Get Out Loudoun September 2021

SEP 2021

Loudoun Now Your guide to Loudoun’s Entertainment Scene

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You’ll find a perfect place to park it.

{reservations required–always free} ©Krysta Norman Photography

©Alicia Bruce Photography

Park it in any seat at Doukénie and you will say “ahhhh”. Guests with munchkins and leashed pups are welcome in the lovely, outdoor green spaces.

The Tasting Room, Pavilion, Deck, Terrace, and Bistro Patio seating areas are all total attractants for 21 year olds and over.

Visit our website for musical performances on our event calendar along with scheduled food vendors.

Please check us on-line for current COVID guidelines.

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visit every friday night for bistro with live music and food.

21 and older seating only 6 to 9 pm reserve through our website, www.doukeniewinery.com

Hours: Thursday 12 - 5 p.m.

Friday 12 - 5 p.m. + Bistro 6 - 9 p.m.

Saturday + Sunday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Mon. - Wed. 12 - 5 p.m. Curbside Pick-up Food by Roots 657

for reservations go to: www.doukeniewinery.com Younger than 21 + pets in “green space” area only Outside food not allowed

14727 Mountain Road Purcellville, VA (540) 668-6464

©Krysta Norman Photography

www.doukeniewinery.com ©Alicia Bruce Photography

Inside: GET OUT LOUDOUN

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Get Out Loudoun is distributed monthly to entertainment, tourism, and hospitality venues throughout Loudoun County.

For the latest news on the music scene and other community events, go to getoutloudoun.com.

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CONTRIBUTORS Douglas Graham Renss Greene Jan Mercker Norman K. Styer ON THE COVER Photo by Douglas Graham A view of the Shenandoah Valley from the Bear’s Den overlook along the Appalachian Trail.

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ART SCENE Eschewing paintbrushes and palettes, artist Patrick Burns prefers to create with chainsaws and chisels.

BREWS Loudoun’s brewers went up against the commonwealth’s best, scoring big in Virginia’s Craft Beer Cup competition.

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LIBATION Need more rye? Purcellville’s pioneering Catoctin Creek Distilling Co. is expanding again, tripling its production capacity.

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getoutloudoun.com

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FAIR DAYS A little fresh country air, a little history, a little music, and a lot of community pride: Bluemont and Waterford invite visitors in.

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TO ADVERTISE Susan Styer at 703-770-9723 or sales@loudounnow.com

TUNES The Crossroads Music Festival brings together some of the area’s top musicians for an evening of music— and charitable fundraising—throughout Leesburg’s historic district.

HAPPENINGS The Appalachian Trail has grown as a destination during the pandemic. This month, the community celebrates this backyard treasure.

BEST BETS Get Out Loudoun’s recommendations for September.

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Loudoun on Two wheels

BY VISIT LOUDOUN

Fall is a great time to explore Loudoun by bike, and we are lucky to be home to what people call Virginia’s skinniest park, the Washington & Old Dominion Trail. This 45-mile-long cycling, walking, and—in parts—equestrian trail is built on the former W&OD railway line. With 20 miles of the trail in Loudoun, there is no shortage of places to stop along the way and support local businesses.

Begin the adventure near the restored, circa 1904 train station in Purcellville, and don’t forget to snap a photo with the wine-themed LOVE art that pays tribute to the region’s rich wine country. Grab a donut or homemade cookie from Sweet Rose Bakeshop to serve as fuel along the way.

As you head east, take in the spectacular Piedmont scenery of vineyards, fields of grain and lush green pastures dotted with cows, horses, and red barns. Enjoy the open views of the Blue Ridge Mountains as you near Hamilton Station Road, which marks the spot where the W&OD train once stopped. Once near Hamilton, you could cycle south into Hamilton village, or north, one mile up the hill, for a cool glass of Viognier at The Barns at Hamilton Station Vineyards.

Continue your adventure to Harry Bird Highway and take the steep climb to grab some refreshments at Vino 9 Market. The melted brie, apple and honey sandwich is a favorite or try the smoked mac and cheese before you continue east toward historic Leesburg.

Park your bike at Raflo Park and explore the sculpture garden, then download the Leesburg Walking Tour App, which features everything from guided public art tours to history tours.

Shop trendy boutiques, visit the Loudoun Museum and cool off with an oversized ice cream cone from Mocatinas. Bike through town on Sept. 18 to experience the Crossroads Music Festival, which will feature regional musicians and bands at various venues throughout Leesburg.

Photo by Douglas Graham

Cyclists enjoy a ride on the bike trail network in Leesburg.

