By Jeremy Bender Each summer, millions of people flock to the coast like seagulls hovering over a fish fry. In Coastal Virginia there are some two hundred miles of varied communities ranging from the small fishing town of Chincoteague near the Maryland border on the Eastern Shore all the way down to the resort…
Rocket Frog Leaps into Orbit
By Jeff Maisey Rocket Frog Brewing Company — Loudoun County’s newest brewery — leap into orbit on May 19, debuting with five beers on tap: Angry Alice IPA, Minotaur American Golden Ale, Wallops Island American Brown Ale, Double IPA and Dry Saison. The brewery is owned by twin brothers David and Richard Hartogs along…
Must-Read Book Explores IPAs
By Jeff Maisey If you’ve ever heard Dick Cantwell speak on the topic of beer you know he’s both incredibly knowledgeable on the subject and an engaging storyteller — both qualities that make for an excellent book. That said it’s perhaps no wonder the Brewers Association’s publishing division is behind Cantwell’s new book, Brewing…
3 VA Breweries Among Fastest Growing in USA
By David Hunter In April, The Brewers Association released its inaugural list of the 50 fastest growing small and independent craft brewing companies of 2017 and three breweries on that list are from right here in Virginia: Vanish Farmwoods Brewery from Leesburg, VA coming in at #25; Big Lick Brewing Company from Roanoke, VA at…
COTU and Port City Score World Beer Cup Medals
By Jeff Maisey Nashville might be known as Music City, but in May it became Medal City for two independent Virginia craft breweries and one non-independent from Nelson County. Ashland-headquartered Center of the Universe Brewing Company won a Gold medal for its Bad Irishman in the Irish-style Red Ale category and its Session Pale Ale…
A Knight’s Take on Virginia Beer
By Jeff Maisey By now, every American citizen has likely heard of craft beer, if not tasted one. From sprawling metropolitan hubs to small towns like Bedford, Virginia, rural counties such as Nelson County to tourism magnets, including Colonial Williamsburg and the Virginia Beach resort strip, independent craft beer is taking root and expanding in…
Brothers Craft Brewers Win 2018 VA Beer Cup
The Virginia Craft Brewers Guild announced the 2018 Virginia Craft Beer Cup winners on Monday, June 4, 2018, at WestRock in Richmond, Virginia. There were nearly 300 brewers and supporters in attendance to celebrate excellence in independent Virginia craft beer. The Virginia Craft Beer Cup competition was managed by Master Beer Judge Certification Program…
Green Flash Foreclosed Upon
BY JEFF MAISEY A year and a half ago it seemed Green Flash Brewing Company was on top of the world, expanding its distribution to all 50 states with fresh product and production breweries on both coasts. Then in January of this year, the announcement of staff reduction in Virginia Beach, and then the complete…
Bold Mariner to Open Satellite in Ocean View
By Jeff Maisey The Bold Mariner Brewing Company will open a satellite location in the Ocean View section of Norfolk at 1901 East Ocean View Avenue. The brewery will operate in a former Bank of the Commonwealth building. According to owner Michael Stacks, the brewery will open in late fall or early winter. The Bold…
REPORT: Craft Breweries increased market share in 2017
The Brewers Association released its 2017 report on the beer industry and it spells good things for craft breweries. With over 6,300 breweries operating during the year, small and independent craft brewers represent 12.7 percent market share by volume of the overall beer industry. In 2017, craft brewers produced 25.4 million barrels, and saw a…