(Parkway Brewing Company takes the 2024 VirginiaCraft Beer Cup. Photo by Diane Catanzaro)
By Virginia Craft Brewers Guild Staff
Richmond, VA – The Virginia Craft Brewers Guild (VCBG) announced the 2024 Virginia Craft Beer Cup winners on July 22 at Farm Bureau Center in Doswell, VA. This year’s competition, managed by head Judge Charlie Harr, took place at Old Ox Brewery in Ashburn, Virginia. A record 128 breweries competed in this year’s competition, including 20 new participants. Brewers submitted up to four beers each, judged in 33 different categories. This year’s competition saw a record 473 beers entered.
“Every year, I am blown away at how great every brewery’s beers are, and this year is no different.
We are all extremely fortunate to be living in Virginia where Craft Brewers across the state continue to raise the bar, as evident in this competition. I personally am fortunate to be able to serve Virginia’s brewery community. Cheers to everyone involved.” said Charlie Harr, Head Judge.
The Virginia Craft Beer Cup continues to be the largest state competition of its kind in the United States. The VCBG is committed to allowing its members to compete, obtain critical feedback from certified judges, and get statewide recognition to help build their brands. The VCBG has developed additional media, retail marketing, and tourism opportunities for Cup winners, ranging from a Cup Winner Beer Trail to digital medals for labels and retail POS displays.
“The VCBG wishes to congratulate this year’s Virginia Craft Beer Cup competitors and winners,” said Brett Vassey, VCBG President & CEO. “The Cup competition continues to grow, and the quality of independent craft beer being judged is absolutely remarkable.”
The 2024 Virginia Craft Beer Cup winners are as follows:
BEST IN SHOW
First Place: Parkway Brewing Company, Billy Boys Scotch Ale
Second Place: Smartmouth Brewing Co, Safety Dance
Third Place: SuperFly Brewing Co, Midnight Train
ALTERNATIVE GRAIN(S) or SUGAR(S)
First Place: Harpers Ferry Brewing, Screaming Jenny
Second Place: Iron Pipe Alewerks, Bee’s Knees
Third Place: St George Brewing Company, Honey Meade Lager
AMBER ALES
First Place: Harpers Ferry Brewing, Cliffhanger
Second Place: Big Ugly Brewing, No Steam Ahead
Third Place: Black Hoof Brewing, Forest Edge Altbier
AMBER LAGERS
First Place: Bold Mariner Brewing Company, Frogman Lager
Second Place: Ornery Beer Company, Austrian Dreams
Third Place: Olde Salem Brewing Company, Man in the Box
AMERICAN LAGERS
First Place: Barley Naked Brewing Company, Light American Lager
Second Place: South Street Brewery, Cville Bilsner
Third Place: Hidden Wit Brewing Co, Lazy
Honorable Mentions: Twin Creeks Brewing, Lake Life Lager; Old House Brewing, Big Iron Lager
BELGIAN ALES
First Place: Port City Brewing Company, Optimal Wit
Second Place: Bald Top Brewing Company, Shine on Saison
Third Place: Lake Anne Brew House, Silver Line Saison
BRITISH BITTERS
First Place: Three Leg Run, Working An Angle
Second Place: Lake Anne Brew House, Lord Fairfax
Third Place: Selvedge Brewing, Houndstooth
BROWN ALE
First Place: The Thin Brew Line Brewing Company, Dirty Harry Brown Ale
Second Place: MoMac Brewing Company, Craney Island
Third Place: Heliotrope Brewing, Bob’s Paisley’s
CREAMS and BLONDES
First Place: Blue Mountain Brewery, Classic Lager
Second Place: Water’s End Brewery, Damn Beer
Third Place: Flying Ace Distillery and Brewery, Bloody Butcher Cream Ale
DARK EUROPEAN LAGERS
First Place: Ornery Beer Company, Dark Sapphire
Second Place: Starr Hill Brewery, Dark Biddings
Third Place: Harpers Ferry Brewing, My Dad’s Schwartz Shwartz
DOUBLE IPA
First Place: Patch Brewing Co, Bases Loaded
Second Place: Broken Window Brewing Company, The Tank
Third Place: Smartmouth Brewing Co, Notch 9
EUROPEAN SOUR
First Place: South Street Brewery, Slippery When Wit
Second Place: Strangeways Brewing, Uberlin