Ashburn. Besides home to local favorites like Carolina Brothers Pit BBQ and the Wine’ing Butcher Market, this mile marker is also just steps from Old Ox Brewery. Enjoy a Golden Ale, Pale Ale or Porter in the outdoor beer garden.

For people who prefer a bit more off-roading by bike, Loudoun is also home to more than 300 miles of unpaved, gravel roads. Dating back to the 1700s, these roads take riders through Loudoun’s rich agricultural scene, past horse country, vineyards and farms. In early 2021, Loudoun County released a downloadable map of the rural roads to follow. Or, participate in the annual 1725 Gravel Grinder scenic bike ride, which follows the historic gravel roads in Northern Virginia.

For more information, visit visitloudoun.org/getout

After exploring Leesburg, pedal to mile 25 in 4

GET OUT LOUDOUN

SEPTEMBER 2021

TUNES

Crossroads Music Festival Returns Showcase Features 25 Performers Throughout Leesburg’s Arts & Cultural District Twenty-five musicians and bands will perform original music for BENEFIT’s 2021 Crossroads Music Festival. The event will be held at nine different venues in the historic downtown area of Leesburg’s Arts & Cultural District starting at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18.

Established in 2017, BENEFIT is a coalition of musicians and community leaders uniting people with music to raise funds and awareness for nonprofits serving children in Loudoun County.

“BENEFIT’s Crossroads Music Festival is an event that showcases original music from some of the amazing artists in our region,” said BENEFIT co-founder Ara Bagdasarian. “It’s going to be a great evening of live music, and we hope festival attendees enjoy their time and know that they are helping support nonprofits that serve children.”

Music styles include acoustic, Americana, rock, country, and metal. Each artist will perform a 6

60-minute set at their designated venue.

Advance tickets may be purchased online for $15. Tickets also will be available at each venue on Sept. 18 for $25. Tickets are not required for entry at any venue participating in Crossroads Music Festival. However, proceeds from ticket sales benefit nonprofit organizations that serve children in Loudoun County.

With ticket purchase, attendees will receive a wristband and a Crossroads Music Festival T-shirt at check-in. Wristbands will provide attendees access to event-day specials at participating music venues.

The inaugural music festival was held in 2019. While they were not able to hold the Crossroads Music Festival in 2020 because of the pandemic, BENEFIT’s 2020 Hope for the Holidays online music special raised $20,000,

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CROSSROADS

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SEPTEMBER 2021

MUSICIANS PERFORMING AT BENEFIT’S CROSSROADS MUSIC FESTIVAL INCLUDE:

Big Bad Juju • Rheese Crutcher • Dave Goodrum Music Favorite Child • Frayed Knots • Form of Expression GHEEPS • Shye Gilad • Good Old Country • Rob Hanes Julia Kasdorf • King St. • Max Redding & The Dogwood Gospel Dave Mininberg • Melissa Quinn Fox Band • Notes n’ Beats Purple Voyagers • Bill Rose and Laurie Blue • Rule of 3rds Gary Smallwood • Skomucon • StoneCold Summer & Eric Duo • The Train Wreck Endings • Willie White Photo by Norman K. Styer

Left / Frayed Knots, featuring Leesburg councilman and BENFIT co-founder Ara Bagdasarian on guitar, is among the two dozen performers joining in the 2021 Crossroads Music Festival on Sept. 18 throughout downtown Leesburg.

CROSSROADS FROM PAGE 6

which was distributed to seven nonprofit organizations in Loudoun County.

Funds raised at the 2021 Crossroads Music Festival will be distributed in spring 2022 to Loudoun County nonprofits through a grant application process.

“We are so excited and are really looking forward to our music festival this year,” said BENEFIT co-founder Amy Bobchek. “So many people are generously donating their time and talents to make our 2021 Crossroads Music Festival a success. Supporting nonprofit organizations that serve children is the mission of our organization, and events such as our music festival are great ways to shine a spotlight on the work that they do.”

With BENEFIT’s 2021 Crossroads Music Festival taking place in the downtown area of Leesburg’s Arts & Cultural District, festival attendees will have a bonus opportunity to learn about and experience the music and art that Leesburg has to offer.

As part of the festival, the Leesburg Commission of Public Arts will be celebrating the official launch of Leesburg’s Arts & Cultural District. A SEPTEMBER 2021

brief ceremony will take place at 4:45 p.m. on the lawn of the Loudoun County Courthouse.

Crossroads Music Festival attendees are invited to join COPA’s celebration to learn more about the commission, the Friends of Leesburg Public Art and Leesburg’s Arts & Cultural District.

