By Jeff Maisey
The Virginia Craft Brewers Guild is postponing its annual Virginia Craft Beer Conference & Gala originally slated for June 8 at Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center in Richmond.
“We are looking at late June or mid-July Cup judging and August 31 for the Conference & Gala,” said Brett A. Vassey, President & CEO, Virginia Manufacturers Association/Virginia Craft Brewers Guild.
The event is highlighted by a highly-anticipated competition where gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded in a broad category of beer styles. The best-in-show beer and brewery is awarded the coveted Virginia Craft Brewers Cup. Following the awards ceremony, an invite-only gala for the brewing industry allows brewers to celebrate their successes — perhaps more important than ever this year given COVID-19’s impact on the brewing community.
New this year is a trade show mirroring, on a much smaller scale, the Great American Beer Festival in Denver.
More details will follow.
Another change impacting the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild is the April 1 retirement of Executive Director Betty Arnold. Arnold has been replaced in that role by Ian Ginger, but brewers certainly haven’t seen the end of the spirited champion of the brewing industry. Arnold will now serve as Craft Beer Ambassador, where she’ll be “spreading joy and good vibes about independent craft beer,” according to Vassey.
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