Virginia Breweries Win Big at 2025 GABF
-Eight Breweries Take Home Gold, Silver, & Bronze Medals-
Virginia’s craft beer scene continues to shine on the national stage as eight independent craft breweries from the Commonwealth earned medals at the prestigious 2025 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) in Denver, Colorado, this past weekend. Competing against thousands of breweries from across the country, Virginia’s breweries stood out for their innovation, craftsmanship, and dedication to producing high-quality beer.
Organized annually by the Brewers Association, the GABF is one of the largest and most influential beer competitions in the world. This year’s event featured 8,315 beer and cider entries, including 68 Collaboration and 40 Pro-Am submissions. Virginia’s breweries earned a total of two gold, two silver, and four bronze medals, showcasing the state’s continued excellence in brewing.
Virginia’s winning craft breweries and their medal-winning beers include:
- Barley Naked Brewing Co. (Stafford, VA) – Bronze for Irish Prenup, Sweet Stout or Cream Stout
- Big Ugly Brewing (Chesapeake, VA) – Bronze for Made Me Say Underwear, Strong Porter
- Blue Mountain Brewery (Afton, VA) – Gold for Wild Pear, Contemporary Gose
- Caboose Brewing Co. (Vienna, VA) – Gold for Caboose Altbier, German-Style Altbier
- Caboose Brewing Co. (Vienna, VA) – Silver for Boxcar Brown, American-Style Brown Ale
- Great American Restaurants, Sweetwater Tavern (Sterling, VA) – Silver for Octoberfest Lager, German-Style Maerzan
- Mieza Blendery (Alexandria, VA) – Bronze for A Host of Delights, Fruited Wood- and Barrel- Aged Sour Beer
- Starr Hill Beer Hall – Richmond (Richmond, VA) – Bronze for Second Rodeo, German-Style Pilsener
“Virginia’s craft brewers continue to raise the bar,” said Brett Vassey, President & CEO of the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild. “Their achievements at this year’s GABF are a testament to the innovation and dedication of independent craft brewers from across the Commonwealth.”
Virginia is home to hundreds of breweries that offer a diverse range of styles and experiences, making the Commonwealth a top destination for beer tourism. To explore Virginia’s independent craft breweries, visit our Brewery Map. Interested in visiting medalists from the Virginia Craft Beer Cup? Check out the Gold Road Beer Trail.