Route 7 Brewing Takes Best in Show at 2nd Annual Loudoun(VA) Beer Awards

Loudoun County, VA – Route 7 Brewing's Cross Czech, a Czech-Style Dark Lager (5.2% ABV), earned the Loudoun Beer Cup “Best in Show” at the 2nd Annual Loudoun Beer Awards on February 4, 2026. The competition, organized by the Loudoun County Brewers Association (LCBA), drew nearly 100 entries from 16 breweries across Loudoun County, Virginia, with medals awarded across 10 categories.

Themed "Brewing A Revolution" in honor of Virginia's VA250 commemoration, the sold-out awards banquet was held at Lark Brewing Co. in Aldie, Virginia. A panel of 22 BJCP-certified judges conducted blind judging on January 11 at Harvest Gap Brewing in Hillsboro, VA. The Best in Show winner was selected through a final tasting of all gold medal-winning beers.

Route 7 Brewing led all participants with three gold medals and the Loudoun Beer Cup. Lost Rhino Brewing also took home three golds alongside one silver. Bear Chase Brewing earned two golds, one silver, and one honorable mention. In total, 13 of the 16 participating breweries medaled.

 

Full Medal Results

IPA

• Gold: Cold Front IPA – Lost Rhino Brewing (6.3%)
• Silver: Gilded Angel – Chilly Hollow Brewing (7.5%)
• Honorable Mention: Star Party – Loudoun Brewing Co. (7.1%)

Hazy IPA

• Gold: Lucky 7 – Route 7 Brewing (6.6%)
• Silver: Juicious Malfoy – Chilly Hollow Brewing (6.8%)
• Honorable Mention: Notch 8 – Bluemont Station Brewing (8.0%)

Wheat Beer

• Gold: Final Glide – Lost Rhino Brewing (5.4%)
• Silver: Wheatland Crossroads Hefe – Harvest Gap Brewing (5.4%)
• Honorable Mention: Wit Witty – Hillsborough Brewing (4.8%)

Dark Ales

• Gold: CocoNilla – Lost Rhino Brewing (7.1%)
• Silver: One Sip Wonder – Lark Brewing Co. (6.0%)
• Honorable Mention: Funky Chicken – Loudoun Brewing Co. (5.5%)

Light Ales

• Gold: Kittocton Kolsch – Barnhouse Brewery (4.6%)
• Silver: Kodiak Kolsch – Bear Chase Brewing (4.5%)
• Honorable Mention: Cross-Eyed Kolsch Lite – Loco Lion Brewing (3.6%)

Light Lager

• Gold: Chilly Light – Chilly Hollow Brewing (4.7%)
• Silver: Barn Beer – Bluemont Station Brewing (4.6%)
• Honorable Mention: Poacher's Pilsner – Black Hoof Brewing (5.0%)

Dark Lager

• Gold / Best in Show: Cross Czech – Route 7 Brewing (5.2%)
• Silver: Muzzle Loader Munich Dunkel – Black Hoof Brewing (5.5%)
• Honorable Mention: Black Widow – Chilly Hollow Brewing (5.4%)

Fruited Beers

• Gold: Sour Bear Wild Berry – Bear Chase Brewing (5.2%)
• Silver: Merrang! – Crooked Run Fermentation (5.0%)
• Honorable Mention: Tropical Sunset – Bear Chase Brewing (8.8%)

Old World / International

• Gold: Boho Breeze – Route 7 Brewing (5.2%)
• Silver: Rhino Chasers – Lost Rhino Brewing (5.6%)
• Honorable Mention: Trippin' Daisies – Chilly Hollow Brewing (9.2%)

Hard Alternatives

• Gold: Bear Chase Chill – Bear Chase Brewing (4.7%)

Brewers Choice Awards

In addition to the blind-judged competition, the LCBA presented peer-voted Brewers Choice Awards recognizing outstanding contributions to the local craft beer community:

• Community Service Champion: Lark Brewing Company
• Brewer of the Year: Roger Knoell – Barnhouse Brewery
• General Manager of the Year: Sophia Salcido – Eleven Eleven Brewing
• Best Label Design(er): Logan Martin – Lost Rhino Brewing
• Event of the Year: Old Ox Brewery "Last Call" – The Burns Family
• Beertender of the Year: Connor Mackey – Harvest Gap Brewing
• Best of Loudoun Beer: "Meet Virginia" – Bear Chase Brewing

Bear Chase Brewing's Meet Virginia, which took the Best of Loudoun Beer award, is brewed with 100% Virginia-grown and Virginia-produced ingredients,  yeast from Loudoun, hops from Virginia growers, and malt from Virginia grain. The recipe evolves seasonally based on what's available from the state's agricultural supply chain.

Brewer of the Year Roger Knoell has been homebrewing since 1995 and is widely recognized across Loudoun County for mentoring new brewers entering the industry. Knoell helped support the launch of Crooked Run Fermentation and has served as a resource to brewers countywide.

The Event of the Year honor went to Old Ox Brewery's final day of operations on April 5, 2025. Old Ox co-founder Chris Burns helped establish the LCBA in January 2017 and served as its first Chairman. Loudoun County now has 44 licensed breweries.

About the Loudoun County Brewers Association

The Loudoun County Brewers Association is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit dedicated to growing the appreciation of craft beer through education, collaboration, advocacy, and responsible enjoyment. The LCBA works to strengthen the economic and social impact of the local brewing industry in Loudoun County and beyond.