Leesburg’s downtown area, along with part of Catoctin Circle, received designation as a Virginia Arts & Cultural District in 2011. Public art installations, including murals and sculptures, are points of interest that can be found throughout the district.

“Music and art are great ways to bring community members together,” Leesburg Mayor Kelly Burk said. “It is wonderful to see such a terrific volunteer organization like BENEFIT working to support nonprofit organizations that serve our community. The town is proud to be part of BENEFIT’s efforts, and we are excited they are holding the event in venues in the downtown area of Leesburg’s Arts & Cultural District. It is going to be a fantastic evening, and we hope festival attendees enjoy their time.”

Ticket, artist and venue information for Crossroads Music Festival performances can be found at CrossroadsMusicFest.org.

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Photo by Doug Graham

Fair Days Two of Loudoun’s longest-running celebrations of rural community life are back this year. The Bluemont Fair, held in the Blue Ridge Mountain village Sept. 18-19, is in its 51st year. The Waterford Fair, held Oct. 1-3, got its start in 1943. Both are returning this year after COVIDrelated cancellations in 2020.

BLUEMONT FAIR The Bluemont Fair is a family-oriented harvest festival featuring traditional crafts, local art and authors, craft and farming demonstrations, colonial re-enactors and a Native American village, live music, a children’s fair, petting zoo, pie-baking and pickle-making contests, antiques and collectables vendors and more.

Originally named Snickers’ Gap and then Snickersville, the village served as the western terminus of the W&OD railroad from 1900 until service was discontinued west of Purcellville in 1939. The railroad owners advocated the name Bluemont to attract summer refugees from the sweltering heat of Washington, DC, to the area’s mountain lodges and hotels. While the 8

Photo by Norman K. Styer

At the Bluemont Fair visitors will find everything from barbecue to honeybees.

hotels and boarding houses are now private residences, the village is little changed from its tourism heyday.

The annual fair is sponsored by the Bluemont Citizens Association. Money raised helps pay for street lighting, local student scholarships, and community beautification and historic preservation projects.

Admission is $10, with children age 9 and under free. Parking is near the Bluemont Community Center at 33846 Snickersville Turnpike.

For details, go to bluemontfair.org

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FAIR DAYS

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SEPTEMBER 2021

FAIR DAYS FROM PAGE 8

WATERFORD FAIR Traditionally titled the Waterford Homes Tour and Crafts Exhibit, the annual community festival was launched in 1943. It has long ranked as among Loudoun County’s largest events, attracting more than 10,000 visitors over its three-day run.

Established in the 1733 as Janney’s Mill, the village was a major center of commerce in 18th century Loudoun. Community efforts to preserve the village culminated in 1970, when Waterford was named a National Historic Landmark, a recognition of its 18th and 19thcentury architecture and landscape.

Through the decades, the fair has played a major role in that preservation effort, with the Waterford Foundation using proceeds to purchase and restore structures and to obtain easements on the surrounding land.

The fair returns this year with a large roster of popular vendors and artisans—and a new twist on its traditional historic homes tour. Instead of having crowds line up for indoor tours, village residents will open their rarely seen gardens behind the homes. Docents will discuss the history of the houses and discuss the plants

and plantings in these special spaces. The event also features historic reenactors, live music, children’s activities, crafting workshops, and local craft beverages.

Advance tickets are available at waterfordfairva. org or by calling 540-882-3018 during office hours, Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Tickets at the gate are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors, $15 for students, and free for children 12 and younger. Early Bird special, 3-day pass, and group rates are also available.

For more information, go to waterfordfairva.org.

SEPTEMBER 2021

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ART SCENE

Photo by Douglas Graham

Patrick Burns poses with his latest work, a sculpture of marine life created from an 8,000-pound piece of maple.

Chainsaws and Chisels: For Sculptor Patrick Burns, The Joy is in The Detail

BY JAN MERCKER

For sculptor and woodworker Patrick Burns, it’s all about listening to the wood.

Burns has been quietly running his studio west of Leesburg for several years. But recently, he caught the attention of the county’s arts community with a mesmerizing large-scale aquatic-themed sculpture.

When Burns got his hands on an impressive 12-foot, 8,000-pound slab of maple, he immediately thought of an octopus.

marine life, including a dolphin, a sea turtle and small fish.

As with most of his projects, the process starts with an idea and a chainsaw and gets more detailed from there. It’s a process that’s both physically demanding and detail-oriented.

“I grab a chainsaw and put on some good music and try to get a basic rough-out,” Burns said.

