NELSON COUNTY, Va. (WTVR)–Virginia wine isn’t the only liquid on the table and in the spotlight; the craft beer trade also continues to flourish in the state.

Despite the rain on Saturday, over a thousand attended the Virginia Craft Beer Festival in Nelson County, according to the event organizers.

They said it was the “largest gathering of Virginia Craft Brewers ever assembled for one event.”

The festival was presented by the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild and the Virginia Manufacturers Association, with the intent to promote Virginia craft beer.

There was a competition with five categories and the Va. Craft Beer Cup was awarded to the best overall beer. A new Richmond brewery, Hardywood Park, scored well in the dark beer category

The event will be held again in 2013.



Here are the categories and winners.

2012 Virginia Craft Brewers Winner (Best Overall Beer)

Devils Backbone Brewing Company: Schwarzbier

Pale Ale:

Gold: Port City Monumental IPA

Silver: Starr Hill Double Platinum

Bronze: Mad Fox English Summer Ale

Dark:

Gold: Capital City Oatmeal Stout

Silver: Hardywood Park Gingerbread Stout

Bronze: Port City Porter

Lager:

Gold: Devils Backbone Schwarzbier

Silver: Lost Rhino Rhinofest

Bronze: Starr Hill Festie

Belgian:

Gold: Wild Wolf Blonde Hunny

Silver: Devils Backbone Azrael

Bronze: Port City Optimal Wit

Specialty:

Gold: The River Brewing Co Farmhouse Heffeweizen

Silver: Lost Rhino Rye Wit

Bronze: Wild Wolf Ginger Lager