Partiers at a South African music festival could soon be ordering beer delivered "air mail."


Large crowds. Beer cans falling from the sky. What could possibly go wrong?

Read the details here.

This past weekend our son's school held its annual fund raising dinner and silent auction. As we've done for several years, for two schools, we donated a beer tasting event. This year's offering will include at least eight courses, for eight people, to be held this summer in our home. We'll pair up a selection of beers and foods, and enjoy a fun afternoon of culinary delights.

As the evening went on, it was obvious that one bidder had his sights set on winning the bidding. He was one of the attendees of last year's event and wanted to do it again. I saw him hovering frequently over the bid sheet to ensure he kept the top bid. At the end of the evening he let us know, with a big smile on his face, "I'll see you in July!"


In order to give the winners something to take home that evening, we put together a basket of related treats; three six packs of craft beer, assorted glasses, and some bottle openers.

The auction bar offered a treat for the craft beer fan as well, one that I appreciated throughout the evening. The bar featured Blue & Gray beers! They served the brewery's Fred Red and Classic Lager on draft, as well as Stonewall Stout and Borman's Belgian Ale poured from fresh growlers. Not a factory beer in sight!

I'm excited just thinking about the upcoming tasting event, and we're already putting together the menu options. Of course, there will be lots of beer and menus to preview in the meantime.

This looks like it's going to a lot of fun.

Virginia’s Largest Indoor Craft Beer Festival 

Saturday, December 8th, 2012
12-7pm
Meadow Event Park
(Home of the State Fair of VA) 

FREE ADMISSION!
Tasting Tickets are $1 each or $10 for a passport of 12 2 oz tastings
More than 25 craft beers to taste, featuring 15 Virginia Breweries!
LIVE music!
Plus – tons of crafts, Virginia food, beer accessories, and other vendors offering unique shopping opportunities! 

- Tickets are only available at the festival only.
- There is ample free parking at the festival, right beside the building
- All ages are able to attend the event, but only those 21 years and older, with valid ID will be permitted to drink. There will be people on site to check ID’s and manage crowd control 

This will be a fun event and a great opportunity for you to try new beers and re-taste ones that you love! We ask that you please drink responsibly and designate a driver.

I've also received word that there will be a couple of very special tappings during the day as well:

1pm – First Tapping ever of the Hardywood Bourbon Barrel Ginger Bread Stout (at the Hardywood Booth)
5pm- Goose Island Bourbon County Stout (at the Goose Island Booth)


See www.hcbclassic.com for more details.

Unfortunately I have conflicting plans, but wanted to share with the news with my local readers.

Virginia Craft Brewers brought home a Lucky 13 awards from the Great American Beer Festival held this week in Denver, CO. The big winner was Devils Backbone which walked away with the Small Brewpub and Brewer title and 8 category medals.

2012 GABF VIRGINIA WINNERS

Small Brewpub and Small Brewpub Brewer of the Year
Devils Backbone Brewing Company - Basecamp, Roseland, VA
Devils Backbone Brewery Team

Individual Awards:
Category: 17 Gluten-Free Beer, 20 Entries
Gold: Nikki’s Gluten Free Honey Pale Ale, Rock Bottom Arlington, Arlington, VA

Category: 21 Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer, 51 Entries
Bronze: Local Species, Blue Mountain Barrel House, Arrington, VA

Category: 28 American-Style or International-Style Pilsener, 26 Entries
Bronze: Gold Leaf Lager, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Outpost, Lexington, VA

Category: 35 Vienna-Style Lager, 36 Entries
Gold: Vienna Lager, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Outpost, Lexington, VA

Category: 39 American-Style Dark Lager, 12 Entries
Silver: Old Virginia Dark, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Basecamp, Roseland, VA

Category: 41 Bock, 33 Entries
Silver: Elixer Maibock, Mad Fox Brewing Co., Falls Church, VA
Bronze: Turbo Cougar, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Outpost, Lexington, VA

Category: 43 Baltic-Style Porter, 31 Entries
Silver: Danzig, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Basecamp, Roseland, VA

Category: 48 English-Style India Pale Ale, 54 Entries
Bronze: Monumental IPA, Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA

Category: 65 German-Style Sour Ale, 29 Entries
Gold: Berliner Metro Weiss, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Basecamp, Roseland, VA

Category: 76 Classic Irish-Style Dry Stout, 16 Entries
Bronze: Ramsey’s Draft Stout, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Basecamp, Roseland, VA

Category: 77 Foreign-Style Stout, 25 Entries
Bronze: Ramsey’s Export Stout, Devils Backbone Brewing Co. - Basecamp, Roseland, VA

Congratulations to all the Virginia winners. It looks like there are a few more Virginia beers I need to search out. You can see the entire awards list here.