Then Burns turns to his prized set of chisels to get down to the fine details. Tackling those details isn’t always easy, as he found while working on the sea turtle in his latest piece, one of his favorite but most challenging elements.

Sometimes it takes a few days of reflection and letting the wood speak to him.

“There were days when I wouldn’t touch it. I’d sit there and try to get the courage to detail the turtle,” he said. “It’s one of those things—you just need to do it.”

“It just spoke to me,” Burns said. “The size of it allowed me to do this.”

The result is a large but stunningly intricate piece, featuring a detailed octopus and other 10

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PATRICK BURNS

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SEPTEMBER 2021

“ There’s definitely some chemistry ...

I feel like I know this wood like the back of my hand. ” PATRICK BURNS FROM PAGE 10

The self-taught artist runs his studio on commission work, including sculptures, signs and furniture pieces. But a couple of times every year, he finds the perfect slab of wood for a large-scale personal project like the octopus, his largest and most complex piece to date.

Burns, 34, grew up on his parents’ blackberry farm near Leesburg. One of six children, he learned his way around power tools and chainsaws as a teen helping around the farm.

He was always drawn to art but didn’t make college plans when he graduated from Loudoun County High School in 2005.

Burns went straight to work out of high school, with a series of jobs including restaurant work, while honing his woodworking skills. Seven years ago, when a pastry chef friend died, he did a carving of a cake to remember her.

Friends saw that piece and asked about other commissioned work.

As commissions started to flow, Burns’ parents let him turn a barn on their property into a woodworking studio, and he launched Tree Life Art as a full-time business. Burns has grown his studio based on commissions for sculptures, signs, furniture and other pieces based on word-of-mouth referrals.

“It’s what I’ve been searching for for the longest time,” he said.

He has also become one of a group of Loudoun artists and woodworkers who get calls from arborists when historic trees need to be taken down. Property owners often want to commission a special piece—a bench, a table or a sculpture—from a beloved tree.

SEPTEMBER 2021

Last month, Burns got a call from the owner of a 200-year-old tree in western Loudoun, did a site visit and made plans with the owner to make a bench as a way to preserve a part of a landmark.

Burns is also looking to take his artistic projects to the next level—working to build connections in the Loudoun arts community and connect with galleries as his studio enters the next phase. He’s currently talking with potential buyers for the octopus sculpture and plans to connect with environmental and other nonprofits to talk about potential donations for charity auctions or sales.

“Without nature, this wouldn’t be possible.

There would be no inspiration,” he said.

And just like with the octopus sculpture, he’ll keep listening to the wood and waiting for it to guide him.

“There’s a relationship there,” he said. “There’s definitely some chemistry. ... I feel like I know this wood like the back of my hand.”

For more information about Patrick Burns and Tree Life Art, go to facebook.com/patburns32.

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WINERIES 1 50 West Vineyards 39060 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg 50westvineyards.com 2 8 Chains North Winery 38593 Daymont Ln., Waterford, VA 8chainsnorth.com 3 868 Estate Vineyards 14001 Harpers Ferry Rd., Purcellville 868estatevineyards.com 4 The Barns at Hamilton Station 16804 Hamilton Station Rd., Hamilton thebarnsathamiltonstation.com 5 Bleu Frog Vineyards 16413 James Monroe Hwy, Leesburg bleufrogvineyards.com 6 Bluemont Vineyard 18755 Foggy Bottom Rd., Bluemont bluemontvineyard.com 7 Bogati Winery 35246 Harry Byrd Hwy., Round Hill bogatiwinery.com 8 Boxwood Estate Winery 2042 Burrland Rd., Middleburg boxwoodwinery.com 9 Breaux Vineyards 36888 Breaux Vineyards Ln., Hillsboro breauxvineyards.com

10 Bozzo Family Vineyards 35226 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro bozwines.com 11 Cana Vineyards of Middleburg 38600 John Mosby Hwy., Middleburg canavineyards.com 12 Casanel Vineyards 17952 Canby Rd., Leesburg casanelvineyards.com 13 Chrysalis Vineyards 39025 John Mosby Hwy., Aldie chrysaliswine.com 14 Corcoran Vineyards & Cider 14635 Corkys Farm Ln., Waterford corcoranvineyards.com 15 Creek’s Edge Winery 41255 Annas Ln., Lovettsville creeksedgewinery.com 16 Crushed Cellars 37938 Charles Town Pike, Purcellville crushedcellars.com 17 Doukenie Winery 14727 Mountain Rd., Hillsboro doukeniewinery.com 18 Dry Mill Vineyards & Winery 18195 Dry Mill Rd., Leesburg drymillwine.com

