2025 Mug Club
2025 Mug Club memberships are available in Harrisonburg and Basye! Spots are limited so head to your favorite Pale Fire location to sign up now and start enjoying your benefits on January 1, 2025!
The 2025 annual membership is $100 and includes:
- 20oz ceramic mug to use when you’re here
- Extra 4oz with every beer pour
- Mug Club t-shirt
- 15% off beer to-go, merchandise, and food
- Half off your first mug of each new beer release
- Birthday beer
- Saturday happy hour
- No deposit on kegs
2022 Virginia Craft Beer Cup Winners Announced
Richmond, VA – The Virginia Craft Brewers Guild (VCBG) announced the 2022 Virginia Craft Beer Cup winners on Monday, August 8, 2022, at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery’s West Creek location. This year’s competition was managed by Head Judge, Charlie Harr, and took place at Old Ox Brewery in Ashburn, Virginia. A record 106 breweries competed in this year’s competition which included 14 new participants! Brewers were able to submit up to four beers to be judged in 33 different categories. A record 396 beers were entered in the competition.
“Wow, what a great competition!” said Charlie Harr, Head Judge, “It was clearly evident in the tight race that every brewery is extremely dedicated to the craft and their dedication is inspiring. This year’s competition proves Virginia has some of the best craft brewers in the nation.”
The Virginia Craft Beer Cup continues to be the largest state competition of its kind in the United States. The VCBG is committed to giving its members the opportunity to compete, obtain critical feedback from certified judges, and get statewide recognition that will help build their brands. The VCBG has developed additional media, retail marketing, and tourism opportunities for Cup winners, ranging from a Cup Winner Beer Trail to digital medals for labels, and retail POS displays.
“It’s fitting that on the 10th anniversary of SB604, the Virginia Craft Beer Cup has the most competitors in its history. The VCBG is initiating new marketing programs to drive thirsty consumers to tasting rooms to help grow independent craft beer,” said Brett Vassey, VCBG President and CEO.
See the full list of winners here, including:
CREAMS and BLONDES
First Place: Pale Fire Brewing Company, Taking Water
Second Place: Barley Naked Brewing Company, For Fox Sake
Third Place: Old Ox Brewery, Cream Ale
[The VIRGINIA CRAFT BEER COMPETITION trademark and all related marks are owned by the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild and are used with permission.]
2021 Virginia Craft Beer Cup Winners Announced
Richmond, VA – The Virginia Craft Brewers Guild (VCBG) announced the 2021 Virginia Craft Beer Cup winners on Monday, August 16, 2021, at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery’s West Creek location. This year’s competition was managed by Head Judge Charlie Harr. 283 beers in 20 categories from 95 independent craft breweries competed in the largest competition in VCBG history. Judging took place over three days (June 4th, 5th, and 12th) at Old Ox Brewery in Ashburn, Virginia.
“The Virginia Craft Brewers Guild and Virginia Craft Beer Cup’s 10th Anniversary is an amazing milestone,” said Janell Zurschmeide, Dirt Farm Brewing and VCBG Chair. “Celebrating the 2021 Cup competitors and winners with friends and colleagues is a fitting tribute to our members’ commitment to amazing independent craft beer.”
“This year’s competition was phenomenal,” said Charlie Harr, Head Judge. “Each brewery clearly exemplified their passion and their skills in the great beers put forward. That same passion was also shown by the tremendous judges as they worked to find the best of the best.”
The Virginia Craft Beer Cup continues to be the largest state competition of its kind in the United States. The VCBG is committed to giving its members the opportunity to compete, obtain critical feedback from certified judges, and get statewide recognition that will help build their brands. The VCBG is also developing additional media, retail marketing, and tourism opportunities for Cup winners this year, ranging from a Cup Winner Beer Trail to digital medals for labels and retail POS displays.
“The Guild is excited to celebrate its 10th Anniversary and recognizing the winners of the 2021 Virginia Craft Beer Cup is the best way to celebrate,” said Brett Vassey, VCBG President & CEO.
See the full list of winners here, including:
IPA
First Place Pale Fire Brewing Company, Arrant IPA
Second Place Fair Winds Brewing Company, Howling Gale
Third Place The Vanguard Brewery & Distillery, Snap Guns IPA
Bitter Cold (Winter 2019-20)
Embrace the bitter cold and enjoy a season of india pale ales from Pale Fire Brewing Co! We’re asking for on-premise accounts to commit to pouring Pale Fire IPAs all winter long, with a new beer available each month. Contact your local sales representative to order.
DECEMBER 2019:
Wasted Words Belgian IPA
7.0% ABV – 80 IBU
Human Fly is a-buzz buzz buzz with the 4-Cs hops that started it all.
Enough crystal malt to bring the West Coast sun to your glass, &
a juicy, bitter orange flavor just begging for a summer fling.
Go back West, young ‘un!
JANUARY 2020:
Bend Sinister Noble Haze IPA
8.0% ABV – 5 IBU
A distortion from the expected, Bend Sinister is not your average hazy IPA. A clean malt base meets herbal and spicy notes from late addition Saaz, Hallertau Mittelfruh, and Perle hops. You’re never living too late for a new take.
FEBRUARY 2020:
Underground Fantasy IPA
6.5% ABV – 60 IBU
There’s nothing abstract about this addition to our India Pale Ale collection. Simple ingredients are layered to create something original with elongated notes of floral, citrus and spice from Cascade, Centennial, and Amarillo.
