Beer may be traced through Virginia’s history with asterisk moments like George Washington’s alcohol recipe[1] and evidence that beer and components to produce it were kinds of payment to their Mount Vernon workers.[2]
Or how about Thomas Jefferson? In 1812, a retired Jefferson successfully crafted his very first home-brew from regional hops and malt. He'd a superb instructor in his partner, Martha, a small-batch brewmaster during their early several years of relationship. By 1814 Jefferson was malting their own grain inside the very own brewhouse at Monticello. Other people, including James Madison, began to take serious notice and sent their staff to Monticello to learn the trade.[3]
Shop Local
These days we’re exactly about buying and buying in your area. That’s not a brand new concept, as George Washington wrote towards the Marquis de Lafayette on January 29, 1789, “i take advantage of no porter or cheese in my household, but such as for example is manufactured in the usa; both these articles may today be purchased of a great quality.”[4]
Handcrafted alcohol has been around Virginia because the start, though breweries have come and gone as you go along. Virginia’s very first contemporary microbrewery had been Chesbay – Chesapeake Bay Brewing Company – in Virginia Beach (not operational). Chesbay dual Bock won silver at the very first Great American Beer Festival in 1987. That’s very an acclaim and a legacy for Virginia art alcohol.
Though not old by my criteria, Virginia’s earliest craft brewery is Legend Brewing business in Richmond, that has been established in 1994. If you are fast on your math, you’ll remember that 2014 will be Legend’s twentieth anniversary. Mark that down and plan to spend a celebratory visit.
Suds on the Rise
Virginia is making frothy waves throughout the beer industry with acknowledgements from the likes of Travel Channel as one of the look for your self with this useful Beer Map, or consider our present articles for inspiration:
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[1] Washington, George. 1757. [2] Research Historian, Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens.
[3] . 1995. Adapted from an article originally published in (Charlottesville, Va.: Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation, 1995). Recommendations added by Kristen Lochrie, May 2012.