Garden Grove co-owners Mike Brandt (center-left) and Ryan Mitchell (center-right). (Garden Grove)
Nearly a dozen Richmond-area breweries added to their trophy cases this week.
The Virginia Craft Brewers Guild held its sixth annual Virginia Craft Beer Cup at the WestRock building downtown, dishing out 24 awards to beer makers from around the state. More than 350 beers were entered and graded by 40 judges earlier this spring.
Each brewery – there are more than 120 in the state – can enter up to four beers, which are graded blindly on criteria including aroma, color, bitterness, carbonation, flavor, appearance and taste profile.
Carytown-based Garden Grove Brewing Co. took home three awards, the most among its local peers. The brewery also is looking to add wine to its offerings, aiming for a fall 2017 uncorking.
Best of Show was awarded to Norfolk-based Smartmouth Brewing Co.’s Safety Dance Pilsner. Old Ox Brewery’s Black Ox Porter (Ashburn) and St. George Brewing Co.’s Summer Ale (Hampton) rounded out the top three.
Local winners include:
Castleburg Brewery and Taproom – Richmond
First place: Standard American Beer, “Castleburg Cream Ale”
Third place: American Porter and Stout, “Court Jester Porter”
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery – Richmond
Second place: Pale Bitter European Beer, “Pils”
Strangeways Brewing – Richmond
Third place: Pale Malty European Lager, “Helles Frozen Over”
Ardent Craft Ales – Richmond
Second place: International Lager and Strong European Beer, “Defenestrator”
Third place: German Wheat Beer, “Berliner Weisse”
Garden Grove Brewing Co. – Richmond
Second place: Strong British Ale, “Old Iron Dog”
Second place: Trappist Ale, “Minor Threat and the Funkadelic 4”
Third place: Trappist Ale, “Barrel Aged Death”
Legend Brewing Co. – Richmond
Second place: Wood Aged and Smoked Beers, “Bourbon Barrel Brown Ale”
Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery – Goochland
Second place: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer, “Great Commander Imperial Stout”
Extra Billy’s Smokehouse & Brewery – Midlothian
First place: Trappist Ale, “Tripel Overtime”
Trapezium Brewing Co. – Petersburg
First place: Fruit Beer, “Strawberry Blonde”
Third place: Amber and Brown American beer, “Brown Ale”
Center of the Universe Brewing Co. – Ashland
Second place: Belgian Ale, “Chic Saison”
Garden Grove co-owners Mike Brandt (center-left) and Ryan Mitchell (center-right). (Garden Grove)
Nearly a dozen Richmond-area breweries added to their trophy cases this week.
The Virginia Craft Brewers Guild held its sixth annual Virginia Craft Beer Cup at the WestRock building downtown, dishing out 24 awards to beer makers from around the state. More than 350 beers were entered and graded by 40 judges earlier this spring.
Each brewery – there are more than 120 in the state – can enter up to four beers, which are graded blindly on criteria including aroma, color, bitterness, carbonation, flavor, appearance and taste profile.
Carytown-based Garden Grove Brewing Co. took home three awards, the most among its local peers. The brewery also is looking to add wine to its offerings, aiming for a fall 2017 uncorking.
Best of Show was awarded to Norfolk-based Smartmouth Brewing Co.’s Safety Dance Pilsner. Old Ox Brewery’s Black Ox Porter (Ashburn) and St. George Brewing Co.’s Summer Ale (Hampton) rounded out the top three.
Local winners include:
Castleburg Brewery and Taproom – Richmond
First place: Standard American Beer, “Castleburg Cream Ale”
Third place: American Porter and Stout, “Court Jester Porter”
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery – Richmond
Second place: Pale Bitter European Beer, “Pils”
Strangeways Brewing – Richmond
Third place: Pale Malty European Lager, “Helles Frozen Over”
Ardent Craft Ales – Richmond
Second place: International Lager and Strong European Beer, “Defenestrator”
Third place: German Wheat Beer, “Berliner Weisse”
Garden Grove Brewing Co. – Richmond
Second place: Strong British Ale, “Old Iron Dog”
Second place: Trappist Ale, “Minor Threat and the Funkadelic 4”
Third place: Trappist Ale, “Barrel Aged Death”
Legend Brewing Co. – Richmond
Second place: Wood Aged and Smoked Beers, “Bourbon Barrel Brown Ale”
Lickinghole Creek Craft Brewery – Goochland
Second place: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer, “Great Commander Imperial Stout”
Extra Billy’s Smokehouse & Brewery – Midlothian
First place: Trappist Ale, “Tripel Overtime”
Trapezium Brewing Co. – Petersburg
First place: Fruit Beer, “Strawberry Blonde”
Third place: Amber and Brown American beer, “Brown Ale”
Center of the Universe Brewing Co. – Ashland
Second place: Belgian Ale, “Chic Saison”