Craft beer has exploded in the past two decades, as microbreweries across cities and small towns keep cranking out small batches of hazy IPAs and barrel-aged stouts. But among the dizzying array of options, it’s also enjoyable to pop a bottle of earlier beers that helped set the trends. Here are a handful of Virginia’s pioneering craft beers that still taste great.
Blue Mountain Brewery: Full Nelson Pale Ale
Rural craft breweries were rare in 2007, when Blue Mountain started making high-quality beers from a scenic outpost with views of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Afton. Not long after opening, the brewery’s taproom was crowded with folks sipping on beers like Full Nelson, an extremely well-balanced pale ale that combines just the right amount of hoppy bitterness with a satisfying malty backbone. At 5.9%, it’s a great session beer for hop heads not looking to go overboard, and it’s still readily available on shelves in Virginia. bluemountainbrewery.com
Starr Hill: The Love
Starr Hill Brewery opened back in 1999 with an accompanying small music hall in Charlottesville. The regional outfit has since expanded across the Commonwealth, with main production in Crozet and taprooms in Richmond, Roanoke, Lynchburg, Tysons Corner and Charlottesville. The Love is one of the beers from the brewery’s early days that’s still being made today. It’s a light, easy-drinking and unfiltered wheat ale with plenty of fruit-forward notes, thanks to the use of Hallertau hops and a special Bavarian yeast. And drinking this beer supports good causes. As part of Starr Hill’s mission to “Share the Love,” a dollar from each pint sold in taprooms is donated to local nonprofits. starrhill.com
Legend Brewing Company: Brown Ale
As Virginia’s oldest craft brewery, Legend started making small batches of beer in Richmond in 1994, long before the capital city became a nationally renowned craft beer hub. Many of the mainstay brewery’s early creations still hit just right, including the rich and malty Brown Ale, which is perfect for sipping during crisp fall weather. The full-bodied ale is a bit sweet but balanced enough to enjoy a few at a time, offering notes of caramel, molasses, and coffee. Find it on shelves around the Commonwealth, or drink one at Legend’s beer garden right near the James River. legendbrewing.com
Parkway Brewing: Get Bent Mountain IPA
Parkway Brewing opened a decade ago and quickly became one of the most beloved breweries in the Roanoke Valley. The Salem-based operation is popular among the area’s thriving biking community, and some of Parkway’s beers are named after outdoor landmarks in the region. Get Bent, for instance, takes its name from Bent Mountain, located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Southwest Virginia. The liquid, though, gets its origin from the West Coast, as it’s an old-school IPA with bold flavors of pine and citrus that come from a generous amount of Cascade, Columbus and Cluster hops. Also, be on the lookout for Get Bent variety packs, which include grapefruit- and orange-flavored versions of this deliciously hoppy beer. parkwaybrewing.com
Devils Backbone Brewing Company: Vienna Lager
Devils Backbone’s Basecamp Brewpub is a must-visit during the fall. The expansive property, located near Wintergreen Resort in Nelson County, features a brewpub, distillery lounge and scenic Outdoor Meadows Bar, as well as an adjacent campground. While you’re there, be sure to drink a Vienna Lager, an easy-drinking amber lager that the brewery has been pouring since it opened in 2008. The malt-forward beer made with German noble hops is smooth and not too sweet, and the take on a traditional European brew has earned Devils Backbone multiple awards at the Great American Beer Festival. dbbrewingcompany.com
