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.

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

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.

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.

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.

2nd place, Pale Ale & IPA
Wild Trail Pale Ale, Greenbrier Valley Brewing Co.

1st Place, Stout & Porter
Angus Macker Oatmeal Stout, Blackwater Brewing Co.

2nd place, Stout & Porter
Black Ale, Lost River Brewing Co.

3rd place. Specialty Beer Category
West Virginia Common, Lost River Brewing Co.

2nd place, Specialty
Dolly Suds, Mountain State Brewing Company

3rd place, Pale Ale & IPA
Pale Ale, Big Timber Brewing Company

 Beyond the medals

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 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

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.

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.

Links

• Bramwell Oktoberfest Website
• Big Timber Brewing
• Blackwater Brewing
• Bridge Brew Works
• Charleston Brewing
• Greenbrier Valley Brewing
• Lost River Brewing
• Morgantown Brewing
• Mountain State Brewing
• Wheeling Brewing