Governor-elect Northam to get official beer for his inauguration called InaugurALE

This year, politics have definitely made me want to drink and I’m not the only one. Even the Governor-elect wants to enjoy a cold frosty brew. One of the many differences between being a writer for RVAHub and the Governor-elect is that he gets a beer named after him and I read about said beer in a press release.

The beer by Center of the Universe Brewing is an all Virginia Belgian-style blonde ale, called InaugurALE and sounds tasty. There are plenty of local connections including: Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, Agriberry and just up the road with Randolph Macon College.

A Belgian-style blonde ale, 100% of the ingredients used in InaugurALE are grown in Virginia. The grain was grown in the Northern Neck and malted at Copper Fox, the hops were grown at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, and the yeast was harvested at Agriberry Farm and handled by the scientists at Randolph Macon College. The beer will be light in body and have an alcohol by volume of 5%. InaugurALE flavors include banana, clove and citrus.

Congrats to COTU and Cheers to Governor-elect Northam.

Full Press Release:

Today, the Center of the Universe Brewing Company, located in Ashland, announced the official beer of Governor-elect Ralph Northam’s inauguration, InaugurALE. Governor-elect Northam will be the first Virginia governor to have a custom-made beer for his gubernatorial inauguration.

A Belgian-style blonde ale, 100% of the ingredients used in InaugurALE are grown in Virginia. The grain was grown in the Northern Neck and malted at Copper Fox, the hops were grown at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, and the yeast was harvested at Agriberry Farm and handled by the scientists at Randolph Macon College. The beer will be light in body and have an alcohol by volume of 5%. InaugurALE flavors include banana, clove and citrus.

“We are thrilled and honored to create a beer for Governor-elect Northam’s inauguration,” said Center of the Universe Brewing Company founder Chris Ray. “By brewing this beer with 100% Virginia grown ingredients, we hope to show the synergy between the Virginia craft beer manufacturers and our Virginia agricultural partners. We are excited to have an incoming governor who will continue to promote small business growth in our sector and beyond, so we can to drive employment growth in the brewing and supporting industries in Virginia.”

“It is small businesses like the Center of the Universe Brewing Company that exemplify our new Virginia economy — which is why I was so excited when they offered to brew InaugurALE for my upcoming inauguration,” said Governor-elect Ralph Northam. “Our inauguration will be a celebration of a unified and diverse Virginia that works together and lifts each other up, and we are fortunate enough to have great small businesses right here in the Commonwealth like the Center of the Universe Brewing Company that lead by example. I hope Virginians are looking forward to sharing a 100% born-and-bred Virginia beer with one another as much as I am during the inaugural weekend.”