The Virginia Craft Brewers Guild (VCBG) announced the 2022 Virginia Craft Beer Cup winners on Monday, August 8, 2022, at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery’s West Creek location. This year’s competition was managed by Head Judge, Charlie Harr, and took place at Old Ox Brewery in Ashburn, Virginia. A record 106 breweries competed in this year’s competition which included 14 new participants! Brewers were able to submit up to four beers to be judged in 33 different categories. A record 396 beers were entered in the competition.
“Wow, what a great competition!” said Charlie Harr, Head Judge, “It was clearly evident in the tight race that every brewery is extremely dedicated to the craft and their dedication is inspiring. This year’s competition proves Virginia has some of the best craft brewers in the nation.”
The Virginia Craft Beer Cup continues to be the largest state competition of its kind in the United States. The VCBG is committed to giving its members the opportunity to compete, obtain critical feedback from certified judges, and get statewide recognition that will 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.
“It’s fitting that on the 10th anniversary of SB604, the Virginia Craft Beer Cup has the most competitors in its history. The VCBG is initiating new marketing programs to drive thirsty consumers to tasting rooms to help grow independent craft beer,” said Brett Vassey, VCBG President and CEO.
The 2022 Virginia Craft Beer Cup winners are as follows:
BEST IN SHOW
First Place Decipher Brewing, Barley Late Kölsch
Second Place Harvest Gap Brewery, Devil Dog
Third Place Port City Brewing, Optimal Wit
ALTERNATIVE GRAIN(S) or SUGAR(S)
First Place Makers Craft Brewery, Bragadocious
Second Place Bold Mariner Brewing Company, Lucky Cat
Third Place No award in this category
AMBER ALES
First Place Lake Anne Brew House, Reston Red
Second Place Iron Pipe Alewerks, Sassenach
Third Place The Garage Brewery, Rusted Nail Amber Ale
AMBER LAGERS
First Place Caboose Brewing Company, Vienna Lager
Second Place Bingo Beer Company, Costa Chica
Third Place Black Hoof Brewing Company, Full Quiver Marzen
AMERICAN LAGERS
First Place Richbrau Brewing Company, Richbrau Lager
Second Place Cedar Run Brewery, Tiller Lite Lager
Third Place Harvest Gab Brewery, Stud Lite
BELGIAN WIT
First Place Port City Brewing Company, Optimal Wit
Second Place Ornery Beer Company, Down Wit It
Third Place No award in this category
BRITISH BITTERS
First Place Cooling Pond Brewery, Boswell’s Tavern Very Special Bitter
Second Place Dancing Kilt Brewery, Bitter Duergar Ale
Third Place Caiseal Beer and Spirits Co., Red Ale
BROWN ALE
First Place Tradition Brewing Company, Tradition Honey Brown
Second Place Skipping Rock Beer Company, Roasted Pecan Brown Ale
Third Place Three Leg Run, Paper Boy Brown Ale
Honorable Mention Caboose Brewing Company, Boxcar Brown
CREAMS and BLONDES
First Place Pale Fire Brewing Company, Taking Water
Second Place Barley Naked Brewing Company, For Fox Sake
Third Place Old Ox Brewery, Cream Ale
DARK EUROPEAN LAGERS
First Place Twin Creeks Brewing Company, Black Bar Bier
Second Place Great American Restaurants – Sweetwater Tavern, Rusty
Roadrunner Lager
Third Place Barley Naked Brewing Company, Drop Your Schwarz
DOUBLE IPA
First Place Alesation Brewing Company, Hopsneeze Gen2
Second Place Tucked Away Brewing Company, Not My Problem
Third Place Chaos Mountain Brewing, Shut Up John
EUROPEAN SOUR
First Place Strangeways Brewing Company, Uberlin
Second Place Stable Craft, Porch Sipping
Third Place No award in this category
EXPERIMENTAL
First Place Benchtop Brewing Company, Trial of Dmitri
Second Place Benchtop Brewing Company, Rice Cubed
Third Place Blue Mountain Barrel House, Raspberries on Acid
FRUIT
First Place South Street Brewery, Bluesbuester
