thin head is a bit sticky and leaves lacing behind as you roll the glass.
Admittedly, the wit-style beers are not ones I often choose. However, immediately after pouring an Optimal Wit for Colleen, and stealing a sniff and a sip, I decided I needed to pour one for myself. Another well-done beer from Port City.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Port City Essential Pale Ale
The first Port City beer we tried is the Essential Pale Ale. The beer pours a marmalade-orange color, and slightly hazy. The head is white and thin, even with a hard pour. The foam, though thin is persistent. The aroma is somewhat fruity with a bready sweetness. The flavor is grainy, sweet malt with a background of mildly bitter citrus and pine notes. The malt flavors hold the forefront of the flavor profile, with just enough bitterness to keep the sweetness in check. The finish is dry, without any long-lingering aftertaste.
Port City Essential Pale Ale is well-balanced, and mild beer. I suspect this would make a good everyday beer, easily enjoyed by drinkers across the spectrum of beer preferences. I certainly enjoyed it.
Port City currently produces three other beers in additional to Essential Pale Ale; Monumental IPA, Optimal Wit, and Porter. I look forward to trying them out and will report my findings here.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
WaPo Beer Madness Winner, It's a Secret
The Annual Washington Post Beer Madness Competition has been held, and the winner selected. The Post asked five readers to join the panel of judges for this year's event. The group got together on two days and worked their way through 64 beers in a blind tasting. Interestingly the beers were placed into brackets based on four "flavor-driven categories."
Who won? They're not saying. Unlike the Brewing News National IPA Championship, where you make your predictions prior to the judging, in this event, readers make their predictions after the judging is complete. The Washington Post will dole out the results of the bracket eliminations over the next few weeks.
By the way, there where three Virginia beers entered in the competition; Starr Hill Amber Ale, Williamsburg Alewerks Tavern Ale and Port City Brewing Porter.
Malt: These beers derive their sweet, bready, biscuity, toasty and caramel flavors from the specialty grains.That's a unique way of grouping for judging, but one that I think mimics how many folks do categorize beers. It's also a design that will eventually pit hop-heavy beers against malt-rich flavors. Or session beers against high alcohol selections.
Fruit and spice: Special yeasts are largely responsible for the fruity, peppery and spicy flavors found in these freewheeling Belgian-inspired brews and German-style wheat beers.
Roast: Highly kilned grains give these mahogany-to-ebony-colored brews nuances of coffee, chocolate, licorice and roast.
Hops: The bitter brewing herb dominates these beers, yielding flavors described as citrusy, piny, resiny, herbal and floral.
Who won? They're not saying. Unlike the Brewing News National IPA Championship, where you make your predictions prior to the judging, in this event, readers make their predictions after the judging is complete. The Washington Post will dole out the results of the bracket eliminations over the next few weeks.
By the way, there where three Virginia beers entered in the competition; Starr Hill Amber Ale, Williamsburg Alewerks Tavern Ale and Port City Brewing Porter.
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