Hardywood Park Craft Brewery’s Richmond Lager recognized as one of the best beers in the nation

Richmond, VA • October 15, 2024 — Hardywood Park Craft Brewer earned a Bronze medal at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival (GABF®) competition, hosted and presented by the Brewers Association. 

In the 2024 competition, beers and ciders spanning 107 categories and 175 different styles (including all subcategories) were meticulously judged by 285 judges over seven days. Awards presented during the Great American Beer Festival competition are considered coveted symbols of brewing excellence globally, and brews that receive an award are considered the most excellent representation of their style category. 

Hardywood Park Craft Brewery received recognition in the Contemporary American-Style Lager beer-style category for its Richmond Lager, Virginia’s best-selling American Craft Lager. Richmond Lager is an authentic, unfiltered lager crafted from the finest hops and barley malt. We are proud to continue supporting Virginia agriculture.  A portion of the grain bill incorporates Virginia-grown and malted 2-row barley from Murphy and Rude Malting Company. The use of Cascade hops lends a subtle citrus note to the finish. 

As Virginia’s largest craft brewer, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery’s mission is to brew with purpose. This charge comes alive in thoughtfully innovative recipes, a commitment to using local ingredients, and an obsession with quality. Beers range in style from traditional to experimental, but there’s a story behind each one. Hardywood’s top-selling beers include Richmond Lager, Great Return IPA, and the seasonal Gingerbread Stout. Hardywood operates a pilot brewery and taproom with a pizza kitchen in greater Scott’s Addition in the City of Richmond. At the same time, its primary production facility is located on a 24-acre destination brewery campus overlooking Tuckahoe Creek in West Creek, just west of Richmond, which hosts frequent festivals and operates a taproom with regular food trucks, live music, bocce courts, and a disc golf course. 

Thanks to a panel of 285 professional judges worldwide and over 250 volunteers, the Great American Beer Festival competition analyzed 9,216 entries over two phases and seven days. The 2024 competition saw entries from 1869 breweries and cideries from all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. 

The 2024 medals were unveiled during an intimate ceremony held at the Bellco Theatre in Denver on Saturday, October 12, 2024, as part of the Great American Beer Festival. For more information on the Great American Beer Festival competition, including a complete 2024 winners list and photos, visit GreatAmericanBeerFestival.com.