Second Place Big Ugly Brewing, Hot Pursuit
Third Place Blue Mountain Brewery, Drink a Peach
Honorable Mention Lake Anne Brew House, All That Razz
GERMAN AND AMERICAN WHEAT
First Place 2 Silos Brewing Company, Hefe
Second Place The Virginia Beer Company, Saving Daylight
Third Place Barnhouse Brewery, Harvest Hefe
HAZY IPA
First Place Three Notch’d Brewing Company, King of Clouds Juicy IPA
Second Place Stable Craft, Robot Cowboy
Third Place Long Way Brewing, Forecast: Downpour
INTERNATIONAL LAGER
First Place Caboose Brewing Company, Bienvenidos Mexican Lager
Second Place Stone Brewing, Stone Buenaveza Salt & Lime Lager
Third Place 2 Silos Brewing, Dos Silos
IPA
First Place Precarious Beer Project, Chug Rug
Second Place Ornery Beer Company, Pacific Waves
Third Place Big Lick Brewing Company, The GreeHeen
IRISH RED
First Place Old House Vineyards, Irish Red
Second Place Barley Naked Brewing Company, Rockhill Irish Red
Third Place No award in this category
Honorable Mention Tradition Brewing Company, Red Willie
KÖLSCH
First Place Decipher Brewing, Barley Late Kölsch
Second Place Jack Mason’s Tavery and Brewery, Log Hopper Kölsch
Third Place Bear Chase Brewing Company, Kodiak Kölsch
MIXED FERMENTATION
First Place Richbrau Brewing Company, Passionfruit Guava King of Strays Sour
Ale
Second Place Fine Creek Brewing Company, Biere De Coupage
Third Place Fine Creek Brewing Company, Barrel Aged Golden Sour
MONASTIC ALE
First Place Nansemond Brewing Station, Golden Express Belgian Singel
Second Place Great Valley Farm Brewery and Winery, Belgian Blonde
Third Place Barking Rose Brewing Co + Farm, Downton Abbey Ale
PALE ALES
First Place Alewerks Brewing Company, Chesapeake Pale Ale
Second Place Olde Salem Brewing Company, Moonlight Mile
Third Place No award in this category
PALE EUROPEAN LAGERS
First Place Harvest Gap Brewery, Devil Dog
Second Place Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Hardwood Fighting Hokies Lager
Third Place Black Hoof Brewing Company, Broadside
PILSNER
First Place Caboose Brewing Company, Das Gut
Second Place Blue Mountain Brewery, Classic Lager
Third Place Beltway Brew Co, Pilsner
PORTERS
First Place Port City Brewing Company, Porter
Second Place Heliotrope Brewery, Charm Offensive
Third Place Alewerks Brewing Company, Protocol Porter
SAISON
First Place Crazy Rooster Brewing Company, Touche De Gris
Second Place Barking Rose Brewing Co + Farm, Farmhand
Third Place Eastern Divide Brewing Company, Siege of Savannah Saison
SMOKE
First Place The Farm Brewery at Broad Run, Piggyback
Second Place WildManDan Brewery, We are Pivo
Third Place Stone Brewing, Stone Smokin’ with The Gnomies
SPECIALTY IPA
First Place No award in this category
Second Place Benchtop Brewing Company, Blanc Water
Third Place Lost Barrel Brewing, Tangerine Imperial IPA
STOUTS
First Place Harpers Ferry Brewing Company, Pollywog Irish Stout
Second Place Moon Hollow Brewing, New Moon Milk Stout
Third Place Gloucester Brewing Company, Shucking Good
STRONG ALE
First Place Great American Restaurants – Sweetwater Tavern, Bishops Pass Ale
Second Place Decipher Brewing, Artemis
Third Place Water’s End Brewery, Barley Beast
STRONG EUROPEAN LAGERS
First Place Wasserhund Brewing Company, Zero Tolerance
Second Place Flying Ace Distillery and Brewery, Prototype Delta Delta 1 Doppelbock
Third Place Broken Window Brewing Company, The Lumber Snack
VEGETABLE/SPICE
First Place St George Brewing Company, Honey Mead Lager
Second Place Richbrau Brewing Company, Edgar Imperial Coffee Stout
Third Place Cova Brewing Company, Coffee Snob
WOOD
First Place The Farm Brewery at Broad Run, Breezy
Second Place South Street Brewery, Barrel Aged Satan’s Pony
Third Place Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Hardywood
Gingerbread Barleywine
Honorable Mention Cedar Run Brewery, Barrel Aged Old Odder Barley Wine w/ Vanilla
