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Beer Bits
Newsy notes on the beer scene

ZEN BUZZ
Yoga classes take over the taprooms at Old Bust Head in Warrenton and Port City in Alexandria. Check their sites for class dates, sign-ups—and to claim that post-workout buzz.

DOUBLE HOPS
After opening in the summer of 2013, BadWolf is already expanding: In June, it’s opening a second location with a yeast lab, just 10 minutes from the original in Manassas. Ashburn’s Lost Rhino is opening a brewpub with Caribbean-inspired food in Brambleton, also in June.

ON THE FARM
Within two weeks of Loudoun County Supervisors approving regulations regarding farm breweries (breweries allowed to operate in agriculture areas), six permits were filed.

DOUBLE DIGITS
The Brewers Association, the trade group for craft brewers, announced that in 2014 craft brewers sold $19.6 billion in retail and produced 22.2 million barrels of beer, totaling 11 percent volume share of the marketplace. This is the first time craft beer represented a double-digit share.

BOVINE CONFUSION
Red Bull is claiming a trademark dispute because of the “bovine” similarity to Ashburn’s Old Ox Brewery. The energy drink company wants Old Ox to change its name and logo for fear of customer confusion. Old Ox owner Chris Burns posted a public letter agreeing to never produce an energy drink, though it will not give up its current identity. The dispute gained international attention when the Associated Press picked up the story, and because of the publicity, a D.C. law firm agreed to take on the case pro bono. The trademark appeal proceedings are currently being heard in front of the U.S. Patent Office.

TRIPLE THREAT
The Corcoran family’s first foray into adult beverages was Corcoran Vineyards in Waterford. Then they opened Corcoran Brewing Company next door, though it has since relocated to a bigger location in Purcellville, and now, where the brewery once stood, there’s Corcoran Hard Cider. Is a distillery next? *Update: Actually, yes, a distillery is next

THE A’s, B’s AND CASCADES
Opened in Lansdowne in October, Brew LoCo, a cafe with tea and a full espresso bar, doubles as a craft beer shop (at least half of the inventory is Virginia-made) with growler fills. It’s also a homebrew supply store and offers monthly beer-making classes. This summer owners Mary Battaglia and Cathy Frye will start a brew-on-premise program.

TOUR DE HOPS
Winos need to share the ride. Reston Limousine now offers multiple brewery tours, stopping for beer from Alexandria to Purcellville.

SEAL OF APPROVAL
In 2012 the Virginia General Assembly approved August as Virginia Craft Beer month, which features the annual Virginia Craft Brewers Cup. According to the festival’s site, Virginia is the only state to hold a competition amongst its craft brewers.

BIG SCREEN
Two documentaries screened this year featured NoVA breweries: “From Grain to Growler” tells the story of Virginia’s growing craft beer industry, and “Blood, Sweat and Beer” highlights the hardships of starting a craft brewery and includes NoVA’s Adroit Theory, BadWolf, Forge and Port City.

LINGO
Enjoy eating farm-to-table? Try drinking grain-to-glass. This phrase indicates your beer contains locally sourced hops, grains, wheat, rye and other ingredients.

OVER 100
In January The Virginia Craft Brewers Guild confirmed the commonwealth now has over 100 breweries, citing reports from Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

READ ALL ABOUT IT
There’s a dedicated publication to Virginia’s beer scene: Virginia Craft Beer Magazine. Started last April, you can find the free glossy publication at local breweries, pubs and beer retailers.

 

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(May 2015)