Port City Brewing Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Brewing |
| Founded | February 2011 |
| Founder | Bill Butcher, Karen Butcher |
| Headquarters | Alexandria , United States |
Area served | Washington, D.C. region |
Key people | Bill Butcher, Karen Butcher, Jonathan Reeves (brewing operations) |
| Products | Craft beer |
| Website | portcitybrewing |
Port City Brewing Company is a craft brewery located in Alexandria, Virginia, notable for being Alexandria’s first operational production brewery since the era of Prohibition. It was honored with the 2015 Small Brewing Company of the Year award at the Great American Beer Festival.
History
The brewery was established by Bill and Karen Butcher—who previously worked as a fine wine sales manager and an intellectual property lawyer, respectively—with the goal of addressing the lack of premium, locally crafted beer options within the Washington, D.C. region. Their strong family ties to Alexandria played a significant role in choosing the city as their base.
Jonathan Reeves, a highly decorated brewer with several GABF awards to his name, was appointed to oversee brewing operations. When Port City commenced production in February 2011, it marked the return of a production brewery inside the Beltway after a hiatus since 1961.
The brewery has accumulated an impressive collection of accolades, including 16 medals from the GABF, 12 Good Food Awards, and 32 medals from the Virginia Craft Brewers Festival.
In June 2012, a power failure caused by the June 2012 North American derecho disrupted fermentation processes, inadvertently creating a distinctive Czech-style Pilsner with elements reminiscent of steam beer. This event inspired the development of Derecho Common, which has become an annual summer seasonal offering.
Bill Butcher gained recognition in 2012 when he addressed attendees at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, highlighting the Obama administration’s initiatives supporting small enterprises. He also appeared in a promotional video for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which contributed to securing funding through a Small Business Administration loan.