Third Place: Starr Hill Brewery, Stupid Sexy Flanders
FRUIT
First Place: Bike Lane Brewing, Kiki’s Carrito
Second Place: Barking Rose Brewing Co + Farm, Harvest Vinata
Third Place: Stable Craft, Punchbowl Social
GERMAN AND AMERICAN WHEAT
First Place: Patch Brewing Company, Home Run Hefe
Second Place: Brew Republic Bierwerks, Weizenbock
Third Place: Bingo Beer Company, River Day Wheat
HAZY IPA
First Place: The Virginia Beer Company, Insider Trading
Second Place: Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Hardywood The Cruelest Summer
Third Place: Billsburg Brewery, Tourist Trap
INTERNATIONAL LAGER
First Place: Heritage Brewing Company, Legado Premium
Second Place: Old Bust Head Brewing Company, Old Bust Head Mexican Lager
Third Place: Long Way Brewing, Alegria
IPA
First Place: Billsburg Brewery, Fly Away IPA
Second Place: Broken Window Brewing Company, Dank Williams
Third Place: Fair Winds Brewing Company, Howling Gale
IRISH & SCOTTISH ALES
First Place: Old House Brewing, The Red Ale
Second Place: Barley Naked Brewing Company, Rockhill Irish Red
Third Place: Studly Brewing Company, At the Wall
KÖLSCH/LEICHTBIER
First Place: St. George Brewing Co., Morning Dew
Second Place: Bear Chase Brewing Company, Kodiak Kolsch
Third Place: Fair Winds Brewing Co., Quayside Kolsch
Honorable Mention: Bunnyman Brewing, Kolsch
MIXED FERMENTATION
First Place: Great Valley Farm Brewery and Winery, Dark Saison
Second Place: Fine Creek Brewing Company, Dry Hopped Brett Saison
Third Place: Fine Creek Brewing Company, Wine Barrel Aged Brett Saison
MONASTIC ALE
First Place: Trouvaille Brewing Company, Hooked on Phenolics
Second Place: Capstan Brewing Company, Belgian Quad
Third Place: Fine Creek Brewing Company, Avec Frere 9
PALE ALES
First Place: Crazy Rooster Brewing Company, Perihellyan
Second Place: Big Lick Brewing Company, Star City Pale Ale
Third Place: Barley Naked Brewing Company, British Golden Ale
PALE EUROPEAN BITTER/PILSNER
First Place: Smartmouth Brewing Co, Safety Dance
Second Place: Great American Restaurants, Yellow Devil Pilsner
Third Place: Port City Brewing Co, Downright Pilsner
Honorable Mention: Big Ugly Brewing, Peak Lager
PALE EUROPEAN LAGERS
First Place: Decipher Brewing Company, Snowball’s Chance
Second Place: Patch Brewing Co, Goldensville Lager
Third Place: Eastern Divide Brewing Company, Eastern Divide Gold Export Lager
PORTERS
First Place: SuperFly Brewing Co, Midnight Train
Second Place: Lake Anne Brew House, Stand Up Paddle Porter
Third Place: Port City Brewing Company, Port City Porter
Honorable Mention: Old Ox Brewery, Black Ox Porter
SMOKE
First Place: Wildmandan Brewery, We are Pivo
Second Place: Big Lick Brewing Company, Fish Lips
SPECIALTY IPA
First Place: The Answer Brewpub, Dark Helmet
Second Place: Benchtop Brewing Company, Grimson Gaze
Third Place: Scuffle Hill Brewing Company, Major Redd
STOUTS
First Place: MoMac Brewing Company, P-Town Dry Irish Stout
Second Place: St. George Brewing Co, St. George Imperial Stout
Third Place: Trouvaille Brewing Company, Kit & Caboodle
STRONG ALE
First Place: Oozlefinch Beers & Blending/NOST Brewing Project, Reflections
Second Place: Heritage Brewing Co, Kings Mountain
Third Place: Brew Republic Bierwerks, Inception Imperial Stout
STRONG EUROPEAN LAGERS
First Place: Brew Republic Bierwerks, Eisbock
Second Place: Living Proof Beer Company, Postmaster General
Third Place: Parkway Brewing Company, Ravens Roost
VEGETABLE/SPICE
First Place: Blue Mountain Barrel House, Chocolate Coffee Dark Hallow 2023 X Variant
Second Place: Bunnyman Brewing, Conejitos Furiosos Spicy Mexican Lager
Third Place: Cedar Run Brewery, Ragnar’s Recipe
WOOD
First Place: Eavesdrop Brewery, Destined
Second Place: Vasen Brewing Company, Feast in the Forest
Third Place: Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Hardywood Cafe Coco Foolery
EXPERIMENTAL BEERS
First Place: Blue Mountain Barrel House, Cherry Sour Devil 2023 X Variant
