Lowdown on Local Brews: On Tap’s Virginia Craft Beer Guide

Virginia Craft Beer Month presents the perfect time to acknowledge how the craft brew scene continues to explode throughout the state. No, these proverbial bursts aren’t of the catastrophic nature, but rather an accurate representation of the fiery rise in popularity these niche beverages are experiencing statewide. If you peruse the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild website, you’ll see a legion of these breweries all working toward the same mission – delivering delicious tasting beer.

According to www.CraftBeer.com, now is the best time to be a fan of this grain-based alcoholic beverage, due to the colossal number of breweries popping up throughout the nation. There’s a litany of reasons to hoist a cold one in Virginia, as the state routinely ranks in the top half of the country regarding this particular topic.

In case you’re unaware, the Brewer’s Association defines a craft brewer as small, independent and traditional. Virginia has a number of craft breweries in spades, as 124 are housed within state lines, ranking 13th in the United States according to the association. The state for lovers also clocks in at 19th overall for barrels of craft beer produced per year with an astonishing 274,111.

So, while there’s definitely the supply for a host of brews, this is only possible because of a staunch demand for such product. The average Virginian of age consumes 1.4 gallons of craft beer per year, which doesn’t seem like a lot, until you remember that beers consumed from the neighboring DMV areas don’t count toward the total, so the number is likely much higher.

The steady fascination didn’t always exist, as the numbers of barrels of beer increased by about 350 percent from 2011 to 2015, according to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. Last month, even Governor Terry McAuliffe voiced support for the expanding market.

“Listen, I’m a huge supporter of our craft brew industry,” McAuliffe told WHSV TV-3. “We have 275 wineries, and we have about 40 cideries now, so we are really taking off, but the craft brewery industry here in Virginia is taking it to another level.”

The boom isn’t a secret. With the numbers and public statements from high-ranking officials, the word is out about how stupendous the scene has become, and the industry is only growing, if not evolving.

What can you do to participate? Navigate a craft brew trail such as the Brew Ridge, or take a day trip to Devils Backbone Brewing Company in Lexington, Beer Hound Brewery in Culpeper, or Blue Mountain Brewery in Afton and Arrington. If you’d rather stay close to the District, visit Port City Brewing in Alexandria, Ocelot Brewing Company in Dulles, Aslin Beer Company in Herndon, Old Ox Brewery in Ashburn or dozens of other locations around NoVA.

Salivating for brews yet? Then be sure to pay a visit to the Virginia Beer Museum this fall, located in Front Royal and opening on September 24 in conjunction with the Brew and Blues Festival. Also, don’t miss the Virginia Craft Brewers Fest at Devils Backbone on August 20. Before you add these to-dos to your calendar, read about  a few tastemakers in Virginia’s craft beer world.

Learn more about Virginia Craft Beer Month at www.virginiacraftbrewers.org.

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