For craft beverage enthusiasts, the name Crooked Run Fermentation instantly evokes a sense of quality, innovation, and diverse offerings. From their humble beginnings in Leesburg, Virginia, in 2013, Crooked Run has blossomed into a multi-location powerhouse, renowned for pushing boundaries in the worlds of beer, coolship sours, natural wines, ciders, and even seltzers. In 2025, their commitment to traditional techniques alongside bold experimentation continues to captivate palates and solidify their position as a leader in the fermentation landscape.
The Genesis of Crooked Run Fermentation: From Homebrew to Craft Powerhouse
Founded by homebrewers Jake Endres and Lee Rogan, Crooked Run Fermentation began its journey with a singular vision: to create exceptional, nuanced beverages. Starting as a nanobrewery, their passion quickly resonated with the local community, leading to rapid expansion. The original Leesburg location, a cozy spot with a vibrant patio, laid the groundwork for what would become a significant regional player.
In 2017, the opening of their main production facility in Sterling, Virginia, marked a pivotal moment. This larger space allowed for increased production, a wider array of styles, and the inclusion of a popular on-site taqueria, transforming it into a true destination. The growth continued, with a third location established in Washington D.C.’s Union Market District in 2023, bringing their unique fermentation philosophy to an even broader audience.
Crooked Run’s journey highlights a consistent dedication to craft, a willingness to evolve, and an unwavering commitment to quality. Their expansion is a testament to their ability to adapt to changing market trends while staying true to their roots of creating authentic, high-quality fermented products.
Exploring the Diverse Universe of Crooked Run Fermentation’s Offerings
What sets Crooked Run Fermentation apart is its remarkable breadth of offerings. They refuse to be pigeonholed into a single category, continuously exploring and mastering various fermentation styles. This dedication to diversity is a key factor in their enduring appeal.
Craft Beers: A Spectrum of Styles
Crooked Run’s beer portfolio is incredibly diverse, ranging from crisp lagers to juicy IPAs, and complex barrel-aged stouts. They’ve earned a reputation for mastering both classic and contemporary styles.
Noteworthy Beer Styles & Examples:
- IPAs (India Pale Ales): Their “Heart and Soul IPA” is a fan favorite, often noted for its balanced hop profile and drinkability. They’ve also explored the evolving landscape of hazy IPAs, adapting to demand while maintaining their signature quality.
- Lagers & Pilsners: Crooked Run excels in crafting clean, refreshing lagers like “Alora,” an Italian-style Pilsner that received an Honorable Mention in the Light Lager Category at the 2025 Loudoun Beer Awards, showcasing their precision in traditional brewing.
- Dark Ales & Stouts: Look for their “Approaching Black,” a Black Porter that secured a gold medal in the Dark Ale Category at the 2025 Loudoun Beer Awards, demonstrating their prowess in darker, richer brews. Barrel-aged stouts are also a periodic highlight, offering depth and complexity.
The Art of Coolship Sours: A Niche of Excellence
Perhaps one of the most distinctive aspects of Crooked Run Fermentation is their venture into coolship sours. This traditional method involves allowing unfermented wort to cool overnight in a shallow, open vessel (a coolship), exposing it to wild yeasts and bacteria present in the air. This spontaneous fermentation process results in truly unique, complex, and often tart beers that reflect the local microbial environment. Their “Prima” gueuze, a blend of 100% spontaneously fermented beers, is a prime example of their dedication to this intricate craft, receiving high praise from enthusiasts in 2025.
Beyond Beer: Wines, Ciders, and Seltzers
Demonstrating their expertise across the entire fermentation spectrum, Crooked Run also crafts natural wines, ciders, and seltzers. This expansion allows them to cater to a broader audience and showcases their deep understanding of fermentation science. Their natural wines often reflect a minimal intervention philosophy, allowing the characteristics of the grapes to shine through, while their ciders offer crisp, authentic apple flavors. The inclusion of seltzers speaks to their responsiveness to modern beverage trends, ensuring they remain a relevant and exciting destination for all types of drinkers.
The Philosophy of Fermentation at Crooked Run
At the core of Crooked Run Fermentation lies a philosophy that balances respect for tradition with a drive for innovation. This dual approach is evident in every product they release.
Embracing Tradition with a Modern Twist
Crooked Run frequently draws inspiration from centuries-old Belgian breweries, particularly in their approach to sour beers and mixed fermentation. Their use of coolships for spontaneous fermentation is a nod to time-honored methods, allowing for the development of unparalleled depth and character. However, they don’t shy away from incorporating new techniques and ingredients, pushing the boundaries of what these traditional styles can achieve. This blend of old and new creates a unique profile that is both familiar and exciting.