19 Eagletree Farm & Vineyards 15100 Harrison Hill Lane, Leesburg eagletreevineyards.com 20 Fabbioli Cellars 15669 Limestone School Rd., Leesburg fabbioliwines.com 21 Firefly Cellars 40325 Charles Town Pike, Hamilton fireflycellars.com 22 Fleetwood Farm Winery 23075 Evergreen Mills Rd., Leesburg fleetwoodfarmwinery.com 23 Forever Farm & Vineyards 15779 Woodgrove Road, Purcellville foreverfarmandvineyard.com 24 Greenhill Winery & Vineyards 23595 Winery Ln., Middleburg greenhillvineyards.com 25 Hidden Brook Winery 43301 Spinks Ferry Rd., Leesburg hiddenbrookwinery.com 26 Hiddencroft Vineyards 12202 Axline Rd., Lovettsville hiddencroftvineyards.com 27 Lost Creek Winery 43285 Spinks Ferry Rd., Leesburg lostcreekwinery.com

28 Maggie Malick Wine Caves 12138 Harpers Ferry Rd., Hillsboro maggiemalickwinecaves.com 29 Otium Cellars 18050 Tranquility Rd., Purcellville otiumcellars.com 30 Stone Tower Winery 19925 Hogback Mountain Rd., L’burg stonetowerwinery.com 31 Stonehouse Meadery 36580 Shoemaker School Rd., Purcellville stonehousemeadery.com 32 Sunset Hills Vineyard 38295 Fremont Overlook Ln, Purcellville sunsethillsvineyard.com 33 Tarara Winery 13648 Tarara Ln, Leesburg tarara.com

34 Terra Nebulo 39892 Old Wheatland Rd., Waterford terranebulo.com 35 Three Creeks Winery 18548 Harmony Church Road, Hamilton 3creekswinery.com 36 Two Twisted Posts Winery 12944 Harpers Ferry Rd., Hillsboro twotwistedposts.com 37 Village Winery 40405 Browns Lane, Waterford villagewineryandvineyards.com 38 Willowcroft Farm Vineyards 38906 Mount Gilead Rd., Leesburg willowcroftwine.com 39 The Wine Reserve at Waterford 38516 Charles Town Pike, Waterford waterfordwinereserve.com

40 Walsh Family Wine 16031 Hillsboro Rd., Purcellville northgatevineyard.com 41 Williams Gap Vineyards 35785 Sexton Farm Lane, Round Hill williamsgavineyard.com 42 Winery 32 15066 Limestone School Rd., Leesburg winery32.com 43 Zephaniah Farm Vineyard 19381 Dunlop Mill Rd., Leesburg zephwine.com

BREWERIES 1 Adroit Theory Brewing 404 Browning Ct., Purcellville adroit-theory.com 2 B Chord Brewing Company 34266 Williams Gap Rd., Round Hill bchordbrewing.com 3 Barnhouse Brewery 43271 Spinks Ferry Rd., Leesburg barnhousebrewery.com 4 Bear Chase Brewing 33665 Bear Chase Ln., Bluemont bearchasebrew.com 5 Belly Love Brewing Company 725 E. Main St., Purcellville bellylovebrewing.com 6 Beltway Brewing Company 22620 Davis Dr. Ste 110, Sterling beltwaybrewco.com 7 Black Hoof Brewing Company 11 South King St., Leesburg blackhoofbrewing.com 8 Black Walnut Brewery 210 S. King St., Leesburg blackwalnutbrewery.com 9 Crooked Run Brewing Central 22455 Davis Dr., Sterling crookedrunbrewing.com 10 Crooked Run Brewing Market Station, Leesburg crookedrunbrewing.com

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11 Dirt Farm Brewing 18701 Foggy Bottom Rd., Bluemont dirtfarmbrewing.com Dynasty Brewing Company 21140 Ashburn Crossing Drive, Ashburn 101 Loudoun St, SE, Leesburg dynastybrewing.com Flying Ace Farm 40950 Flying Ace Ln, Lovettsville flyingacefarm.com Harper’s Ferry Brewing 37412 Adventure Ctr. Lane, Hillsboro harpersferrybrewing.com Harvest Gap Brewery 15485 Purcellville Road, Hillsboro facebook.com/HarvestGap House 6 Brewing 4427 Atwater Dr., Ashburn house6brewing.com Lost Barrel Brewing 36138 John Mosby Highway, Middleburg lostbarrel.com Lost Rhino Brewing Company 21730 Red Rum Rd. #142, Ashburn lostrhino.com Loudoun Brewing Company 310 E. Market St., Leesburg loudounbrewing.com Ocelot Brewing Company 23600 Overland Dr., #180, Dulles ocelotbrewing.com

