In what's becoming something of a yearly tradition, the local breweries that medal at the Great American Beer Festival are in Virginia. DC was shut out for the second straight year, while Maryland's lone medal, a bronze, came from Frederick's Brewer's Alley for 1634 Ale in the Herb and Spice Beer category. Brewer's Alley kegs infrequently make their way to DC, so your best bet is probably a day trip up 270.
But back to Virginia. Thirteen medals. Last year's Small Brewery of the Year, Port City, took home a silver in the Old Ale or Strong Ale category for Colossal V, and they were nice enough to bottle it this year, too. Two other local breweries in the Virgina suburbs struck gold: Sterling's Ocelot Brewing for their kellerbier Sunnyside Dweller and Woodbridge's Ornery Beer Company for their Kolsch-style Light of Cologne. And slightly further afield Frederickburg's Spencer Devon Brewing took bronze for Sunken Road Belgian-style Blonde Ale in that category. Ocelot and Ornery are only about two years old each, while Spencer Devon turned one last spring, making the victories all the more impressive.
But wait, there's more! Centerville's Sweetwater Tavern is no stranger to GABF medals, and continued their winning ways with Wit's End Ale, a silver in the Belgian-style Wit category. Ashburn's Lost Rhino earned a silver medal for their English-style IPA, Face Plant, in that catgeory, a nice going-away present for Favio Garcia, their recently-departed head brewer.
Check out the rest of the winners, and congrats (again!) to the Commonwealth of Virginia.
