Benchtop Brewing, whose main brewery is in Norfolk, but which has a tasting room in Manchester, bested more than 100 breweries from the Commonwealth and won “best in show” for its recently released Crimson Gaze at the 2023 Virginia Craft Beer Cup awards. The event was held at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery on Monday, July 31.
Aleworks Brewing Company in Williamsburg came in second for their Weekend Lager while Billsburg Brewery—also in Williamsburg—came in third for their Fly Away IPA, according to a press release put out by the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild, which held the competition.
Benchtop also won first place in the mixed fermentation category for its Brown Bear Honey Pot Batch 4 and second place in the Pale European Bitter/Pilsner contest for its Crispy Whip. Their Crimson Gaze also won first place in the Specialty IPA category.
Other winning breweries include Pale Fire Brewing Company in Harrisonburg, which won first place in the creams and blondes category for its Taking Water beer; and Star Hill Brewery, based in Crozet but with other locations, for the Dark Biddings beer in the Dark European Lagers category.
Each brewery was able to submit four beers to compete in over 30 flavor and style categories. Officials say a record 471 beers were entered—a few coming from 35 breweries new to the event. Judging took place earlier this year at Old Ox Brewery in Ashburn, Virginia.
Besides the normal IPAs, amber, Belgians and lagers, some of the styles competing included British bitters, Irish and Scottish ales, and monastic ales, which are Belgian-inspired beers first perfected by religious monks in that country.
