Earlier today, the 26th annual, silver anniversary, Double IPA Festival was held at the Bistro in Hayward, California. I got there early for judging again this year, and spent the morning holed up in the basement, where we judged Double IPAs for most of the morning, before choosing our top three favorites.

It was a cool day in Hayward, with some warming help from the sun as the day wore on.

At 2:00 pm., owners Vic and Cynthia Kralj announced the winners:

Double IPAs

• 1st Place: Headway, by Moonraker Brewing, from Auburn, California.
• 2nd Place: Smokestack Lightning West, by Flatland Brewing, from Elk Grove, California
• 3rd Place: Hoptomic Demon Core, by Morgan Territory Brewing, in Tracy, California

People’s Choice Awards

Super Secret Sauce, by Shred Beer Co., from Rocklin, California.