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21 Old 690 Brewing Company 15670 Ashbury Church Rd., Hillsboro old690.com Old Ox Brewery 44652 Guilford Dr., Ste 114, Ashburn oldoxbrewery.com Old Ox Brewery Middleburg 14 S Madison St, Middleburg, VA Phase 2 Brewing 19382 Diamond Lake Dr, Lansdowne Phase2Brewing.com Rocket Frog Brewing Company 22560 Glenn Dr. #103, Sterling rocketfrogbeer.com Solace Brewing Company 42615 Trade West Dr., Sterling solacebrewing.com Sweetwater Tavern 45980 Waterview Plaza, Sterling greatamericanrestaurants.com The Craft of Brewing 21140 Ashburn Crossing Dr., Ashburn thecraftob.com Twinpanzee Brewing Co. 101 Executive Dr., Sterling twinpanzee.com Vanish Farmwoods Brewery 42245 Black Hops Ln., Lucketts vanishbeer.com Wheatland Springs Farm 38454 John Wolford Rd., Waterford

BREWERIES & WINERIES 1 Hillsborough Brewery & Vineyards 36716 Charles Town Pike, Hillsboro hillsboroughwine.com

2 Notaviva Brewery and Winery 13274 Sagle Rd., Hillsboro notavivavineyards.com

3 Quattro Goomba’s Brewery & Winery 22860 James Monroe Hwy., Aldie goombawine.com

BREWS

Photo by Renss Greene

Brewer Favio Garcia and Dynasty Brewing earned Best in Show recognition during the 2021 Virginia Craft Beer Cup competition for the 838 Stout.

Loudoun Brewers Score Big at Virginia Craft Beer Cup Competition Ox Brewery in Ashburn. It was a record number of entries for the largest statewide competition in the U.S.

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“The Virginia Craft Brewers Guild and Virginia Craft Beer Cup’s 10th Anniversary is an amazing milestone,” said Guild Chairwoman Janell Zurschmeide, of Bluemont’s Dirt Farm Brewing. “Celebrating the 2021 Cup competitors and winners with friends and colleagues is a fitting tribute to our members’ commitment to amazing independent craft beer.” he Virginia Craft Brewers Guild held its largest-ever Craft Beer Cup competition this summer and Loudoun breweries scored big.

This year’s event was managed by Head Judge Charlie Harr and featured 283 beers entered by 95 independent craft breweries in 20 categories. Judging took place in June at Old

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The top award for a Loudoun brewery went to Dynasty Brewing Company, which placed third overall in the Best of Show category with its 838 Stout, which took top prize in the stout category for the second consecutive year.

Dynasty Head Brewer Favio Garcia is among the most experienced members of Loudoun’s brewing community, getting his start in the

GET OUT LOUDOUN

SEPTEMBER 2021

PATRICK BURNS FROM PAGE 14

county’s original craft brewery, Old Dominion Brewing Company, which operated from 1989 until it merged with Fordham in 2007. He and fellow Old Dominion Brewing veteran Matt Hagerman kicked off today’s craft brewing scene with the opening of Lost Rhino Brewing Company in 2011. He launched Dynasty in 2018.

Where Loudoun brewers really excelled was in the Pale Ale category—sweeping the top prizes. Newcomer Lost Barrel Brewing, which opened near Middleburg this spring, took first place with its Farm Ale. Wheatland Spring Farm+Brewery’s Westerly took second place.

Old Ox Brewery’s Ernest Cream Ale won third.

Other Loudoun winners were: Black Hoof Brewing, first place porter for its Duck Blind Baltic Porter Sweetwater Tavern, first place amber ale for its Great American Restaurants Pale Ale

Beltway Brewing Company, second place strong ale for its Art in Execution Bear Chase Brewing Company, second place Kolsch for its Kodiak Kolsch Dirt Farm Brewing, second place in the fruit category for its Fluster Cluck Wheatland Spring Farm+Brewery, second place pilsner for its Found Artifacts Old Ox Brewery, third place porter for its Black Ox Rocket Frog Brewing Company, third place pilsner for its Zaba Sweetwater Tavern, third place stout for its High Desert Imperial Stout

Learn more at vacraftbeer.com.

