California came up big at the World Beer Cup this year, winning 25 of the 159 medals awarded to American breweries. The next closest state — Wisconsin — won 14. Held every two years, the World beer Cup is becoming one of the world’s most prestigious worldwide competitions. Personally, I’d like to see more breweries from abroad competing but that will likely take a little more time. For now, smost likely because it’s judged in the United States, the majority of entries — a healthy 64% — were from American breweries. But the 36% of overseas breweries also nabbed 36% of the medals so there’s no reason more shouldn’t be entering. There were 2,221 beers entered from 540 breweries in 56 countries. And while that’s impressive, I imagine there are many, many more who did not enter. So it would be great to see this event grow into an event that almost every brewery in the world entered. That would, I think, make it even more meaningful, not to take one iota away from any of the winners because certainly a representative sampling of brewing countries did participate. Happily, it does seem to be going in that direction.
Here is a list of the winners from California breweries:
- Pure Hoppiness, Alpine Beer Co., Silver, Imperial or Double India Pale Ale
- Dorado Double IPA, Ballast Point Brewing Co., Bronze, Imperial or Double India Pale Ale
- Nit Wit, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery – Chandler, Silver, Belgian-Style White (or Wit) / Belgian-Style Wheat
- Old Grind Porter, Etna Brewing Co., Gold, Brown Porter
- Firestone Pale Ale, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Gold, American-Style Pale Ale
- IPA Nectar, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Gold, American-Style Strong Pale Ale
- Firestone IPA, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Silver, American-Style Extra Special Bitter or Strong Bitter
- Mission Street Pale Ale, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Silver, American-Style Pale Ale
- Hemp Ale, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Bronze, American-Style Brown Ale
- Green Flash Extra Pale Ale, Green Flash Brewing Co., Silver, English-Style Summer Ale
- Green Flash Nut Brown Ale, Green Flash Brewing Co., Silver, English-Style Brown Ale
- Epiphany, Iron Springs Pub & Brewery, Bronze, American-Style Amber / Red Ale
- Centennial Ale, Lengthwise Brewing Co., Silver, English-Style India Pale Ale
- Sharkbite Red Ale, Pizza Port Carlsbad, Gold, American-Style Amber / Red Ale
- Night Rider Imperial Stout, Pizza Port Carlsbad, Silver, Imperial Stout
- Dawn Patrol Dark, Pizza Port San Clemente, Silver, English-Style Mild Ale
- Shark Attack, Pizza Port Solana Beach, Gold, Imperial or Double Red Ale
- Bottom’s Up Kolsch, Rock Bottom Brewery – Campbell, Gold, German-Style Kölsch / Köln-Style Kölsch
- Blind Pig IPA, Russian River Brewing Co., Gold, American-Style India Pale Ale
- Pliny the Elder, Russian River Brewing Co., Gold, Imperial or Double India Pale Ale
- Temptation, Russian River Brewing Co., Gold, Other Belgian-Style Ale
- Old Woody, Schooner’s Grille & Brewery, Silver, Wood- and Barrel-aged Beer
- Stone Ruination IPA, Stone Brewing Co., Bronze, American-Style India Pale Ale
- TAPS Irish Red, TAPS Fish House & Brewery, Gold, Irish-Style Red Ale
- Trumer Pils, Trumer Brauerei Berkeley, Gold, German-Style Pilsener
Congratulations to all of the California winners.
For a full list of all the winners, see the Brewers Association.