2023 Virginia Craft Beer Cup Winners

Virginia brewers turned out in force on July 31 for the presentation of the 2023 Virginia Craft Beer Cup winners.

Virginia Craft Brewers Guild (VCBG) presented the awards at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery’s West Creek location.

A record 125 breweries competed in this year’s competition, which included 35 new participants. Brewers could submit up to four beers to be judged in 31 different categories. A record 471 beers were entered.

“I am thrilled to welcome an increase in participation in this year’s competition, a testament to a growing industry in Virginia,” said Charlie Harr, head judge. “This year’s competition brought new breweries and veterans together across all styles for continued high-quality pours.”

The Virginia Craft Beer Cup is 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.

“This was another record-setting competition,” said Brett Vassey, VCBG President and CEO. “Despite a tough year economically, the Virginia Craft Beer Cup competition demonstrates the resilience of Virginia’s independent craft beer industry.”

The 2023 Virginia Craft Beer Cup winners are as follows:

BEST IN SHOW

• First Place: Benchtop Brewing Company, Crimson Gaze
• Second Place: Alewerks Brewing Company, Weekend Lager
• Third Place: Billsburg Brewing Company, Fly Away IPA

ALTERNATIVE GRAIN(S) or SUGAR(S)

• First Place: St. George Brewing Company, Honey Meade Lager
• Second Place: Dirt Farm Brewing, Honey Helles
• Third Place: Southern Revere Cellars, Three Oaks Honey Brown Lager

AMBER ALES

• First Place: Lake Anne Brew House, Reston Red
• Second Place: 2 Witches Winery & Brewing Company, Mojo Magic
• Third Place: Iron Tree Brewing Company, Off Camber Ale

AMBER LAGERS

• First Place: Momac Brewing Company, Pato de Palo (Peg Leg)
• Second Place: Caboose Brewing Company, Vienna VA, Lager
• Third Place: Great American Restaurants – Sweetwater Tavern, Painted Lady Lager

AMERICAN LAGERS

• First Place: Blue Mountain Brewery, Classic Lager
• Second Place: Caboose Brewing Company, Boose Light
• Third Place: Eavesdrop Brewery, Chandelier and a Dollar Menu

BELGIAN ALES

• First Place: Port City Brewing Company, Optimal Wit
• Second Place: Olde Salem Brewing Company, Moonlight Mile
• Third Place: Loudon Brewing Company, Polished Foxx
• Honorable Mention: Bunnyman Brewing, Super Saison

BRITISH BITTERS

• First Place: Selvedge Brewing, Houndstooth
• Second Place: Iron Tree Brewery Company, Beerstalker
• Third Place: Tucked Away Brewing Company, Squadron Commander ESB

BROWN ALE

• First Place: Long Way Brewing, Exacta Right
• Second Place: Jack Mason’s Tavern & Brewery, Brother Perkins Brown Ale
• Third Place: Alewerks Brewing Company, Tavern Brown Ale

CREAMS and BLONDES

• First Place: Pale Fire Brewing Company, Taking Water
• Second Place: Broken Window Brewing Company, Lucky 13
• Third Place: 6 Bears & A Goat Brewing Company, Mae West

DARK EUROPEAN LAGERS

• First Place: Starr Hill Brewery, Dark Biddings
• Second Place: Eastern Divide Brewing Company, Blacksburg Black Lager
• Third Place: Twin Creeks Brewing Company, Black Bär Bier

DOUBLE IPA

• First Place: Lost Barrel Brewing, Stratazacca Double IPA
• Second Place: Caiseal Beer & Spirits Company, Treat Me Wrong IPA
• Third Place: Smartmouth Brewing Company, Notch 9

EUROPEAN SOUR

• First Place: South Street Brewery, Slippery When Wit
• Second Place: Cova Brewing Company, There it Gose
• Third Place: Rockfish Brewing Company, Strawberry Guava Gose

FRUIT

• First Place: Dirt Farm Brewing, Peachy Mother Pucker
• Second Place: Blue Mountain Barrel House, Passion Fruit on Acid
• Third Place: 2 Witches Winery & Brewing Company, Brewberry Wheat
• Honorable Mention: 7 Dogs Brewpub, Raspberry Sourpuss

GERMAN AND AMERICAN WHEAT

• First Place: Patch Brewing Company, Home Run Hefe
• Second Place: Heritage Brewing Company, Alt Stadt Von Hefe
• Third Place: Alesation Brewing Company, Das Weizen

