RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) — Virginia craft beers are making a splash around the nation.
Devils Backbone Brewing Company won two awards at the 2013 Great American Beer Festival last weekend, considered the largest brewing competition in the United States.
The brewery, which opened in 2008 at the base of Wintergreen Mountain in Nelson County, took home “Small Brewing Company” and “Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year” titles.
The brewery is not new to national attention, having received two other titles in a four year stretch.
“The third national title in four years is a little unreal,” founding brewer Steve Crandall said in a press release. “It is stunning to be among the amazing array of renowned national craft brewers”.
Devils Backbone also brought home six more medals at the 2013 Great American Beer Festival to add to their collection.
- Gold –Old Virginia Dark Lager, (American-Style Dark Lager category)
- Gold – Azrael, (Belgian & French-Style Ale)
- Silver -Berliner Metro Weiss (German Sour Ale category)
- Silver – Gold Leaf Lager (American-Style or International-Style Plisener category)
- Bronze – Ale of Fergus (English-Style Mild Ale )
- Bronze- Danzig ( Baltic-Style Porter).
And just to pour on the praise for extra measure, 2013 was the second year in a row Devils Backbone has won more medals at the Great American Beer Festival than any other brewery in the country.
Brewmaster Jason Oliver said that the announcement for the Small Brewing Company of the year award started with “This brewery proves that Virginia is for beer lovers…”
Adam Shiflett (brother #1) receives the bronze medal from Charlie Papazian, President of the Brewers Association
Based on award info from the Great American Beer Festival website, fourteen awards total were rackedup by state breweries. In addition to Devil’s Backbone, the winners were Port City Brewing from Alexandria, Three Brothers Brewing from Harrisonburg, Lost Rhino Brewing from Ashburn, and Smartmouth Brewing from Norfolk
Click here to see the complete list of winners: http://www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com/the-competition/winners/
You can select “VA” from the dropdown tab to see all state winners throughout the years.
Local favorites Hardywood were in attendance, though they didn’t place this year. The brewery has scored big on the national stage in the past, given a perfect score for their Gingerbread Stout by Beer Advocate magazine and the same beer also scored a silver medal at the Virginia Craft Beer Festival
