Join Jay Burnham and me on the RVA Beer Show as we talk with Mark Thompson, one of the seminal figures in Virginia’s craft beer scene.
Mark Thompson (left) joins Jay and me at The Veil in Scott’s Addition.
Thompson founded Starr Hill brewery in 1999 on West Main Street in Charlottesville–in the same building that held Virginia’s first brewpub–and led Starr Hill to becoming the state’s largest craft brewery. As chairman of the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild, Thompson worked with state officials and other brewers to improve the landscape of craft brewing in the Old Dominion. Listen as he recalls those early days, takes a look at the current scene and describes his new project, The Brewing Tree in Nelson County.
About admin
I am a writer. And a musician/songwriter. And a husband/father. I love good beer, the outdoors, the embrace of family, the company of true friends, the telling of a good story and the inner peace derived from quiet reflection in solitude.
Recently I have specialized in beer writing. My most recent adventure is "Virginia Beer: A Guide from Colonial Days to Craft's Golden Age" published fall 2018 by University of Virginia Press. In October 2014, "Richmond Beer: A History of Brewing in the River City" was published by History Press. "Charlottesville Beer: Brewing in Jefferson's Shadow," followed in January 2017. Send me an email at rvabeerguy@gmail.com.
As you can see from this site, however, my interests are broader than beer. Spend time, leave a comment or just enjoy.
Lee