(The St. George Brewing Company revels in the moment of winning Best of Show.)
BY JEFF MAISEY
The St. George Brewing Company won the 14th Annual Virginia Craft Beer Cup when its Knight’s Respite was crowned Best of Show.
The statewide competition is presented by the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild.
In recent years, lagers have done exceptionally well in the Guild’s competition. That a wheat beer — hefeweizen — took home top honors this year is encouraging to St. George brewmaster Scott Batten. He hopes more people will explore the more traditional European beer styles.
“It’s pretty amazing because a wheat beer is not something that typically wins a competition,” Batten said. “It’s a beer I put a lot of work into so as to make it so someone in Germany would really want to drink it. The fact that a hefeweizen won Best of Show it really makes you realize that no matter what beer you’re making if you make it as well as you possibly can you have a really good shot at being recognized for it.”
Batten knows a thing or two about German beers — he spend time in the country known for a variety of beer styles including witbier, helles, marzen, bock, dunkel, kolsch, pilsner, and lager.
“I moved over there in 1991,” Batten explained. “I was 19 at the time so it was actually pretty nice because in German you were above the legal drinking age.”
Batten noticed how beers brewed within Germany varied in style and flavor region by region.
“Even town by town,” he said, stressing the great variety and distinctions.
“It broadened my palate where I understood there were a lot more types beyond a Budweiser and Coors Light.”
Batten’s first experience drinking a hefeweizen when ironically a group of visiting Americans suggest he try one. He was taken aback by the cloudiness of the liquid and the “fruity taste,” as he described.
Hefeweizens are known characteristically for their hazy appearance, use of yeast-driven flavors, high wheat content, and smooth, creamy texture. Many have a noticeable clove and ripe banana taste.
So what makes St. George Brewing Company’s Knight’s Respite such a good version of a hefeweizen?
“I wanted to make it as close to a German-style hefeweizen as I could,” Batten shared. “Depending on the brewer in Germany, some can be more banana forward or clove forward. I like a (wheat) beer that’s a balance of both so you get the banana and the clove. I wanted to bring that out.
“You really have to pay attention during the fermentation process to make sure you don’t go too heavy on one or the other. If you go too high a temperature you’ll get more of one flavor.”
The temperature variation is actually small — 72 degrees verses 68 degrees — but makes a really difference in the final outcome, according to Batten.
This year breweries competed for medals in 31 beer style categories.
The Virginia Craft Beer Cup continues to be the largest state competition of its kind in the United States.
“This year’s entries showcased an impressive range of styles and technical skill. Virginia brewers continue to push boundaries while maintaining exceptional quality—judging these beers was both a challenge and a privilege,” said Charlie Harr, head judge.
New for 2025 was an on-site tasting competition featuring firkin beers. Brewers and staff present tasted and voted for their favorite. Oak-Aged Germanna by Patch Brewing Company was the winner.
Also new was a category dubbed Virginia Brewer of the Year recognizing the brewery that performed the best overall across all categories. That trophy went to Caiseal Beer & Spirits Co., which is housed within The Vanguard Brewpub & Distillery in Hampton.
The competition ceremony and event, which include an industry marketplace for vendors, was packaged and branded as Virginia Craft Beer Summit & Gala.
Brett Vassey, Virginia Craft Brewers Guild President & CEO, shared this: “The inaugural Virginia Craft Beer Summit & Gala is a powerful reminder of how breweries differentiate their products in the market so that consumers can better appreciate independent craft beer and why it matters. We’re proud to honor the breweries that continue to elevate the industry and inspire craft beer lovers across the Commonwealth.”
The 2025 Virginia Craft Beer Cup winners are as follows:
Virginia Craft Beer Cup™, 2025 Best of Show
Gold, Knight’s Respite by St. George Brewing Co.
Silver, BA Pony by South Street Brewery
Bronze, Providence Pilsner by Gloucester Brewing Co.
Honorable Mention, Tourist Trap by Billsburg Brewery
Virginia Brewery of the Year™
Caiseal Beer & Spirits Co. (aka The Vanguard Brewpub & Distillery)
2025 The Best Firkin Beer in Virginia™
Oak-Aged Germanna by Patch Brewing Company
The medalists of each beer style category, based upon BJCP beer style guidelines, are listed below:
ALTERNATIVE GRAIN(S)/SUGAR(S)
Gold, Beenut Butter Brown Ale by Nansemond Brewing Station
Silver, Honey Lager by St. George Brewing Co.
Bronze, Beez Kneez by Iron Pipe Alewerks
AMBER ALE
Gold, California Common by Rockfish Brewing Company
Silver, Zeigenbock by Cave Hill Farms Brewery
Bronze, Tiny Footprints by Stable Craft Brewing
AMBER LAGER
Gold, Weekend by Waygone Brewery
Silver, Sombrero Mexican Lager by Flying Ace Distillery & Brewery
Bronze, Yucatan Sunset by Full Distance Brewing
AMERICAN LAGER & LIGHT LAGER
Gold, Lake Life Lager by Twin Creeks Brewing Company
Silver, Stud Light by Harvest Gap Brewery
Bronze, Lost Lager by Lost Barrel Brewing
AMERICAN WHEAT/GERMAN WEISS
Gold, Knight’s Respite by St. George Brewing Co.
Silver, River Day by Bingo Beer Co.
Bronze, Hefe is the Crown by Full Distance Brewing
AMERICAN WILD ALE
Gold, Dark Sour Farmhouse Ale by Fine Creek Brewing Company
Silver, 2023 Bière De Coupage by Fine Creek Brewing Company
Bronze, Brett Tripel by Fine Creek Brewing Company
BELGIAN ALE
Gold, Down on the Farm by SuperFly Brewing Co.
