Best beers for no-glass festival...?

Devil's Backbone is very hit or miss. GABF wins don't mean a lot. I had some Striped Bass Pale Ale from there last weekend and if the proceeds weren't going to support Chesapeake Bay Watershed preservation I would have been pissed about that buying decision. Their 8-point IPA is average, Vienna Lager is solid, Belgian Congo is legit, Azrael sucks, I'm not a big fan, but to each their own.

Blue Mountain and Bold Rock are the best things coming out of Nelson right now. If you're into wine and want to smuggle some into the campground, Veritas Vineyards and Afton Mountain Vineyards are nearby and they are both great.

Other than Blue Mountain, the best beer in Virginia right now is coming out of the tidewater area. O'Connor Brewing Company, Back Bay Brewing, and Williamsburg Alewerks are all great.

Yeah, one of our local brewpubs has a couple beers that won some award or other. Couldn't see why when I tasted them. Just like Starr Hill and all the other local beers I had from there: nothing wrong with 'em, but nothing to write home about either.

I like my local Virginia wine. You can get good wine cheaper, but for me it's about supporting the local vineyards and enjoying the local terroir. Veritas Viognier is good. Jefferson Vineyards Viognier is probably the best in the state.

I'm more of snob in my beer selection and more of a locavore in my wine selection. I would never get upset at someone drinking, for example DB or Starr Hill beer, but I wouldn't spend the money for them usually, so I see where you're coming from.

Like you, I live in VA. What part of VA are you from?

Harrisonburg, a mere 71 miles to the festival grounds.

The missus had a business trip there that I tagged along with. What's that place downtown with the extensive beer list and great food again? I had some pan-seared tuna there that changed my life.

The one in Richmond has a frozen strip running along the bar to place your glass on to keep it chilled.

Totally agree. Flying saucer has a sign up, and maybe t-shirts, that says "Chilled glasses are for amateurs." But it is really weird and cool. And they are proud of it too. And I don't really care for Flying Saucer either. 1,000 taps or whatever is cool and all but too many of those taps sit for too long.

Boxed wine works too

There is nothing listed at the festival page for beer (or food) vendors.

I would assume Starr Hill, but maybe one of the kind souls who attended last year can tell us who was there then.

I guess they have to see what the VA ABC says/does before anything solid can happen.

Didn't see this question answered, if it already was, please keep moving.
Star Hill was the beer sponsor and had their, imo, acceptable but falling short of delicious offerings available at the main beer vendor tents. I was very underwhelmed at the prospect of four days of northern lights. Yes, i'm a spoiled snob.
The 'A-HA!' moment came inside the "Local, Local, Local" tent (offering local beer, wine, food) where there were many craft brewries (a dozen?) lining the back of the tent. At this sight, this spoiled snob got all giddy. Each had a chalkboard listing what they were selling-bottles and cans, fwiw. I believe flying dog had the most at around 14 different beers, others had as few as four. By Sunday most of them were out of just about everything. What was left were heavier, stout, porter, type stuff. IPAs and anthing else you'd want on a hot summer day were gone.