Sweetwater Tavern, first place bock for its Sidewinder Bock

TOUR FREE HISTORIC WALKING TOURS EVERY SATURDAY & SUNDAY AT NOON

g r u b s Lee

STARTS AT THE VERY VIRGINIA SHOP 16 S. KING STREET HISTORIC DOWNTOWN LEESBURG RSVP - PLEASE TEXT/CALL 703-973-6400

SEPTEMBER 2021

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LIBATIONS Photos by Renss Greene

Henry Hill bottles Catoctin Creek Distilling Company’s Watershed Gin inside the distillery’s historic space in downtown Purcellville.

Still Growing Catoctin Creek Distilling Triples Capacity

BY RENSS GREENE

Virginia’s favorite distillery is tripling its production capacity in Purcellville, looking forward to a busy future.

Catoctin Creek Distilling isn’t just one of Loudoun’s favorite places for a drink—its Roundstone Rye is Virginia’s most-awarded whisky, and its brandy, gin and whisky has won fans and awards here and around the world.

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Some might even say they’ve gone interstellar— in 2020, the distillery announced Ragnarok Rye, in collaboration with Richmond heavy metal band and interplanetary barbarian conquerers GWAR. And a few years from now, when the first batches are ready from the newly expanded distillery, there will be even more of Catoctin Creek’s good spirits to go around.

Founders Becky and Scott Harris have been pioneers Virginia’s craft beverage industry.

When Catoctin Creek opened in 2009, it was the first distillery to operate in Loudoun County since before Prohibition. Last year, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic,

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CATOCTIN CREEK

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SEPTEMBER 2021

Newly bottled Watershed Gin inside Catoctin Creek Distilling Company’s historic space in downtown Purcellville.

CATOCTIN CREEK FROM PAGE 16

they made a dramatic pivot, manufacturing sanitizing alcohol for healthcare workers and gearing up to produce hand sanitizer on their equipment, both of which they distributed for free to first responders. They have also been strong advocates not only for the alcohol law changes that Virginia saw during the pandemic, but around tariffs that hit their business as it expanded internationally. Now, with a fully vaccinated staff and events like “Dinner at the Distillery” that require proof of vaccination, the business is ready to put that pandemic behind.

The million-dollar expansion includes a new, larger copper pot still, replacing their beloved 12-year-old still “Barney;” a closed-loop glycol cooling system; a new mash tank; six new fermenters; a new spent mash still; and new concrete floors to replace the 100-year-old floors in the distillery.

The equipment upgrade continues the constant growth and renown of a company whose spirits can now be bought in 47 states and on three continents.

“I guess we’re just kind of never satisfied unless we’re keeping moving,” Scott Harris said.

“We believe that we’re going to have some boom times ahead,” said Scott Harris. “Quite simply put, if we are bullish on it, we need to be prepared for it. All of our stuff has to get laid down multiple years before it’s available to be sold, so we’re really planning for the future.”

And working in a historic building meant expanding in the same relatively tight space, with relatively low ceilings. The company worked with a firm in Canada, Specific Mechanical Systems, that custom-designed the equipment to fit in the same footprint.

With the aging process that goes into Catoctin Creek’s spirits, the first batches from the new equipment—the “juice,” in industry lingo—will be available in three to five years.

“I measured that space like 70 times and was still very nervous until it all got put in place, and of course it all fit like a glove,” Harris said. “It was really, really great to see it.”

The distillery and tasting room operate out of the historic Case Building on downtown Purcellville’s Main Street, originally built in 1921.

Learn more about Catoctin Creek Distilling Company at CatoctinCreekDistilling.com.

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HAPPENINGS

Photo by Douglas Graham

Round Hill Appalachian Trail Festival

A hiker on the Appalachian Trail near Bluemont.

One of Loudoun County’s backyard treasures will be celebrated during the Sept. 11-12 Round Hill Appalachian Trail Festival at the B Chord Brewing Company.

The Freedom Celebration

The event is organized by the Town of Round Hill’s Outdoor Committee in partnership with Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy, Friends of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia Master Naturalists, and Piedmont Environmental Council. The festival seeks to toast the beauty of the trail with a full day of live music, trail talks, kids’ activities, food and vendors on Saturday, Sept. 11. That will be followed on Sunday, Sept. 12 with an A.T. hike, campsite set up classes, a scavenger hunt and other naturethemed activities.

Event will feature country music performances from Nashville’s Noah Garner, U.S. Marine Mike Carrado and Lovettsville native Joey Hafner.

Admission is free.

For details go to roundhillat.org.

