Jeff Metz Wins Big at Virginia Craft Brewers Cup!
Congratulations to Jeff Metz for adding 3 more medals to his already large and impressive collection of brewing awards! At the 2026 Virginia Craft Brewers Cup on Monday, August 10th, Jeff took home 2 bronze and 1 gold medal. Learn more about Jeff's beers below.
2026 MEDALS
🥇 GOLD: “Under the Radar” - Franconian Amber Lager
🥉 BRONZE: “Stupid Sexy Flanders” - European Sour; Flanders Style Red Ale
🥉 BRONZE: “Exit Strategy” - Specialty IPA; Fresh Hop Hazy IPA
Learn about the beers
"Under the Radar" Franconian Amber Lager (5.0% abv)
A classic German style amber lager that originates in the Franconia region of Germany (northern Bavaria). While similar in color to Vienna or Oktoberfest/Marzen style lagers from near by regions it sets it self apart with firm yet smooth hop bitterness and an elevated noble hop aroma. A blend of specialty malts and a decoction mash regime add depth and complexity to the flavor and mouthfeel of this beer. The neat thing about this beer is it packs in a lot of malt flavor and aroma without the sweetness normally expected with malt forward beers. The combination of the kettle hopping and mash process bring this beer into balance resulting in a very drinkable malt forward beer. While this style is certainly under the radar of most beer drinkers it just might become one of their new favorite styles.
"Exit Strategy" Fresh Hop Hazy Pale Ale (5.4% abv)
This hazy pale ale focuses on fresh (wet) Citra hops with some helpful support from Cryo Pop hop blend and New Zealand grown Riwaka and Rakau. Fresh Valencia orange dominates the aroma with background notes of peach, apricot and passionfruit. The flavor shifts slightly towards melon, red berries, and a touch of raw hop resin. This beer packs the hop profile of a hazy IPA with a fresh hop twist into a smaller abv package.
"Stupid Sexy Flanders" Flanders Style Red Ale (5.8% abv)
This gold and bronze medal-winning beer has been aging and blended in our foeder since 2019! Stupid Sexy Flanders showcases a special blend of yeast and bacteria take an exceptionally long time ferment and develop complex flavors and aromas. Aromas of dark sour cherries, wheat crackers, warm oak with subtle sherry, cacao, and vanilla notes.
You might notice that the acidity presents itself differently in this beer compared to many other sour beers we and other brewers make. That's a result of several different types of bacteria at work that produce lactic and some acetic acid (think vinegar). In addition to multiple bacteria strains this beer also has 2 strains of Brettanomyces and a Belgian brewing yeast, which attribute layers fruity cherry pie, classic Brett funk and subtle spice character.
After years of aging in a toasted oak foeder the beer has picked up a nice level of tannins (which help bring balance to the sweet and sour profile of Flanders Red) as well as wonderful vanillin(a flavor compound found in American oak and by no surprise tastes and smells like vanilla).
Named in reference to a Simpsons episode where Homer's neighbor, Ned Flanders, is sporting a new skiing outfit which leads to distracting Homer while skiing causing a terrible wreck and Homer shouting "Stupid Sexy Flanders!"
See the full list of Jeff’s medals
Virginia Craft Brewers Cup
2023:
Gold: Dark European Lager, “Dark Biddings”
Silver: Smoked Beer, “Two Dogs Walkin”
2024
Silver: Dark European Lager, “Dark Biddings”
Bronze: European Sour, “Stupid Sexy Flanders”
2025
Gold: European Sour, “Stupid Sexy Flanders”
2026
Gold: Amber Lager, “Under the Radar”
Bronze: European Sour, “Stupid Sexy Flanders”
Bronze: Specialty IPA, “Exit Strategy”
great american beer festival
2024
Gold: American Fruit Beer, “Hey Girl, Hey”
Bronze: Pro-Am Comp, “South of Helles”
2025
Bronze: German Style Pils, “Second Rodeo”
WORLD BEER CUP
2025
Gold: American Fruit Beer, “Hey Girl, Hey”