Richmond, VA – The Virginia Craft Brewers Guild (VCBG) announced the 2021 Virginia Craft Beer Cup winners on Monday, August 16, 2021, at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery’s West Creek location. This year’s competition was managed by Head Judge Charlie Harr. 283 beers in 20 categories from 95 independent craft breweries competed in the largest competition in VCBG history. Judging took place over three days (June 4th, 5th, and 12th) at Old Ox Brewery in Ashburn, Virginia.
“The Virginia Craft Brewers Guild and Virginia Craft Beer Cup’s 10th Anniversary is an amazing milestone,” said Janell Zurschmeide, Dirt Farm Brewing and VCBG Chair. “Celebrating the 2021 Cup competitors and winners with friends and colleagues is a fitting tribute to our members’ commitment to amazing independent craft beer.”
“This year’s competition was phenomenal,” said Charlie Harr, Head Judge. “Each brewery clearly exemplified their passion and their skills in the great beers put forward. That same passion was also shown by the tremendous judges as they worked to find the best of the best.”
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 is also developing additional media, retail marketing, and tourism opportunities for Cup winners this year, ranging from a Cup Winner Beer Trail to digital medals for labels and retail POS displays.
“The Guild is excited to celebrate its 10th Anniversary and recognizing the winners of the 2021 Virginia Craft Beer Cup is the best way to celebrate,” said Brett Vassey, VCBG President & CEO.
The 2021 Virginia Craft Beer Cup winners are as follows:
BEST IN SHOW
First Place Fair Winds Brewing Company, Quayside Kölsch
Second Place The Virginia Beer Company, Terminally Pretty
Third Place Dynasty Brewing Company, 838 Stout
ALTERNATIVE GRAIN(S), SUGAR(S), OR MIXED STYLES
First Place Blue Mountain Barrel House, Blueberries on Acid
Second Place St. George Brewing Company, Honey Meade Lager
Third Place Blue Mountain Barrel House, Raspberries on Acid
AMBER ALE
First Place Sweetwater Tavern, Great American Restaurants Pale Ale
Second Place Moon Hollow Brewing Company, Lunar Highlands
Third Place Dragon Run Brewing, One Irish Red
AMBER LAGER
First Place Old Bust Head Brewing Company, Time Lapse
Second Place Caboose Brewing Co., Vienna, VA Lager
Third Place The Bold Mariner Brewing Company, Frogman Lager
BROWN ALE
First Place Dragon Run Brewing, Beanfield Brown
Second Place Nansemond Brewing Station, BEEnut Butter Nut Brown Ale
Third Place The Board Room VA, The Bishop Brown
BOCK
First Place Sweetwater Tavern, Sidewinder Bock
Second Place Lake Anne Brew House, Behind Maibock
Third Place Wasserhund Brewing Company, April Showers
DARK LAGER
First Place Young Veterans Brewing Company, What About Us Lagers?
Second Place Twin Creeks Brewing Company, Black Bar Bier
Third Place Broken Window Brewing Company, Blitzn’d
FRUIT
First Place Olde Salem Brewing Company, Bare Necessities
Second Place Dirt Farm Brewing, Fluster Cluck
IPA
First Place Pale Fire Brewing Company, Arrant IPA
Second Place Fair Winds Brewing Company, Howling Gale
Third Place The Vanguard Brewery & Distillery, Snap Guns IPA
KOLSCH
First Place Fair Winds Brewing Company, Quayside Kölsch
Second Place Bear Chase Brewing Company, Kodiak Kolsch
Third Place Ornery Beer Company, Light of Cologne
MIXED FERMENTATION
First Place Fine Creek Brewing Company, Rosé Gose
Second Place Reason Beer, Wood Song Red
Third Place Maker’s Craft Brewery, Barrel Aged Sour Cherry Porter
PALE ALE
First Place Lost Barrel Brewing, Farm Ale
Second Place Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery, Westerly
Third Place Old Ox Brewery, Ernest Cream Ale
Honorable Mention Cave Hill Farms Brewery, Pathfinder Pale Ale
PALE LAGER
First Place The Virginia Beer Company, Terminally Pretty
Second Place 7 Dogs Brew Pub, CBL Lager
Third Place Iron Pipe Alewerks, Four Horsemen of Helles
PILSNER
First Place New Realm Brewing Co., Euphonia Pilsner
Second Place Wheatland Spring Farm + Brewery, Found Artifacts
Third Place Rocket Frog Brewing Company, Žába
PORTER
First Place Black Hoof Brewing Company, Duck Blind Baltic Porter
Second Place Port City Brewing Company, Porter
Third Place Old Ox Brewery, Black Ox
SPECIALTY IPA
First Place Ballad Brewing, Love Wins Wheat IPA
Second Place Eastern Divide Brewing Company, Cliffhanger Session IPA
Third Place Precarious Beer Project, Jiu Jitsu Shih Tzu
Honorable Mention 2 Silos Brewing Co., Mosaic Goat
STOUT
First Place Dynasty Brewing Company, 838 Stout
Second Place The Virginia Beer Company, Elbow Patches
Third Place Sweetwater Tavern, High Desert Imperial Stout
STRONG ALE
First Place Olde Salem Brewing Company, Death Letter
Second Place Beltway Brewing Company, Art in Execution
Third Place Broken Window Brewing Company, The Highlander
VEGETABLE/SPICE
First Place Tucked Away Brewing Company, Local National (Jalapeño)
Second Place Water’s End Brewery, Christmas Quad
Third Place That Damn Mary Brewing Company, Smack It Like Its Hot
WHEAT BEER
First Place Ornery Beer Company, Down Wit It
Second Place The Farm Brewery at Broad Run, Fat Bird
Third Place Tasting Room & Taphouse at Mount Ida Reserve, Leipziger Gose
WOOD & SMOKE
First Place Cedar Run Brewery, Barrel Aged Gus Imperial Stout
Second Place Brothers Craft Brewing, Resolute
Third Place Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Tom Cat Wheatwine
Honorable Mention Mountain Valley Brewing, Porter’s Porter
Award winners will be featuring their beers in their tasting rooms and through their wholesale and retail partners. The VCBG encourages craft beer enthusiasts to visit these breweries and try these great brews. To learn more about these breweries and plan your taproom trip, visit our Virginia Brewery Map or go to the Virginia Tourism Corporation’s craft beer site.
The Virginia Craft Brewers Guild (Guild) is an association of independent, small and traditional breweries dedicated to growing the craft beer industry in the Commonwealth. The Guild is the state affiliate of the Brewers Association. For information of the Beer Judge Certification Program, go to bjcp.org. For more information on the Guild, go to vacraftbeer.com and vacraftbrewersguild.com.
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