HAZY IPA

• First Place: Bike Lane Brewing, Hellwig
• Second Place: Lost Barrell Brewing, Lost Barrel Hazy IPA
• Third Place: The Virginia Beer Company, Estimated Eyes

INTERNATIONAL LAGER

• First Place: Full Distance Brewing, Yucatan Sunrise
• Second Place: Billsburg Brewing, Classic Lager
• Third Place: Billsburg Brewing, Juan’s Nightstand
• Honorable Mention: Barnhouse Brewery, Morning Wood

IPA

• First Place: Billsburg Brewery, Fly Away IPA
• Second Place: Tradition Brewing Company, IPA #13
• Third Place: Vibrissa Beer, Gracious Living

IRISH & SCOTTISH ALES

• First Place: Nansemond Brewing Station, Myrtle’s Diary Red Ale
• Second Place: Old Busthead Brewing Company, Vixen Irish Red
• Third Place: Parkway Brewing Company, Billy Boys Scotch Ale

KÖLSCH/LEICHTBIER

• First Place: Great American Restaurants – Sweetwater Tavern, Barking Frog Kolsch
• Second Place: Bike Lane Brewing, Klunker
• Third Place: St. George Brewing Company, Morning Dew

MIXED FERMENTATION

• First Place: Benchtop Brewing Company, Brown Bear Honey Pot Batch 4
• Second Place: Coastal Fermentory, Semper Fermentis – Batch 2
• Third Place: Alewerks Brewing Company, Lover’s Greed

MONASTIC ALE

• First Place: Barnhouse Brewery, Barnhouse X
• Second Place: Fine Creek Brewing Company, Avec Frére 11
• Third Place: Great Valley Farm Brewery & Winery, Belgian Tripel

PALE ALES

• First Place: Blue Mountain Barrel House, Full Nelson
• Second Place: Cooling Pond Brewing, Contrary Greek Gold
• Third Place: Rockbridge Vineyard & Brewing, Pale Ale

PALE EUROPEAN BITTER/PILSNER

• First Place: Great American Restaurants – Sweetwater Tavern, Kissing Bull Lager
• Second Place: Benchtop Brewing Company, Crispy Whip
• Third Place: Port City Brewing Company, Port City Helles

PALE EUROPEAN LAGERS

• First Place: Alewerks Brewing Company, Weekend Lager
• Second Place: St. George Brewing Company, Jubilee Maibock
• Third Place: Harvest Gap Brewery, Devil Dog Helles Lager

PORTERS

• First Place: James River Brewery, James Bean Vanilla Oatmeal Porter
• Second Place: Cedar Run Brewery, Ol’ Prince William Porter
• Third Place: Studly Brewing Company, The Great Vanilla Bean-o

SMOKE

• First Place: WildManDan Brewery, We are Pivo
• Second Place: Starr Hill Brewery, Two Dogs Walkin
• Third Place: Black Hoof Brewing Company LLC, Morning Fog Rauchbier

SPECIALTY IPA

• First Place: Benchtop Brewing Company, Crimson Gaze
• Second Place: No award in this category
• Third Place: No award in this category

STOUTS

• First Place: Barley Naked Brewing Company, Irish Prenup
• Second Place: Thin Brew Line Brewing Company, An Garda Siochana
• Third Place: 6 Bears and A Goat, O’Dark Thirty

STRONG ALE

• First Place: Thin Brew Line Brewing Company, VB Strong
• Second Place: Bacova Beer Company, Chimney Fire Scotch Ale
• Third Place: Old Trade Farm Inc., Blue Ridge

STRONG EUROPEAN LAGERS

• First Place: Brew Republic, Eisbock
• Second Place: Barking Rose Brewing Company, Kelsonator
• Third Place: Parkway Brewing Company, Ravens Roost

VEGETABLE/SPICE

• First Place: Three Notch’d Brewing Company, Firefly Nights Summertime Ale
• Second Place: Bold Mariner Brewing Company, Monkey Fist
• Third Place: Caiseal Beer & Spirits Company, Coffee Blonde Ale

WOOD

• First Place: Selvedge Brewing, Wooly Mammoth
• Second Place: Water’s End Brewery, Grand Cru
• Third Place: Crazy Rooster Brewing Company, Dark and Vast
• Honorable Mention: Cooling Pond Brewery, Double Outage Imperial Stout

Award winners will feature their beers in their tasting rooms and through retail partners. To plan a taproom trip, visit the Virginia Brewery Map (members of the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild only) or go to the Virginia Tourism Corporation’s craft beer site.