 

Looking for something to do this weekend?  Well, there’s plenty to choose from!  You can actually do it all!

Fredericksburg Farmer’s Market

Hurkamp Park hosts the Fredericksburg Farmer’s Market 7am-2pm on Saturday and 12:30-4pm on Sunday.  Saturday usually consists of up to 28 vendors selling meats, vegetables, eggs, breads, and plants.  You can also get an assortment of homemade goods most weekends.  The farmer’s market is set up on the perimeter of the park and there is plenty of room for play in the middle of the park.  You can find play groups, individuals, and families playing throughout the day.  This weekend’s market should feature the following in-season products: apples, broccoli, cucumbers, grapes, green beans, green peppers, pumpkins, raspberries, squash, and tomatoes. 

Virginia State Fair

After months of speculation that there would be no state fair this year, Commonwealth Fairs and Events, LLC was formed to run the fair and other events at Meadow Event Park.  The Fair opens on Friday, September 28 at 2pm and runs until Sunday, October 7 (9pm).  Discount tickets can be purchased at BB&T and Martin’s Food Markets.  This year’s fair features concerts, pig races, Bengal Tiger Encounter, carnival-style side show performances, a petting zoo, an escape artist, and many more attractions that will entertain guests of all ages.  A schedule of daily events can be found here.  (I’m most looking forward to pig races and turkey legs!)

Oktoberfest!

Mayor Mary Katherine Greenlaw will tap the ceremonial keg at noon and the celebration will begin!  2 blocks of Caroline Street and 2 blocks of George Street will be blocked off for the event.  German dancers and German bands will be featured throughout the day and Fredericksburg’s Elby Brass Band will also be entertaining the crowd.  Food and spirits can be purchased from vendors located in the blocked off areas.  Other restaurants and businesses offer specials and discounts during the event.  Please remember to be respectful to other businesses and visit other businesses while you participate in this fantastic event.  The Fredericksburg Area Service League will be hosting Kinderplatz – a large area dedicated to children and children’s activities.  There is a $2 charge for access to this area and proceeds go to helping the Fredericksburg Area Service League improving the lives of young people in the region.  You will find me in the mix with my souvenir beer stein and gigantic Bavarian pretzel! 

Belvedere Plantation Fall Festival

One of my favorite events of the fall, Belevdere Plantation’s Fall Festival starts this Saturday and runs thru October 28.  This weekend is Teacher Appreciation Weekend.  Teachers plus one guest will get free admission with proper ID.  This year’s attractions include a barnyard petting zoo, pig races, the Fun Barn, Pumpkin Mountain slide, a jumping pillow, and a barrel train ride for children 12 and under.  This year’s corn maze features a patriotic theme with a large American flag as it’s main its highlight.  New this year is a Little Farmer’s Maze!  This maze is just for the little guys and has no bridges and is stroller accessible!  The Red Rooster will be serving up delicious fair fare.  There is even a selection for the children which includes fruit, juice boxes, and carrot sticks.  Don’t forget to grab your fresh pies and pumpkins on your way out!

While Colleen was off this weekend enjoying time with friends from college, I hit the Blue & Gray Oktoberfest with my son for lunch on Saturday. When I first mentioned the idea to him, he replied "Sounds like fun." I raised him right don't you know?

We arrived before the lunch line got too long, but I headed for the beer wagon first for my much anticipated glass of Oktoberfest. In addition to the standard 16 oz. shaker pint, and the festival 32 oz. Maas, this year the brewery offered a 20 oz. "tall pint" souvenir glass too. That'll do. :-) The dark copper colored Oktoberfest had a rich caramel malt base with a mildly bitter finish. We next headed to the food tent for the solid portion of lunch, both opting for Bratwurst, mine mit kraut, and a side of German potato salad. The brat was quite tasty. They had a wide selection of sausage dishes available and they looked very good as well. The food at the festival has certainly improved with the opening of the Lee's Retreat brewpub.

I ran into Jimbo, who's one of the longtime brewers at Blue & Gray, and he suggested I try the Kölsch. Well, Kirkland's Kölsch may just be my new favorite beer at Blue & Gray Brewery. Brewer David Achkio did this one right! The beer poured a clear golden color, with no head to speak of. The aroma was very faint bready malt. The beer shines in the drinking. A clean bready flavor followed by a crisp bitterness in the finish. For me it was that pleasing mild, lingering bitterness in the finish that won me over. The beer probably checks in at around 5 - 5 1/2%, not quite a "session beer," but certainly sessionable. Given I was drinking from a 20 oz. glass, and was planning an evening out with my son for 'wings' and possibly a few more beers (for me) I stopped at one Kölsch, but I do know I'll be going back to the brewpub later this week.

