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Bistro IPA Festival Winners 2021

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Today was the 23rd annual IPA Festival and the 3rd annual Hazy IPA Festival at the Bistro, but that’s only because there wasn’t a festival last year. It was a lovely sunny day in Hayward, making it was perfect beer-judging weather now that we’re no longer in the basement. This year we judged in pairs, split into two groups of regular clear IPAs and hazy IPAs. The full list of winners is below.

Judging today at the Bistro IPA Festival.

Traditional IPAs

Hazy IPAs

Melissa Myers and me after we finished judging.

Beer Birthday: Dave Buhler

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elysian
Today is Dave Buhler’s 62nd birthday. Interestingly, like Dick Cantwell, whose birthday was yesterday, Dave is also a co-founder of Elysian Brewing in Seattle, Washington. Join me in wishing Dave a very happy birthday.

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Fal Allen and Dave Buhler at OBF.

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Dave and Celebrator publisher Tom Dalldorf (at right). Neither Tom or I could identify the fellow in the middle, sorry about that. Can anybody help me out and tell me who that is?

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At the Celebrator’s best of the West Beer Festival in 2009.

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Dave with his former business partner and Elyisian co-founder Dick Cantwell at GABF in 2006.

Beer Saints: St. Joseph

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Today is the feast day of St. Joseph, husband of Mary, and the “legal” father of Jesus. While he’s not the patron saint of brewers or anything beer related, it’s his feast day that marks the beginning of the Frühjahrsbierfest in Munich, Germany. Frühjahrsbierfest translates as “Spring Beer Festival” and it’s also sometimes called “Little Oktoberfest.” It’s very similar to Oktoberfest, held in the same place but is more local-focused and considerably smaller. The modern festival is held in late April now, ending in early May, but today is its traditional start date and it lasted, I believe, around two weeks.

“Saint Joseph with the Flowering Rod,” by Jusepe de Ribera, c. 1630.

Here is his main description from his Wikipedia page:

Joseph (Hebrew: יוֹסֵף‎, romanized: Yosef; Greek: Ἰωσήφ, romanized: Ioséph) is a figure in the canonical gospels who was married to Mary, mother of Jesus, and was the legal father of Jesus. The Gospels name brothers of Jesus; the Gospel of James, an apocryphal work of the late 2nd century, theorized these as the sons of Joseph from an earlier marriage. This position is still held in the Orthodox churches, but the Western church holds to Jerome’s argument that both Joseph and Mary must have been lifelong virgins and that the “brothers” must have been his cousins. Perspectives on Joseph as a historical figure are distinguished from a theological reading of the Gospel texts.

Joseph is venerated as Saint Joseph in the Catholic Church, Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Church, Anglicanism, and Lutheranism. In Catholic traditions, Joseph is regarded as the patron saint of workers and is associated with various feast days. The month of March is dedicated to Saint Joseph. Pope Pius IX declared him to be both the patron and the protector of the Catholic Church, in addition to his patronages of the sick and of a happy death, due to the belief that he died in the presence of Jesus and Mary. Joseph has become patron of various dioceses and places.

“Joseph’s Dream” by Rembrandt, completed in 1645.

While not a beer saint in the usual sense, I included him because of his association to this German beer festival. Because of his importance to Christianity, he is a patron for a bewildering number of people, places and things, including carpenters, craftsmen, families, lawyers, people who fight communism, social justice, travelers, working people. The places he’s the patron for include, Austria, Belgium, Bavaria, Bohemia, Canada, the Croatian people, the New World, along with Buffalo, NY; Cologne, Germany; La Crosse, Wisconsin; San Jose, California; and Westphalia, Germany. And trust me, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. For the rest, check out CatholicSaints.info.

Bistro Double IPA Winners 2021

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Earlier today, the 21st annual Double IPA Festival was held at the Bistro in Hayward, California. I got there early for judging again this year, and instead of being sequestered in the dark, dank basement out of the view of the beautiful Bay Area sun — which is where we usually are — we were outside in what was a beautiful, sunny, albeit a little windy, day. We judged Double IPAs in two categories — West Coast and Hazy — for most of the morning and chose our favorite six in each category, which Vic will will hand pack into a “Double IPAs Finals Case” which can be ordered online for just under one-hundred dollars. But sales will end at midnight tonight, so if you want one, now’s the time.

