of the Brew

off with a chilled glass Association World Cup ver handed me a generous ow could I resist?

ful last summer,” said e into the light amber in his do the same. “And this year Day instead of July.”

his addition of the s bartenders who seemed to be vable beverage, ny gustatory sense hanked him for the English-influenced ander, lemon zest, ent familiar to nt antioxidant and

brewmaster of Devil’s Backbone Brewing Company by Beth Golden

The Brewers Association World Cup is the Olympics of beer- making, with 642 breweries participating this year from 44 countries and 47 states – entering over 3,000 beers to cross the palates of 179 judges. When I met with Oliver it had only been a month since Devil’s Backbone, located in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, won the top prize for “Small Brewpub” in the Boulder-based competition that recognized his brewmaster prowess as well as awarding a gold medal for his “Danzig” Baltic-style porter and bronze medals for three other beers.

Devil’s Backbone Brewing Company is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia within Nelson County.

ween sips of the oooooth.” The point for the flavors lf, and suddenly it occurred hy introduction to the any, where Oliver serves has experienced a meteoric ustry accolades since its

Photo courtesy of Nelson County Life Magazine

“I’m somewhat of a style stickler,” said Oliver, dusting a bit of brewer’s yeast from the chest of his black chef’s smock. “I usually follow the traditional German, English, and Belgian methods of brewing – but I get my inspiration from all over the place.”

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