I spent Saturday, June 26 volunteering at the Northern Virginia Summer Brewfest in Leesburg, Virginia.  Here’s a quick recap of the fest and my beer sampling list.

The brewfest was open from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and I was assigned to pour beer on the second shift from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  More than 50 breweries sent beer for the festival, but they can’t all send reps to serve their beer to the masses that attend. That’s where the volunteers come in – we serve the beers on behalf of the breweries and the distributors. For a craft beer enthusiast, the brewfest volunteer experience is unrivaled; it’s an entire day of talking about and sampling great beer!  I’ve worked about a dozen brewfests and each one has been an awesome experience.

After checking in my hotel and taking a cab to the fest, I had time to sample a few beers before my shift began.  A little before 3:00, I checked in at the volunteer tent, where our beer captain told us to select the tent we wanted to man.  I picked Allagash, which was offering their White and Black.  Like a good beer pourer, I took some time to get to know the beers I was serving before I started working. Of course I already knew about the White, the best-brewed Belgian Wit in the U.S. But I wasn’t too familiar with the Black, a Belgian-style Stout. I’m familiar with it now, and it is highly recommended, just like all of the Allagash beers!

At the request of one of the fest patrons, I also served a Black and White – a Belgian version of the Black and Tan. The Black layered nicely atop the White for a beautiful presentation and interesting flavor. Word got around, and I served several more Black and White blends for people who requested it. I’m not sure if Allagash founder and head brewer Rob Tod would appreciate me blending and serving his beers this way, but I certainly didn’t force it on anyone.

Allagash was a popular spot and we were pouring non-stop, but I also found time to sample many beers.  My fellow volunteers and I took turns pouring beer while the others meandered and sampled.

The day’s end came too quickly – it always does at a brewfest.  All told, I sampled 25 beers from 19 breweries. Below I’ve noted my favorites followed by the complete list of beers sampled.

Best Beers

In addition to the awesome Allagash beers, a few beers stood out:

• Berliner Weisse beers – Several of the brewers offered this sour German-style beer, which was a perfect thirst-quencher on a 90-degree summer day. Tip of the hat to Dogfish Head, Bell’s, and Vintage 50.
• Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale – One of my favorites of the day. An incredibly complex and delicious beer that’s not to be taken lightly at 8.7% ABV and 90 IBUs. You have to taste it to believe it. Sort of like the Black and White.
• Yeti Imperial Stout from Great Divide Brewing Company – This strong stout (9.5%) was just steps away from the Allagash taps, so I had my fill. Yeti is a beer to be savored, but that didn’t stop a few beer drinkers from chugging tasting glasses of Yeti towards the end of the night, in order to use up their beer tickets before the taps were cut off.

I’d also give a nod to the beers from Stoudts, 21st Amendment Brewery, and Founders Brewing Company.

Final Tally: 25 beers samples from 19 breweries

Complete List of Beers Sampled

21^st Amendment Brewery (CA)

• Hell or High Watermelon Wheat Beer

28 North Custom Beer Works (VA)

• Pacific Pils

Allagash Brewing Company (ME)

• White
• Black (Belgian Stout)
  

Avery Brewing Company (CO)

• White Rascal (Belgian White)

Bell’s Brewery (MI)

• Oarsman Ale (Berliner Weisse)

Bluegrass Brewing Company (KY)

• Jefferson’s Reserve Bourbon Barrel Stout
• American Pale Ale
  

Clipper City Brewing Company (MD)

• Red Sky at Night (Saison, 8%)

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery (DE)

• Festina Peche (Berliner Weisse fermented peaches)

Firestone Walker Brewing Company (CA)

• Nectar IPA (6.7%)
• Red Nectar (American Amber)

Founders Brewing Company (MI)

• Red’s Rye PA (a red IPA brewed with rye malt, 6.6%, 70 IBUs)

Great Divide Brewing Company (CO)

• Yeti Imperial Stout (9.5%, 75 IBUs)

Green Flash Brewing Company (CA)

• West Coast IPA (7%, 95 IBUs)

Lagunitas Brewing Company (CA)

• IPA
• Lucky 13 (a large Red Ale, 8.3%)

New Holland Brewing Company (MI)

• Golden Cap (Saison)

North Coast Brewing Company (CA)

• Red Seal Ale

Shmaltz Brewing Company (NY)

• Coney Island Mermaid Pilsner

Stone Brewing Company (CA)

• Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale (8.7%, 90 IBUs)

Stoudts Brewing Company (PA)

• Pils
• Fat Dog Stout (Oatmeal Stout, 9%)

Vintage 50 (VA)

• Check Point Charlie Sour Wheat (Berliner Weisse)
• Point of Rocks Pale Ale

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