Outside The Bistro this morning, distance-judging Double IPAs.

West Coast Double IPAs

Paul Marshall (head judge) and Bistro co-owner Vic Kralj outside the Bistro today.

Hazy Double IPAs

Me and Vic after the judging.

Congratulations to all of the winners.

The Kidnapping of Schmidt Brewery Son Edward Bremer

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Today is the anniversary of a pretty unsavory incident that was at least tangentially related to prohibition and brewing. On January 17, 1934, the Barker–Karpis gang kidnapped Edward Brewer off of the streets of St. Paul, Minnesota. At the time, he was the wealthy president of Commercial State Bank. But perhaps more importantly, he was also the son of Adolf Bremer, who owned the Schmidt Brewery, having married the daughter of Jacob Schmidt.

Kidnap victim Edward Bremer.

That’s thought to be important because the gang appeared to be targeting brewery owners because of their perceived disrespecting of criminal elements after prohibition was repealed. Many breweries that survived did so by working with bootleggers on the down low, which of course in many cases were part of criminal organizations. But when prohibition was repealed, they distanced themselves from those gangs once alcohol was no longer illegal. The previous year, for example, the Barker-Karpis gang successfully kidnapped William Hamm of Hamm’s Brewery, releasing him June 19, 1933, having been paid $100,000 in ransom.

Adolf Bremer with his son Edward.

Because of that history, “it is thought that Bremer was not chosen simply because of his wealth, but also because of a personal vendetta.” They planned the kidnapping for four months. The kidnappers asked for $200,000 this time, double what they’d asked for from the Hamm Brewery family, probably emboldened by their success with that kidnapping.

Naturally, it was front page news, appearing in both the St. Paul Dispatch and the Minneapolis Star.

According to Wikipedia’s account, here’s how it went down:

[Edward Bremer] was on his way to work, having just dropped his daughter off at school when he was approached by two men, one of whom was Arthur “Doc” Barker. Barker repeatedly punched and pistol-whipped him, forcing him into the back of Bremer’s car and placing blindfolding goggles over his eyes. After having some difficulty starting the vehicle, the kidnappers forced the bleeding Bremer to show them the starter button, then drove off, later switching to another car. The blood-stained vehicle was later recovered, leading to fears that Bremer had been killed.

Scene of the Bremer kidnapping, Lexington and Goodrich, St. Paul, MN, 1934

Bremer was held captive in Bensenville, Illinois. He was kept in a small room and was told that his family would be killed if he said anything to the police. He was also told to provide the names of people who could act as intermediaries. Messages demanding $200,000 were left with the Bremers’ trusted business associate and former chauffeur Walter Magee. Through Tom Brown, the gang learned that Magee had informed the police, despite the gang’s demand that he should keep quiet. They threatened to kill him and Bremer. Adolph Bremer, the victim’s father, refused to pay up unless the kidnappers provided proof of life. Edward was forced to write another note pleading to be returned to his wife and children. When Adolph also tried to reduce the ransom money, Fred Barker became enraged and suggested they should kill Edward. His brother Arthur and Karpis overruled him. In the end the ransom was paid by dropping off a bag full of cash, which was collected by George Zieger. Edward was driven to a deserted road by Ziegler and released on February 7, left on the empty road with a small amount of cash. He had to make his own way back home.

The New York Times even covered it.

After Bremer was returned, public outcry led to the FBI intensifying their efforts at bringing the criminals to justice. While not a household name to us today, “these kidnappings brought too much negative publicity, due to the recent Urschel and Lindbergh Kidnappings, and the fact that the father of the Bremer Jr. was a personal friend of President Roosevelt, who mentioned the kidnappings in a fireside chat. On November 27, 1934, Lester “Baby Face Nelson” Gillis, at that time the Public Enemy No. 1, was mortally wounded in a gun battle with the FBI and died later that night. The next day, Alvin Karpis was declared Public Enemy No. 1, which brought the full force of the FBI down on the Barker-Karpis Gang.”

The other well-known aspect of the criminals was the mother of some of the Barker brothers was apparently controlling the gang’s actions and was known as “Ma” Barker.

Alvin “Creepy” Karpis.

This account is from KSTP, the ABC affiliate in Minneapolis.