Great American Beer Festival 2019 | Red Molly Wins Bronze Medal
Pale Fire Brewing Co Wins Bronze Medal at the 2019 Great American Beer Festival
Red Molly Irish Red recognized for brewing excellence at the world’s largest commercial beer competition
Harrisonburg, VA * Oct 5th, 2019 – Red Molly Irish Red was awarded a bronze medal at the 2019 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) competition, the world’s largest commercial beer competition. The GABF, presented by the Brewers Association, recognizes the most outstanding beers produced in the United States. Medals were awarded on October 5th at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, in 107 beer categories covering 174 different beer styles, establishing the best examples of each style in the country.
Pale Fire Brewing was recognized in the Irish Style Red Ale beer-style category for it’s Red Molly Irish Red, a 5.6% abv red ale that features notes of toffee and cherry. It’s an excellent beer to pair with food, especially a hearty Irish stew, a spicy Thai dish, or, of course, pizza.
“Red Molly was about making a versatile beer we’d never get tired of. We constantly have new beers being released but Red Molly is year round and always served in our Tap Room. As designed, it’s the beer that I most commonly order when I get off work” said Ben Trumbo, Head Brewer at Pale Fire Brewing Co.
In the 33rd edition of the GABF competition, 9,497 entries were submitted to the general competition. The beer was made by 2,295 breweries from across the nation, with entries from all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Judging took place over the course of three days, with an international panel of 322 judges from 18 countries.
“This year’s GABF competition was the largest and most competitive to date.” Said Chris Swersey, competition manager, Great American Beer Festival. “The beers and talent were as impressive as ever, and I’m thrilled to congratulate this year’s winners for their achievements in brewing.”
Bitter Cold (Winter 2018-19)
Embrace the bitter cold and enjoy a season of india pale ales from Pale Fire Brewing Co! We’re asking for on-premise accounts to commit to pouring Pale Fire IPAs all winter long, with a new beer available each month. Contact your local sales representative to order.
DECEMBER 2018:
Human Fly West Coast IPA
6.5% ABV – 70 IBU
Human Fly is a-buzz buzz buzz with the 4-Cs hops that started it all.
Enough crystal malt to bring the West Coast sun to your glass, &
a juicy, bitter orange flavor just begging for a summer fling.
Go back West, young ‘un!
JANUARY 2019:
Night Echo Black Double IPA
8.2% ABV – 70 IBU
Inviting the ghosts of the evening, Night Echo drifts from layers of spicy, caramel rye and roasted malts into the increasing complexities of Amarillo and Mosaic hops. Dreams drift into wakefulness, blurring perception.
FEBRUARY 2019:
Negative Boogie New England IPA
7.0% ABV – 20 IBU
There’s no use for bittering hops,
they died for the Hazy age.
El Dorado, Citra, Willamette,
and Mandarina Bavaria.
New Hours: July 2018
As of July 1, 2018 our tap room in downtown Harrisonburg will be open daily at 1:00pm. Our new hours will be:
Monday 1-11pm
Tuesday 1-11pm
Wednesday 1-11pm
Thursday 1-11pm
Friday 1-11pm
Saturday 1-11pm
Sunday 1-9pm
Virginia Craft Beer Cup 2018 | Red Molly Wins Gold Medal
Red Molly Irish Red Ale won first place at the 2018 Virginia Craft Beer Cup, held by the Virginia Craft Brewers Guild. The award ceremony was held at WestRock in Richmond, Virginia. There were nearly 300 brewers in attendance and 375 beers in 27 categories were entered into the competition.
Bitter Cold: A Season of IPAs
Embrace the bitter cold and enjoy a season of india pale ales from Pale Fire Brewing Co! We’re asking for on-premise accounts to commit to pouring Pale Fire IPAs all winter long, with a new beer available each month. Contact your local sales representative to order.
DECEMBER 2017:
Major Tom Galaxy IPA
6.5% ABV – 65 IBU
Major Tom may be an American IPA, but Australian-grown Galaxy hops shape its stellar character at every turn, from bittering to dry-hopping. Notes of bright grapefruit, orange peel, and passion fruit shine through from lift-off to splash-down thanks to a clean and crisp American malt bill.
JANUARY 2018:
Human Fly West Coast IPA
6.5% ABV – 70 IBU
Human Fly is a-buzz buzz buzz with the 4-Cs hops that started it all.
Enough crystal malt to bring the West Coast sun to your glass, &
a juicy, bitter orange flavor just begging for a summer fling.
Go back West, young ‘un!
FEBRUARY 2018:
Walking Spanish Citra & Mosaic IPA
8.4% ABV – 85 IBU
A murder of silhouettes watch
a young brewer digging a hole with a spoon.
Arrant, our beloved IPA, has been dry hopped
with 50% Mosaic and 50% Citra hops.
Danker and denser, with a tropical nose.
That damn fine blunder is going to start a rumble.
Pale Fire Bottles Hits Shelves in VA & DC
Pale Fire Brewing Company has recently purchased a bottling line and will now have Deadly Rhythm Pale Ale and Salad Days American Saison 12oz bottles in a regular production schedule. You can find the new six-packs throughout retail stores in Virginia and Washington, D.C.