We hung around for a few hours, enjoying the activities. The stein holding contests and beer barrel bowling were entertaining. It was fun also to visit with some friends. The basketball team at my son's high school was also selling water and brownies as a fund raiser so he saw some classmates as well. It was a fun afternoon spent with my son, enjoying friends, food, and good drink.

The 10th Annual Blue & Gray Oktoberfest celebration takes place Friday, September 21 and Saturday, September 22. This family friendly, event is held at the Blue & Gray Brewery. The brewery will serve a trio German Beers this year; Oktoberfest Lager, Virginia Hefeweizen, Kirkland's Kölsch, as well has their regular house beers. The Blue & Gray Oktoberfest Lager is one of my favorites from the brewery so I'm looking forward to this year's celebration.

The festivities kick off Friday afternoon with an "Early Bird Special" of a Bratwurst and a beer for $5 from 4-5:00PM. The first keg of Oktoberfest Bier will be tapped at 6:00PM with friends from Fredericksburg's sister city Schwetzingenrom, Germany participating. The fun goes until 9:00PM with German food offerings outside under the tents and more elaborate offerings indoor at the brewpub.

On Saturday the party starts anew with another "Early Bird Special," an authentic Bavarian breakfast served 11:00AM - Noon. This is a pretzel with sweet German mustard made with malty sweet Fred Red Ale, and a Hefeweizen only $5.00. The wildly popular LOW'n'BROWS will play all day, along with Beer Barrel Bowling, Stein Holding Contests, and Ginger Bread Walks for the kids. The festivities will end at 7:00PM.

And new this year, the Lee's Retreat brewpub will be open on Oktoberfest Sundays, September 23rd, 30th and October 7th. Dine inside, or outside in the new Biergarten, and enjoy a special menu created just for this event. This brunch will be served from 10:00AM - 2:00PM.

As always, there will be plenty of food, music and activities for kids and grownups alike. I hope to see you there!

Blue & Gray Brewing Company is hosting Theology on Tap for three consecutive Mondays in September. The event will be held in the Lee's Retreat Brewpub at the brewery.

September 10
"Mission of the Church in the Public Square"
Soren Johnson
Special Assistant to the Bishop for Evangelization & Media, Catholic Diocese of Arlington

September 17
"Faithful Citizenship in an Election Year and Beyond"
Jeff Caruso
Executive Director, Virginia Catholic Conference

September 24
"Seeking the Truth Amidst Moral Controversy"
Sr. Terese Auer, O.P.
Chair, Bioethics Department, Pope John Paul the Great high school

The brewpub doors open at 6:00pm for dinner and happy hour pricing. The discussion begins at 7:30PM. All adults are welcome.

Sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, Office for Family Life / Young Adult Ministry.

The Virginia General Assembly has declared August to be Virginia Craft Beer Month.


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 522 Offered March 5, 2012 Commending the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild. ----------
Patrons-- Carr, Bell, Richard P., Bell, Robert B., Cline, Crockett-Stark, Greason, Landes, Loupassi, McQuinn and Tyler; Senators: Barker, Deeds, and McEachin 
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WHEREAS, the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild works to promote the interests of small, independent, and traditional brewers of beer and currently 40 craft breweries operate in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild was established in 2010 to promote economic development, streamline business processes, develop good relationships with business partners, and encourage tourism efforts; and

WHEREAS, Virginia’s craft breweries already are an economic engine in the Commonwealth; most sell their beverages only in Virginia, thus the money raised from sales of craft beers and the revenue from tourists visiting the breweries remains largely within the local economy; and

WHEREAS, the members of the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild also contribute to the state’s economic growth through job creation, the purchase of locally grown barley and hops, and the donation of spent brewing grains to local farms to be used as animal feed; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild has designated August as Virginia Craft Beer Month, encouraging residents and visitors alike to patronize the dozens of traditional craft breweries in the state; a festival will be held August 18, 2012, in Nelson County, which will feature the Virginia Beer Cup competition to determine the best craft beer in the Commonwealth; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the good work of the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild to promote Virginia’s small breweries; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Mike Killelea, chairman of the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild, as an expression of the General Assembly’s appreciation for its efforts on behalf of economic development in the Commonwealth.

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Many Virginia breweries are planning events to celebrate the first ever Virginia Craft Beer Month. Visit the Virginia Tourism web site, www.Virginia.org/CraftBeer/ to find events near you.

The month long celebration will culminate with a Craft Beer Festival at Devils Backbone Brewery in Nelson County on August 25.

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The aftermath