Virginia Craft Beer Month Is Right Around The Corner – Cheers, Virginia! (Updated!)

Get ready to toast Virginia craft beer – many, many times over. August is, of course, Virginia Craft Beer month, and there are quite a few events marking the statewide celebration. Begun last year by the Virginia Tourism Commission and the Virginia Craft Brewer’s Guild, the month gives everyone involved – from craft beer fans to the breweries themselves – an official chance to blow their own horns while hoping the noise will help spread the word about the growing interest in craft beer within the state. Numbers wise, Virginia currently ranks 28^th in the nation in total production, but from 2011 to 2012, growth in that very statistic grew nearly 37%, the 12^th highest rate in the country. Virginia also ranks 15^th in the United States in total number of craft breweries, a number which is expected to grow exponentially.* There are close to fifty new breweries currently in planning, which would help bring the total number to near one hundred within the next five years – that’s quite a few glasses of locally produced beer here in Virginia. Of course, August also gives us a reason to simply sit back and enjoy one of those pints being currently produced in the Old Dominion. So no matter if we’re celebrating our growing success or just enjoying a favorite beer, or likely both, the events coming up will give plenty of opportunities to do so. What follows is a list of a few of those events that I know of, which doesn’t include the dozens of smaller cask tappings, beer dinners and the like that individual breweries will likely have throughout the month. The list does favor events happening in my own town of Roanoke for those who follow the blog and live in the Star City as well, as the first week or so of the month nearly looks like an unofficial Roanoke Craft Beer Week. Cheers! Go visit some of the fine Virginia craft breweries around the state, and taste some locally produced beer!

August 1 – Three Brothers Brewing from Harrisonburg will be featured at an event at Jack Brown’s Burger & Beer Joint in downtown Roanoke, likely a steal the pint style event. Don’t forget, this is also this year’s social media based, craft-beer-culture created IPAday!

August 2 – Several Virginia breweries will be at a new event/beer festival called VA Beer Live!, which organizers are calling the official kick off to Virginia Craft Beer Month, being held at the Richmond Coliseum.

August 3 – Creek Bottom Brewing is helping host the Galax Rhythm & Brews Fest, complete with live music and beers from six to seven breweries, including the West Coast and nationally known yet recently expanded to Virginia Beach brewery Green Flash.

August 5 – Jack Brown’s in Roanoke is having a steal the pint event featuring Fox Barrel and Crispin.

August 6 – Apocalypse Ale Works will be featured at Local Roots Restaurant in Roanoke, likely a steal the pint event, one of a few in the Star City this month for them. Also, Jack Brown’s in downtown Roanoke is having a steal the pint night featuring Smuttynose Brewing of New Hampshire.

August 7 – Devils Backbone will be featured at Local Roots Restaurant, AND Jack Brown’s Roanoke is having a steal the pint night for Apocalypse Ale Works.

August 8 – Richmond’s Legend Brewing will be featured at Local Roots Restaurant as well, leading up to…

August 10 – Of course, it needs no introduction…the 16^th year of Microfestivus, Roanoke’s annual craft beer festival and celebration. Also, look for plenty of interesting “pre-Microfestivus” events the evening before at spots such as Blue 5, Jack Brown’s, and Local Roots.

August 14 – Apocalypse Ale Works will be featured at Blues BBQ in downtown Roanoke.

August 24 – The second annual Virginia Craft Brewers Fest, held on the grounds at Devils Backbone brewpub (“basecamp”) in Nelson County. Music, a long list of Virginia breweries, camping, and the unofficial culmination of Virginia Craft Beer Month.

August 29 – Wild Wolf Brewing in Nelson County will be releasing a new Double IPA called Exquisitely Evil, at their brewpub location

August 30 – Starr Hill will likely be featured at an event at Martin’s in downtown Roanoke. This is an interesting event, as regional band Dangermuffin will be playing at Martin’s that night, and downtown store and source of so much local music news Ripple will be involved as well, possibly for a pre-Martins event of some kind, although details are yet to be confirmed.

Of course, all events are subject to last minute changes, but this is what I have for now. If you know of any other events worth a shout out, don’t hesitate the use the comment option above and I’ll try to get them up. Also, don’t forget that DC Beer Week is also happening from August 11 to 18! Information on some of the events can be found here.

*Check out more interesting craft beer numbers and statistics with this great interactive map, published on the New Yorker’s website recently, and based off of information from the Brewer’s Association.