Silver, Amazake Sidearm Saison by Great American Restaurants – Sweetwater Tavern
Bronze, Belgian Golden Strong Ale by Great Valley Farm Brewery & Winery
BRITISH BITTER/SCOTTISH
Gold, Red Ale by Caiseal Beer & Spirits Co. (The Vanguard Brewpub & Distillery)
Silver, Billy Boys Scotch Ale by Parkway Brewing Company
Bronze, Mystic Maiden by Nansemond Brewing Station
BROWN ALE
Gold, Boxcar Brown Ale by Caboose Brewing Company
Silver, Party Guy by The Virginia Beer Company
Bronze, Millionaires Row Kentucky Common by 2 Witches Winery & Brewing Co.
CREAM & BLONDE ALE
Gold, Classic Lager by Blue Mountain Brewery
Silver, Damn Beer by Water’s End Brewery
Bronze, Ameraucana by Tradition Brewing Company
Honorable Mention, Denim by Selvedge Brewing
DARK EUROPEAN LAGER
Gold, Munich Dunkel by Bald Top Brewing Company
Silver, Disturbance in the Schwartz by Benchtop Brewing Company
Bronze, Vadar Knows Best by Iron Pipe Alewerks
DOUBLE IPA
Gold, The Tank by Broken Window Brewing Company
Silver, Bases Loaded by Patch Brewing Co.
Bronze, W.T.F. – Walter the Frenchie by Three Leg Run
EUROPEAN SOUR
Gold, Stupid Sexy Flanders by Starr Hill Brewery
Silver, Uberlin by Strangeways Brewing
Bronze, Cobblestone Sour by Port City Brewing Company
FRUIT
Gold, Wild Pear by Blue Mountain Barrel House
Silver, Bare Necessities by Olde Salem Brewing Company
Bronze, Alewife by Barking Rose Brewing Co. + Farm
HAZY IPA
Gold, Tourist Trap by Billsburg Brewery
Silver, Kung Fu Kittens by Precarious Beer Project
Bronze, Lil’ Tantrum by Tradition Brewing Company
INDIA PALE ALE
Gold, Howling Gale by Fair Winds Brewing Co.
Silver, Kickflipper IPA by New Realm Brewing Co.
Bronze, Wesley’s Walkabout American IPA by 2 Witches Winery & Brewing Co.
INTERNATIONAL LAGER
Gold, Classic Lager by Billsburg Brewery
Silver, Japanese Rice Lager by Bald Top Brewing Company
Bronze, Senior Sexy Lager by Barley Naked Brewing Company
IRISH RED
Gold, F”N Bob by BrewHaHa Brewing Company
Silver, Galway Girl by Twin Creeks Brewing Company
Bronze, Pik Ax by WildManDan Brewery
KÖLSCH/LEICHTBIER
Gold, Kolman by Gloucester Brewing Company
Silver, Morning Dew by St. George Brewing Co.
Bronze, Linen by Selvedge Brewing
MONASTIC
Gold, Octave by Trouvaille Brewing Company
Silver, Belgian Quad by Strangeways Brewing
Bronze, Double Double Toil & Trouble Dubbel by 2 Witches Winery & Brewing Co.
PALE ALE
Gold, Full Nelson by Blue Mountain Brewery
Silver, Gone Bush by Oozlefinch Beers & Blending + Nost Brewing Project
Bronze, Mosaic Pale Ale by Random Row Brewing Co.
PALE EUROPEAN LAGER
Gold, Bergluft by Oozlefinch Beers & Blending + Nost Brewing Project
Silver, Kissing Bull Lager by Great American Restaurants – Sweetwater Tavern
Bronze, Goldensville by Patch Brewing Co.
PILSNER
Gold, Providence Pilsner by Gloucester Brewing Company
Silver, PVille Rd Pilsner by Harvest Gap Brewery
Bronze, Crispy Whip by Benchtop Brewing Company
PORTER
Gold, As You Wish by Smartmouth Brewing Co.
Silver, Ol’ Prince William Porter by Cedar Run Brewery
Bronze, Midnight Train by SuperFly Brewing Co.
SMOKED BEER
Gold, Sea Smoke by Patch Brewing Co. & Afterglow Brewing
Silver, Threadenator by Selvedge Brewing
Bronze, We Are Pivo by WildManDan Brewery
SPECIALTY IPA
Gold, New Zealand Proven Theory by Benchtop Brewing Company
Silver, The Wolfhound by Afterglow Brewing
Bronze, Arcane Rambler by Eavesdrop Brewery
STOUT
Gold, Flannery’s by Decipher Brewing
Silver, McAfee Knob by Solstice Farm Brewery
Bronze, Gold Digger Irish Stout by Harvest Gap Brewery
STRONG ALE
Gold, Fifth Force Imperial Stout by Caiseal Beer & Spirits Co. (The Vanguard Brewpub & Distillery)
Silver, Thor’s Hammer by Twin Creeks Brewing Company
Bronze, Russian Imperial Stout by Northern Neck Brewing Company
STRONG EUROPEAN LAGER
Gold, Postmaster General by Living Proof Beer Company
Silver, Made Me Say Underwear by Big Ugly Brewing
Bronze, Passing the Hat by Olde Salem Brewing Company
VEGETABLE
Gold, Porch Pirate by Three Leg Run
Silver, Coffee Blonde Ale by Caiseal Beer & Spirits Co. (The Vanguard Brewpub & Distillery)
Bronze, Cucumber Lemon Hefeweizen by Lost Barrel Brewing
WOOD AGED BEER
Gold, BA Pony by South Street Brewery
Silver, Dark Hollow by Blue Mountain Barrel House
Bronze, Three Oaks Bourbon Barrel Aged Honey Brown Lager by Southern Revere Cellars
