December 5: An Important Date in Craft Beverage History
Brian Tinsman
Digital Properties Manager
Loudoun County has a rich tradition of craft beverage production, dating back to colonial days. George Washington was the only founding father to own and operate a commercial distillery, and signed a deed to allow a distillery on John Mercer’s property near Aldie in 1774.
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Between the late 18th century and early 20th, wineries, breweries and distilleries flourished in Loudoun County. But in 1916, Virginia became a “dry” commonwealth, followed three years later by the enactment of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, otherwise known as Prohibition.
The amendment made it illegal for the production, sale and consumption of alcohol in the U.S. This created a lucrative black market for moonshine, as bootleggers used local ingredients and the foothills of Loudoun County as cover to set up their stills.
On Dec. 5, 1933, at 5:32, Utah became the 36th state to ratify the repeal of Prohibition, and Congress enacted the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The amendment, however, left it up to states to determine how to enforce the laws. Virginia had been the 21st state to ratify the amendment months earlier, but continued to ban the sale of alcohol, as no control board existed.
It was not until May 28, 1934 that the first ABC stores opened up in the Tidewater region, allowing the first bottle sales of whiskey, gin and scotch in more than 18 years. It would not be until 1968 that Virginia legalized the sale of alcohol by the drink, paving the way for the craft beverage industry we know today.
In 1981, the first grapes were planted at what would become Willowcroft Farm Vineyards in 1983. Six years later, Old Dominion Brewing Company was launched in Ashburn.
In 2008, Scott Harris left a desk job with the federal government and his wife Becky left a corporate chemical engineering career to start Catoctin Creek, the first distillery in Loudoun since Prohibition. One of their products has now won the most awards of any Virginia whisky; Catoctin Creek has earned national accolades and achieved product sales across the U.S. and overseas.
Today, dozens of wineries, breweries, distilleries, cideries and meaderies dot the landscape of Loudoun County, with more in the approval process. Craft beverage sales have been a driver of the rural economy, and contribute significantly to the Loudoun corporate tax base.
As of 2014, the craft beverage industry in Virginia had an economic impact of $1.05 billion.
For more information on the craft beverage industry in Loudoun County, see our rural development business strategy.