Innovation and Experimentation
Innovation is deeply ingrained in Crooked Run’s DNA. They are known for their experimental batches, often incorporating unique fruits, spices, and other adjuncts into their beers and sours. Their Berliner Weisse series, with flavors ranging from blackberry and vanilla to guava and pineapple, exemplifies this playful and creative approach. This constant experimentation ensures a dynamic tap list and keeps their offerings fresh and engaging for consumers.
Commitment to Quality and Local Sourcing
Quality is paramount at Crooked Run. They meticulously source ingredients and carefully manage their fermentation processes to ensure every product meets their high standards. While they leverage a global understanding of brewing, they also prioritize local ingredients when possible, supporting regional agriculture and adding a distinct local character to their beverages.
Crooked Run Fermentation in 2025: Awards and Recognition
As of 2025, Crooked Run Fermentation continues to garner significant recognition within the craft beverage industry. Their commitment to excellence is reflected in their performance at prestigious competitions and their growing reputation among enthusiasts.
Recent Accolades:
- 2025 Loudoun Beer Awards: Crooked Run Fermentation demonstrated strong showings, securing an Honorable Mention for their “Alora” Italian Style Pilsner in the Light Lager Category, and a Gold medal for their “Approaching Black” Black Porter in the Dark Ale Category. They also received an Honorable Mention for their “Sticky Rice” Fruited Berliner Weisse in the Fruited Beer Category. These awards highlight their versatility and consistent quality across multiple styles.
- Industry Buzz: Beyond formal awards, Crooked Run is consistently praised in online forums, beer review platforms like Untappd, and local publications for their diverse tap list and the quality of their spontaneous fermentation projects. Their “Prima” gueuze, in particular, has seen a surge in positive reviews in early 2025.
This continued recognition in 2025 underscores Crooked Run’s ongoing impact and influence in the craft beverage scene, solidifying their status as a must-visit destination for anyone passionate about fermented drinks.
Pro Tips for Experiencing Crooked Run Fermentation
- Visit All Locations: Each Crooked Run location (Leesburg, Sterling, and DC) offers a unique ambiance and, at times, exclusive taproom-only releases. Plan a visit to experience the full spectrum of their offerings.
- Embrace the Flight: With such a diverse selection, opting for a flight (or two!) is the best way to sample a variety of their beers, sours, and other fermented beverages without committing to a full pour.
- Check Online Menus: Their tap list is constantly rotating. Before you visit, check their official website or social media for the most up-to-date information on what’s on tap and any special releases.
- Pair with Food: The Sterling location offers a full food menu, including acclaimed New York-style pizza and tacos. Take advantage of their food pairings to enhance your tasting experience.
- Attend Special Events: Crooked Run frequently hosts events, from tap takeovers and bottle releases to live music and food truck collaborations. Check their schedule to catch unique happenings.
- Explore the Coolship Sours: If you’re a fan of complex, nuanced flavors, make sure to seek out their coolship-fermented sours. These are often limited in quantity and represent the pinnacle of their experimental prowess.
Frequently Asked Questions About Crooked Run Fermentation
Q1: What makes Crooked Run Fermentation’s sour beers unique?
Crooked Run Fermentation’s sour beers, especially their coolship series, are unique due to their reliance on spontaneous fermentation. This traditional method exposes the cooling wort to wild yeasts and bacteria naturally present in the air, resulting in incredibly complex, often tart, and truly terroir-driven flavors that cannot be replicated through controlled inoculation. This approach delivers a depth and character highly sought after by sour beer enthusiasts.
Q2: Does Crooked Run Fermentation offer more than just beer?
Yes, absolutely! While highly acclaimed for their diverse beer portfolio, Crooked Run Fermentation extends its expertise across the full spectrum of fermented beverages. They also produce natural wines, ciders, and even seltzers, showcasing their mastery of various fermentation processes and offering a wide range of options to cater to different tastes and preferences.
Q3: Where are Crooked Run Fermentation’s locations, and what do they offer?
Crooked Run Fermentation operates three distinct locations. Their original nanobrewery is in Leesburg, Virginia, offering a cozy atmosphere with a garden patio and a focused tap list. Their main production facility and larger taproom are in Sterling, Virginia, featuring an expansive seating area, a full food menu with pizza and tacos, and a broader selection of beverages. The newest location, opened in 2023, is situated in the vibrant Union Market District of Washington D.C., bringing their unique offerings to the heart of the capital.
What’s Your Favorite Crooked Run Fermentation Brew?
We hope this deep dive has given you a comprehensive understanding of Crooked Run Fermentation and its significant impact on the craft beverage scene. Their dedication to quality, innovation, and diverse offerings truly sets them apart.
Have you visited Crooked Run Fermentation? What’s your go-to beer, sour, or other fermented delight from their impressive lineup? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
