Oct 11, 2022 - Food and Drink

Virginia brewers win 9 medals at Great American Beer Festival

Ned Oliver

Precarious Brewing Project — Precarious Beer Project accepts a medal at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver. Photo: John Frank/Axios

Virginia brewers took home nine medals at this year's Great American Beer Festival, Axios' John Frank reports from the awards ceremony in Denver.

Why it matters: GABF is America's premier beer competition, and winning one of the 300-plus medals helps put a brewery on the map.

This year the festival celebrated its 40th year and a return after a two-year pandemic hiatus.

By the numbers: The 2022 competition was the most competitive to date with 2,154 breweries submitting more than 9,900 beers.

The intrigue: Precarious Beer Project in Williamsburg dominated the Virginia list with two medals and the prestigious national Brewery Group and Brewer of the Year honor.

Polar Bear's Toenails took gold in the experimental IPA category, and Mountain Marble, an American-style lager, won silver.

What they're saying: "This is the most incredible feeling," brewer Adrian Garrett told us just seconds after receiving the top award.

The other winners:

Skipping Rock in Staunton won gold for its Belgian Dubbel in the Belgian-style abbey ale category.
Sweetwater Tavern in Sterling won silver for Bishop's Pass Ale, a Belgian-style strong ale.

Sweetwater Tavern in Centreville won silver for its Wit's End Ale, a witbier.
Fair Winds in Lorton won silver for Pohick Bay Pilsener, in the Bohemian-style pilsner category.
COVA in Norfolk landed a silver for POG Gose in the contemporary gose category.
Beale's in Petersburg took a silver for its Peach Tea Blonde in the herb and spice beer category.
Tradition in Newport News won bronze for Red Willie, an Irish-style red ale.

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Virginia brewers win 9 medals at Great American Beer Festival

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