Virginia Craft Brewers Guild

06/03/2026

When English settlers arrived in Virginia, they quickly spotted something familiar climbing along riverbanks and forests: wild hops. Native to North America, these vines had long grown across the continent. 🌿

By the early 1600s, Virginians were using hops to flavor beer and had even begun planting their own by 1621, but imported hops from England remained a staple to maintain consistent quality. At the same time, brewers experimented with local varieties, blending Old World techniques with New World ingredients to keep the pints flowing. 🍺

That balance—tradition meets innovation—helped define early American brewing. And it’s the same spirit that fuels Virginia craft beer today.

Start brewing your own wild, inspired beer today by joining the Pintriot program! https://www.virginiacraftbrewers.org/va250-brewery-application/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=pintriot

06/03/2026

It’s been feeling more and more like fruit beer season, and we are not mad about it! 🍎🍋‍🟩🍋 In preparation for even warmer months ahead, let’s look at the best fruit beers in Virginia; here are your 2025 winners:

🥇 Blue Mountain Barrel House Brewery and Restaurant, Wild Pear 🍐
🥈 Olde Salem Brewing Company, Bare Necessities 🌵
🥉 Barking Rose, Alewife 🍇

And what better way to celebrate the 2026 best Fruit beers in Virginia than at the biggest party for Virginia’s craft beer industry?!

🎟️GET TICKETS TODAY >> https://members.virginiacraftbrewers.org/eventcalendar/Details/virginia-craft-beer-summit-gala-1463790?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social

06/03/2026

The Brewers Association's latest report shows 2025 was a reset year for craft—but not without momentum. Craft production declined 4%, but still outperformed the overall beer market’s 5.7% drop. Even in a down year, craft gained market share, increasing to 13.4%.

Retail value proved more resilient, totaling $28.0 billion (-2.8%), supported by continued growth in taprooms & brewpubs—experience-driven models that resonate with today’s consumers.

The industry is clearly recalibrating. There are fewer breweries overall, openings have slowed significantly, and the workforce adjusted modestly. At the same time, breweries with strong brand identity and clear positioning continue to outperform in a more competitive landscape.

What’s next:
✔️ Cautious optimism for stabilization
✔️ Success will hinge on consistent quality, strong brands, and memorable, in-person experiences

Virginia brewers are part of this evolution—adapting, innovating, and continuing to meet the moment.

🔗 REPORT >> https://www.brewersassociation.org/association-news/a-year-of-correction-for-craft-beer-with-early-signals-of-recovery/

06/03/2026

Check out this article by Virginia Craft Beer Magazine!

READ ON >>

World Class Brews Jun 2, 2026 | Beer, Brew News, News Lead brewer Andy Bui and head brewer Matthew Smith of Caboose Brewing Co. By Jeff Maisey When the 2026 World Beer Cup results were announced this April in Philadelphia, three independent craft breweries from Virginia won gold medals, thus making....

06/02/2026

Fine Creek Brewing Company is known for its thoughtful, small-batch approach—leaning into local ingredients, rotating beers, and a deep connection to Virginia agriculture.🌾

For , they’ve taken that commitment to locality even further with their Monticello Strong Ale, inspired by brewing records from Monticello. Crafted in collaboration with Crazy Rooster Brewing Company using Virginia-grown barley, hops, and yeast, this brew is a reminder that great beer—and great stories—start close to home. 🍻

Check out Fine Creek Brewing on our Revolutionary Brews Beer Trail >> https://www.virginiacraftbrewers.org/revolutionary-brews-beer-trail/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social

05/29/2026

The People's Choice Challenge at the Virginia Craft Beer Summit & Gala will be a battle between the !

📜Pintriot brewers from across the Commonwealth have been brewing historically inspired beers using documented colonial and Virginia heritage ingredients, connecting modern taprooms to the taverns, farmsteads, and fermenters where Virginians debated liberty, toasted resistance, and rallied for independence.🌾

👨‍💻 Registration: FREE
⏰ Entry Deadline: 5 PM on July 31
🗳️ Voting: Virginia Craft Beer Summit & Gala attendees will taste these historical recipes and vote in real time to name “The Most Revolutionary Brew in Virginia!” 🍻

REGISTER >> https://www.virginiacraftbrewers.org/revolutionary-brews/peoples-choice-challenge/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social

05/28/2026

We have been anything but sour about getting to see all our brewers drop off their entries for the 2026 Virginia Craft Beer Cup this week. Today let’s celebrate last year’s winners of the European Sour category:

🥇 Starr Hill Brewery, Stupid Sexy Flanders
🥈 STRANGEWAYS BREWING, Uberlin
🥉 Port City Brewing Company, Cobblestone Sour

Thank you to The Veil Brewing Co. for hosting our beer drop off—now we’re looking forward to judging! Make sure to grab your tickets to the Virginia Craft Beer Summit & Gala to see your brews win on the big stage.

🎟️TICKETS >> https://members.virginiacraftbrewers.org/eventcalendar/Details/virginia-craft-beer-summit-gala-1463790?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social

05/28/2026

🍺🌽 No barley? No problem. That’s where American brewing innovation begins.

When Jamestown settlers ran low on traditional brewing ingredients, they adapted to use maize (corn), a grain they learned about from Indigenous communities, to keep beer flowing. What started as a necessity became one of the first true blends of Old World tradition and New World ingenuity.

From corn-based colonial brews to today’s boundary-pushing craft scene, Virginia’s brewing story has always been about creativity, collaboration, and resilience. 💥

Join us in raising a glass to the bold spirit of early American brewers

BECOME A PINTRIOT>> https://www.virginiacraftbrewers.org/va250-brewery-application/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=pintriot

05/28/2026

The U.S. Small Business Administration is celebrating America’s 250th with the Patriot Pitch competition; this is your chance to put your brewery on center stage. Whether you’re brewing up bold new flavors, scaling production, or dreaming big for your next expansion, this competition could impact the future of your brewery for the better.

Finalists will head to Washington, D.C., for a live pitch showdown—and compete for a share of a $1 million prize pool to fuel their next chapter.

So go ahead and tap into your entrepreneurial spirit!

With a $1M total prize pool, the SBA Patriot Pitch Competition awards American innovation!

Key details:
✅ Judging categories: strengthening American competitiveness, small business “punching above its weight,” economic impact, and business fundamentals and ex*****on readiness
✅ Deadline: Submit your pitch by June 10
✅ The finals: September 2026 in D.C.

Learn more and submit your pitch: https://www.sba.gov/freedom250