One Family Gives, the philanthropic arm of One Family Brewing Company, will mark the 29th anniversary of 9/11 terrorist attacks with The Freedom Celebration benefit concert Saturday, Sept. 11, from noon to 9 p.m.

The concert will take place on the brewery grounds, located at 12851 Lutheran Church Road south of Lovettsville.

Proceeds from the event will go directly to the Woody Williams Foundation to build a Gold Star Family Memorial Monument in Chesapeake and to HeroHomes to build a home for a wounded warrior and their family in Loudoun County.

Tickets range from $10-$40.

For details, go to onefamilybrewing.com.

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Check out

Loudoun’s Dining 

FORDS FISH SHACK Consistently voted Loudoun residents’ favorite place for seafood, Ford’s offers fresh seafood in a family-dining atmosphere at three locations, as well as a catering arm and a food truck operation.

Ashburn-44260 Ice Rink Plaza, Ashburn, VA 20147 (571) 918-4092 • fordsfishshack.com Lansdowne-19308 Promenade Dr., Leesburg, VA 20176 (571) 333-1301 • fordsfishshack.com South Riding 25031 Riding Plaza, Chantilly, VA 20152 (703) 542-7520 • fordsfishshack.com

SPANKY’S SHENANIGANS Known as one of the Loudoun’s favorite bars, Spanky’s Shenanigans is a popular destination from its morning breakfast menu to its ample roster of live music performers.

538 E Market St, Leesburg, VA 20176 (703) 777-2454 • spankyspub.com

LIGHTFOOT RESTAURANT Inside an historic bank building in downtown Leesburg, the Zagat-rated Lightfoot provides both a fine-dining experience and a gathering place for locals. Executive Chef Ingrid Gustavson serves up American cuisine with southern and ethnic accents.

11 North King Street Leesburg, VA 20176 703-771-2233 • lightfootrestaurant.com

TUSCARORA MILL Known by locals as Tuskies, the restaurant is located inside a restored 19th century grain mill in Leesburg’s historic district. Offering everything from locally sourced fine dining to a casual bar experience, it’s been a dining destination for more than three decades.

203 Harrison St SE, Leesburg, VA 20175 (703) 771-9300 • tuskies.com

BEST BETS

9.5 LOCO FEST 2021

9.10

Saturday, Sept. 5, 2-8 p.m.

LIVE FROM THE LOT

868 Estate Vineyards

Friday, Sept. 10, 7 p.m.

868estatevineyards.com

Segra Field

It’s LoCo Music all day with more than 35 musicians playing with their bands to raise money to purchase equipment for local musicians. See your favorites and discover some new ones.

loudoun.gov/livefromthelot This outdoor concert features Uncle Jesse and The Reagan Years. Concert goers are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets, as well as their own food and nonalcoholic beverages.

Tickets required.

9.18 MIDDLEBURG OKTOBERFEST Saturday, Sept. 18, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

North and South Madison Street middleburgva.gov This fun-filled day will feature two biergartens, traditional German food, live music, festival games and an art fair. Local beer, wine, cider, and traditional Oktoberfest foods will be available for purchase from local vendors.

THE WAILERS Saturday, Sept. 5, 7 p.m. (doors) Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com It has been 40 years since the death of Reggae pioneer Bob Marley, but a new generation of performers continues to bring the music to enthusiastic crowds around the globe.

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SEPTEMBER 2021

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BEST BETS FROM PAGE 20

AFROMAN Saturday, Sept. 18, 7 p.m. (doors) Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com After breaking into the national music scene with his 2001 hit “Because I Got High,” rapper, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Joseph Foreman makes his Loudoun debut.

8.22 CHRISTOPHER CROSS Wednesday, Sept. 22, 7 p.m. (doors) Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com Christopher Cross made history when his debut self-titled album was released in 1980, featuring the international hits “Sailing,” “Run Like the Wind” and “Never Be The Same.”

9.25 VAN HALEN NATION Saturday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. (doors) Tally Ho Theater tallyhotheater.com The premier ‘80s tribute to the “Diamond Dave” era, Van Halen Nation replicates the actionpacked and high intensity shows with impeccable harmonies and aweinspiring guitar work.

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Tickets Available at:

WWW.TALLYHOTHEATER.COM

19 W Market St, Leesburg, VA (703) 777-1665

Coming to Town this September!

SISTER HAZEL

THE WAILERS

9/4 - 7:00PM

9/5 - 7:00PM

CHRISTOPHER CROSS

THE DC IMPROV PRESENTS: COMEDY NIGHT IN LEESBURG

9/22 - 7:00PM

9/23 - 7:00PM