Some Northern Virginia breweries are getting global recognition. This week, the Brewers Association announced the winners of its annual World Beer Cup, and four NoVA breweries made the list.
The World Beer Cup awards gold, silver, or bronze medals for beers and ciders across 118 categories. This is the 30th year of what is dubbed “the world’s most prestigious beer competition.”
An international panel of 255 judges evaluated 8,166 entries for a total of 353 awards.
“Thirty years in, the World Beer Cup remains a powerful reflection of how far global brewing has come — and where it’s headed,” Chris Williams, World Beer Cup competition director said in a release. “Even in a year that challenged beverage alcohol producers to evolve, this year’s winners demonstrated that innovation, precision, and passion for craft are stronger than ever.”
Virginia Beer Winners
In the Pumpkin/Squash or Pumpkin Spice Beer category, 2 Silos Brewing Co. in Manassas earned the gold medal for its Pumpkin Ale.
Stafford’s Barley Naked Brewing Co. won bronze in the Sweet Stout or Cream Stout category for its Irish Prenup.
Caboose Brewing Co., with locations in Vienna and Fairfax, won gold in the American-Style Brown Ale category for its Boxcar Brown.
Atlas Brew Works — which is based in Washington, DC, and has Northern Virginia locations — won gold in the American-style Pilsner category for its Bullpen Pilsner.
Outside of NoVA, Virginia winners included Devils Backbone Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows in Roseland. The brewery earned three awards: Gold in the Specialty Saison category for the Foxfield Saison; bronze in the Smoke Beer category for the Smokehouse Lager; and bronze in the Contemporary American-Style Lager category for the Gold Leaf Lager.
In Norfolk, Cova Brewing Co.’s Aloha State of Mind won gold in the Gose category.
Feature image of members of the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild at the 2026 World Beer Cup, courtesy Virginia Craft Brewers Guild
