2022 Virginia Craft Beer Cup Winners

By Annie Tobey | August 9th, 2022

106 breweries entered 33 different style categories


Strangeways Brewing accepting an award at the 2022 Virginia Craft Beer Cup winners on Aug. 8, 2022, at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery West Creek. Image by Annie Tobey

The Virginia Craft Brewers Guild (VCBG) held its award ceremony for the 2022 Virginia Craft Beer Cup winners on Aug. 8, 2022, at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery West Creek. Several Richmond-area breweries entered and walked away with awards.

“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, reminded attendees that 2022 marks the 10th anniversary of SB604, the law that enabled breweries to sell beer in their taprooms and enabled the growth of craft breweries in the Commonwealth.

A record 106 breweries competed in this year’s competition, including 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.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s recognition of August 2022 as Craft Beer Month in the Commonwealth of Virginia illuminated the statistics and benefits of craft beer locally:

  • Virginia is home to 314 licensed craft breweries.
  • The craft beer industry is a growing industry with $1.7 billion total economic impact and 14,263 jobs in brewing, distribution, retail and related businesses.
  • The production of craft beer stimulates economic growth in Virginia by supporting local farmers of grains, barley, fruit, vegetables, and hops, the manufacturing sector, distribution networks, and community revitalization.
  • Craft breweries support tourism revenue: 26% of tasting room patrons visit from outside the city, town, or state where the brewery is located.
  • Since the passage of SB604, the number of breweries in Virginia has grown 500%.
  • The Virginia craft beer industry ranks #1 in the South for breweries per capita and #17 in the United States.

2022 Virginia Craft Beer Cup winners

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
Bingo Beer Company at the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild award ceremony for the 2022 Virginia Craft Beer Cup. Photo by Annie Tobey
Bingo Beer Co.

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
Three Leg Run at the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild award ceremony for the 2022 Virginia Craft Beer Cup. Photo by Annie Tobey
Three Leg Run

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
Strangeways Brewing at the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild award ceremony for the 2022 Virginia Craft Beer Cup. Photo by Annie Tobey
Strangeways Brewing Co.

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
Stone Brewing Richmond representatives at the at the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild award ceremony for the 2022 Virginia Craft Beer Cup. Photo by Annie Tobey
Stone Brewing, Richmond

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
Fine Creek Brewing at the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild (VCBG) held its award ceremony for the 2022 Virginia Craft Beer Cup winners on Aug. 8, 2022, at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery West Creek. Photo by Annie Tobey
Fine Creek Brewing

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
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery at the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild award ceremony for the 2022 Virginia Craft Beer Cup. Photo by Annie Tobey
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery

PALE EUROPEAN LAGERS

  • First Place: Harvest Gap Brewery, Devil Dog
  • Second Place: Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Hardywood 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
Crazy Rooster Brewing Co. at the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild award ceremony for the 2022 Virginia Craft Beer Cup. Photo by Annie Tobey
Crazy Rooster Brewing

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
Richbrau Brewing Co. at the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild award ceremony for the 2022 Virginia Craft Beer Cup. Photo by Annie Tobey
Richbrau Brewing Co.

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

BEST IN SHOW

  • First Place: Decipher Brewing, Barley Late Kölsch
  • Second Place: Harvest Gap Brewery, Devil Dog
  • Third Place: Port City Brewing, Optimal Wit

Award winners will be featuring their beers in their tasting rooms and through wholesale and retail partners.

To plan a taproom trip:

Enjoy these award-winning Virginia Craft Beer Cup beers and many more throughout the Commonwealth and here in Central Virginia. Three useful guides for your trip include:

Related: 10 reasons to care about craft beer

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