NELSON COUNTY, Va. (WTVR)–Virginia wine isn’t the only liquid on the table and in the spotlight; the craft beer trade also continues to flourish in the state.
Despite the rain on Saturday, over a thousand attended the Virginia Craft Beer Festival in Nelson County, according to the event organizers.
They said it was the “largest gathering of Virginia Craft Brewers ever assembled for one event.”
The festival was presented by the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild and the Virginia Manufacturers Association, with the intent to promote Virginia craft beer.
There was a competition with five categories and the Va. Craft Beer Cup was awarded to the best overall beer. A new Richmond brewery, Hardywood Park, scored well in the dark beer category
The event will be held again in 2013.
Here are the categories and winners.
2012 Virginia Craft Brewers Winner (Best Overall Beer)
Devils Backbone Brewing Company: Schwarzbier
Pale Ale:
Gold: Port City Monumental IPA
Silver: Starr Hill Double Platinum
Bronze: Mad Fox English Summer Ale
Dark:
Gold: Capital City Oatmeal Stout
Silver: Hardywood Park Gingerbread Stout
Bronze: Port City Porter
Lager:
Gold: Devils Backbone Schwarzbier
Silver: Lost Rhino Rhinofest
Bronze: Starr Hill Festie
Belgian:
Gold: Wild Wolf Blonde Hunny
Silver: Devils Backbone Azrael
Bronze: Port City Optimal Wit
Specialty:
Gold: The River Brewing Co Farmhouse Heffeweizen
Silver: Lost Rhino Rye Wit
Bronze: Wild Wolf Ginger Lager