Richmond Breweries bring back medals

Award winning beer to be had for all.

August 25, 2014; 9:30 AM • by Richard Hayes

This year marked the third Virginia Craft Brewers Cup held at the Devil’s Backbone Brewery, in Nelson County Virginia. More than 50 Virginia breweries gathered in the Blue Mountains to battle for best beer. Eight Richmond area breweries made the journey and seven brought home a medal.

Ardent Craft Ales: Honey Ginger, silver medal, spice/herb/vegetable beer category. This beer is a very tasty beer and neither flavor is overpowering. Great job for a brand new brewery to medal.

Center of the Universe: Ray Ray’s Pale Ale, bronze medal, American pale ale. Ray Ray’s is one of my summer go-to beers. Honestly a little surprised that Pocahoptus didn’t medal.

Midnight: Not My Job, silver medal in English, Scottish and Irish ale. The only brewery I’ve never been to and I haven’t had this beer. Looks like I’ve got a detour on my hands next time I’m out in Short Pump.

Hardywood: Singel, silver medal, Belgian and French ale, Virginia Blackberry, bronze medal, fruit beer. Not surprising news on either of these what is surprising is that neither Gingerbread Stout or the Pumpkin Bourbon Barrel Stout weren’t mentioned. I believe those two are the best beers Hardywood has put out in a long time.

Legend: Pilsner, silver medal, pilsner. A fine choice but in the area I prefer Lickinghole Creek Pony Pasture Pilsner but that beer was such a small run it’s very hard to get.

Strangeways: Uberlin Berliner Weiss, bronze medal, Sour Ale. I’m a terrible judge of sours. I’ve had this and it was sour. My buddies who drink sours say that this is one of the best so I’m trusting in their opinion. Strangeways is great place to take your adventurous drinking buddy but I don’t recommend it for introducing someone to craft beer.

Triple Crossing: Easy Now, silver medal, American pale ale, Yoke of Oxen, silver medal, strong ale, Street Cred, bronze medal, imperial IPA. For such a new brewery to take home three medals and two silvers is very impressive. Street Cred is by far my favorite of the three medalist with Yoke of Oxen a close second. Beside the awesome brewery you’re starting to see Triple Crossing beers show up in local spots, so keep your eyes peeled.

Image: Triple Crossing