Richmond, VA - 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

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 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 on the Beer Judge Certification Program, go to bjcp.org. For more information on the Guild, go to vacraftbeer.com and www.virginiacraftbrewers.org/.