GABF Virginia Winners

Two hundred and thirty-four U.S. Breweries took part in the Great American Beer Festival held in Denver, CO over the past three days. Virginia breweries had a great showing, as usual. Congratulations go out to Devils Backbone Brewing Company for being named the Mid-Size Brewing Company and Mid-Size Brewing Company Brewer of the Year. That's a testament to the hard work by the folks at Devils Backbone, who were awarded Small Brewpub and Small Brewpub Brewer of the Year in 2012, and Small Brewing Company and Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year in 2013.

Here are the Virginia breweries that went home with medals.

Mid-Size Brewing Company and Mid-Size Brewing Company Brewer of the Year

Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Outpost, Lexington, VA DB Brewery Team

Category: 3 American-Style Fruit Beer - 56 Entries

Gold: Raspberry Stout, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Richmond, VA

Category: 41 American-Style Dark Lager - 19 Entries

Silver: Old Virginia Dark, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Outpost, Lexington, VA

Category: 42 German-Style Schwarzbier - 37 Entries

Gold: Schwartz Bier, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Outpost, Lexington, VA 

Category: 43 Bock - 27 Entries

Silver: Turbo Cougar, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Outpost, Lexington, VA

Category: 56 American-Style Amber/Red Ale - 140 Entries

Silver: Amber Waves Ale, Capitol City Brewing Co., Arlington, VA

Category: 62 Irish-Style Red Ale - 60 Entries

Bronze: “Hydraulion” Red, Three Notch’d Brewing Co., Charlottesville, VA

Category: 67 German-Style Altbier - 33 Entries

Bronze: Alt Bier, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Basecamp, Roseland, VA

A complete list of GABF winners can be found here.

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.