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Bramwell Oktoberfest winners announced

Bramwell Oktoberfest 2014 was a showcase for West Virginia’s craft brewers and a true treat for those who attended. Nine of the state’s 11 breweries poured samples at this year’s festival, and all took home at least one medal in the commercial brewery competition. The festival took place on October 11.

Bramwell on the street
People line the street at Bramwell Oktoberfest 2014.

The rain stayed away and the temperature was mild—perfect fall weather for a craft beer festival. Over 1,000 people strolled the mansion-lined Bramwell streets sampling brews, festival food, and music.

Bramwell 2014 looks good on video

The beer seems to get better and better each year. The 2014 festival saw a number of exceptional beers on tap. In the video above, you get an overview of the festival and hear the brewers tell you what they served.

Best of Show Awards

Brian Anderson of Morgantown Brewing Company serves up a sample at Bramwell Oktoberfest.
Brian Anderson, head brewer at Morgantown Brewing Company, serves up a sample.

First Shift Coffee Porter from Morgantown Brewing Company walked off with top honors in Best of Show. The beer is dark and richly flavored with locally roasted coffee beans.  Awesome was the word often heard by folks sampling this beer. It’s no wonder it took Best of Show. Judges picked it first in the Specialty Beer category.

Morgantown also snagged 2nd place in the Oktoberfest category with its Marzen and 3rd place in Wheat & Belgian for its Brookside Saison. Taking home this load of medals is certainly reason for Head Brewer Brian Anderson to be quite proud.

Ryan Heastings of Charleston Brewing
Ryan Heastings brewer at Charleston Brewing Company with his medal-winning Citra ObSession IPA.

Citra ObSession IPA from Charleston Brewing Company, which has been a summer staple for many, took second in Best of Show and won the IPA category. It’s a citrusy hop-driven session IPA with a light body. It contains Amarillo and Mosaic in addition to Citra hops. Folks liked the nicely balanced yet assertive hoppiness of this beer. It’s pretty easy drinking but still eminently satisfying. Heastings has found the recipe for a great session IPA. We trust it will never leave his line-up.

Charleston Brewing also landed a 1st place in the Wheat & Belgian category for its Grisette and 3rd place in Oktoberfest/Harvest category for its Bandwagon. CBC Brewer Ryan Heastings had a most bountiful day, but deservedly so.

Nate Herrold of Bridge BrewWorks
Nathan Herrold of Bridge Brew Works offers a taste of his medal winning Oktoberfest Beer.

What would an Oktoberfest be without an Oktoberfest beer? Well, Bridge Brew Works absolutely nailed the clean maltly richness you expect in a fest lager. This one also has the added benefit of generous hopping giving it round bitterness and floral-herbal hop flavor to balance the malt.

Judges liked Bridge Brew Works Oktoberfest Beer so well they awarded it 1st place in the Fest/Harvest beer category and third place in Best of Show.

Other medal winners announced

2nd place, Wheat & Belgian
Snicklefritz, Wheeling Brewing Co.
Josh Clarke of Wheeling Brewing Company
Snicklefritz Roggenbier from Wheeling Brewing Company took second place in the Wheat & Belgian category. It was brewer Josh Clarke’s first try at making a rye beer. It appears he’s got a knack for it. Above, he offers a sample to curious festival goers.
2nd place, Pale Ale & IPA
Wild Trail Pale Ale, Greenbrier Valley Brewing Co.
Brian Reymiller
Wild Trail Pale Ale took a second place in the Pale Ale & IPA category. Brian Reymiller, Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company brewer, enjoys his first Bramwell event. Here he is serving a sample of Mothman Black IPA.
1st Place, Stout & Porter
Angus Macker Oatmeal Stout, Blackwater Brewing Co.
Angus Macker Hardy County Oatmeal Stout
Angus Macker Hardy County Oatmeal Stout won first place in the Porter & Stout category. Owner/brewer Lincoln Wilkins made the beer in honor of his ancestor who was from Hardy County, WV. Blackwater Brewing Company is in Davis, WV.
2nd place, Stout & Porter
Black Ale, Lost River Brewing Co.
3rd place. Specialty Beer Category
West Virginia Common, Lost River Brewing Co.
Adam Myers
Lost River Brewing took 2nd place in Stout & Porter with its Black Ale, and took 3rd in Specialty for its West Virginia Common. Taking home two medal makes this a very productive day for Adam Myers, who owns and operates the brewery located in Wardensville, WV.
2nd place, Specialty
Dolly Suds, Mountain State Brewing Company
Jess Supak Wamsley
Mountain State Brewing Company, Thomas, WV, had a medal winning day in the Specialty category with its Dolly Suds— a really cool Belgian Wit brewed with cranberry, coriander, and orange peel. Jess Supak Wamsley was a super representative of the brewery, always willing to explain each beer being sampled.
3rd place, Pale Ale & IPA
Pale Ale, Big Timber Brewing Company
Matt Kwasniewski
Big Timber Brewing took home the 3rd place medal in the Pale Ale/IPA category for its eponymous Big Timber Pale Ale. It was Matt Kwasniewski’s first showing at Bramwell as the brewery just opened in Elkins last May. He’s an excellent brewer and this medal will surely not be his last. Big Timber recently opened a brewery taproom in Elkins, WV.

 Beyond the medals

German food
German-themed food was plentiful this year at Bramwell Oktoberfest. Their costumes show they are serious.

Whether is was festival food, music or just conversation, you could find plenty to like about Bramwell Oktoberfest.  Brats with grilled onions and spicy mustard suited many. Others preferred the fried green beans. Still others took a full plate meal offered up by several local vendors.

Music at Bramwell Oktoberfest
Music at Bramwell Oktoberfest is always varied and good.

Music came from multiple stages placed throughout the festival area. Everything from folk and bluegrass to jazz and oom-pah could be heard. Fifteen bands played this year.

Hospitality reigns at Bramwell Oktoberfest

Bramwell hospitality
Great hospitality is what keeps many people returning to Bramwell year after year. Amanda Wilkins, of Blackwater Brewing Company, never serves a beer without including a smile.
George Sitler, Bramwell Oktoberfest
George Sitler, co-founder of Bramwell Oktoberfest

Maybe above all else, Bramwell Oktoberfest is known for its hospitality. As co-founder George Sitler likes to say, “it’s a relaxed, wonderful good time.” Others would say Bramwell is a laid back affair where anyone you meet might just become a new friend. People at the Bramwell festival all seem to be in a good mood.

You might think that its small-town location deep in the heart of Appalachia would keep the crowds away, but they find it. While most come from West Virginia and Virginia, it’s not uncommon to meet folks from several other states.

Kerri Allen & Owen Ogletree
Kerri Allen & Owen Ogletree

Owen Ogletree of Athens, Georgia, who along with his wife Kerri Allen have been coming most every year since 1998 to serve as beer judges, says, “We just fell in love with the place. The people are wonderful.”

Ogletree operates Brewtopia and the Classic City Brew Fest.

Plans are already underway for 2015. Watch the Bramwell Oktoberfest website for updates on the scheduled activities. Rooms in the area fill up fast.

Bramwell Mansion
Bramwell is known for its beautiful residences and tree-shaded streets.
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