Wednesday, Oct. 1, 10:09, Chicago O’Hare time.
Will RVA beer history be made in Denver this week?
A Richmond brewery has never won a medal at the Great American Beer Festival, to my knowledge. Could this be the year?
If so, I plan to be on the scene. If not, I’ll still be on the scene, and regardless of any outcome concerning medals, I fully expect Richmond — and Virginia — to continue gaining attention for the exciting beer culture.
Last year, after all, the Old Dominion turned many heads by finishing fourth in the medal count. Only California, Colorado and Oregon — craft beer meccas by any measure — received more.
Medals are only one standard, however. How has Richmond showed its beer bounty? Let me count the ways:
- Frommer’s pointing to the RVA beer culture, along with the restaurant scene, as a reason to make the city a top travel destination in 2014.
- Outstanding reviews from top publications, such as BeerAdvocate’s score of 90, or “outstanding,” for two Lickinghole Creek beers (the Short Pump Saison and Magic Beaver Belgian-Style Pale Ale beer), plus writer Joshua Bernstein giving high praise to Strangeways Brewing (and Devils Backbone) in a GABF preview for the Denver Post. And there’s always the legendary perfect score accorded Hardywood Park’s Gingerbread Stout.
- Mekong Restaurant again being a winner in voting for best beer bar on craftbeer.com.
- Richmond making the short list for Stone Brewing Co.’s East Coast facility (whether they come or not, it’s a nod to the scene).
- Thumbs-up visits by top beer folks, such as Julia Herz, craft beer program director for the Brewers Association, based in Colorado.
Beyond Richmond, credit veterans Starr Hill Brewery and Devils Backbone Brewing Co. in the greater Charlottesville region for setting a high standard in Virginia. Devils Backbone has repeatedly won top awards in its category and last year carried the load for Virginia with six GABF medals. Starr Hill founder Mark Thompson was winning GABF medals back in the 1990s and has been a leader in the state scene, most recently as president of the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild.
So, while I’m at the GABF, I hope to chronicle adventures in Beertopia, both by tracking our local folks and by taking stock of the more than 700 breweries pouring 3,500-plus beers. Oh, and by checking out the bars and beers in greater Denver.
It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it. Stay tuned.