On Jan. 17, 1934, the Minnesota Historical Society says Edward was driving to work when he stopped at the corner of Lexington Parkway and Goodrich Avenue. The gang ended up blocking Edward’s path with one vehicle, and another vehicle pulled up behind him. The kidnappers then opened Edward’s door and pushed him to the ground when he was struggling. They forced Edward to sign ransom notes, and within two hours, Edward’s family friend, Walter W. Magee, received ransom instructions.

The instructions indicated a request of $200,000 in $5 and $10 bills. Magee was to print, “We are ready Alice,” in the Minneapolis Tribune’s personal ads. More ransom notes were delivered to people close to Edward, but people suspected him to be dead due to the amount of blood left in his car. Therefore, his father, Adolph, demanded a note in his son’s handwriting before he would pay. The next day a bank cashier received the requested note, according to Minnesota Historical Society.

The Minneapolis Tribune reported on Feb. 6, 1934, Magee had received the final instructions from the kidnappers to trade the ransom money for Edward. Magee was to transfer the ransom into a car with a Shell Oil sticker in St. Paul and then to trail a bus to Rochester. Afterward, Magee was to turn down a gravel road and drive until he saw five headlight flashes. Once he saw the flashes, he placed the money beside the road and drove off.

After 21 days of captivity, Edward Bremer was released.

The gang members scattered across the country to escape the FBI after authorities were able to lift fingerprints from a gas can that the Barker-Karpis gang used to refuel their car between Chicago and Minneapolis. The FBI had also recorded the serial numbers on the ransom bills.

Almost a year later, on Jan. 16, 1935, Barker and his mother were killed in a shootout with FBI officers, and Karpis remained on the run until the FBI arrested him on May 1, 1936.

Karpis was sentenced to life and served 26 years in Alcatraz.

And this one is from the BBC:

After Bremer dropped his daughter off at the Summit School in St. Paul, he was ambushed and thrown in a car. He was held for 10 days, until his family paid a $200,000 ransom.

Part of this ransom money was used to bribe police who were on the take, according to Paul Maccabee, author of “John Dillinger Slept Here: A Crooks’ Tour of Crime and Corruption in St. Paul, 1920-1936.”

“Prohibition meant bribes in order to ship liquor — to cops, judges, U.S. senators,” Maccabee told MPR News’ Cathy Wurzer. “When Prohibition was repealed and liquor was legal, they switched from bootlegging to kidnapping. The same corrupt cops that had looked the other way during the bootlegging era were also involved with kidnappings and other more nefarious deeds.”

Bremer helped federal investigators find his captors. He memorized every detail about his surroundings.

“When the FBI investigated the case, he was able to identify the specific wallpaper in the home where he was kept,” Maccabee said. “That enabled the FBI to break the case and arrest the Barker-Karpis gang.”

The gang was led by two brothers, Doc and Freddy Barker, who Maccabee describes as “psychopaths,” and Alvin “Creepy” Karpis, who was one of the most infamous gangsters of the period.

Alvin Karpis going into court in St. Paul.

And this, also from Wikipedia, covers the arrests, deaths and the aftermath of the kidnapping.

The FBI had recorded the serial numbers of all the cash used to pay the ransom. They launched an intensive investigation, declaring Alvin Karpis, presumed leader of the gang, to be “Public Enemy No. 1”. Bremer, completely traumatized and worried about the safety of his wife and children, refused to cooperate with the FBI. When they threatened to reveal what they believed about his links to organized crime, he admitted what he knew about the kidnappers, and his suspicions about their connection to Sawyer.

The gang knew that they needed to launder the money, but the intensity of the FBI pressure meant that most of their criminal contacts refused to participate. Ziegler was gunned down in a drive-by killing by unknown assailants in March. Sawyer claimed that he had arranged for the money to be laundered in Cuba. The gang withdrew to Cuba, but Karpis became concerned that the money had not been laundered and that the FBI would soon find them there. They moved to Lake Weir, Florida. Doc left for Chicago, hoping to organize a new criminal project. He was soon recognized and arrested on January 8, 1935 along with minor gang member Byron Bolton. Doc wouldn’t talk, but Bolton told the FBI everything he knew in exchange for a light sentence. Eight days later, Doc’s brother Fred Barker and mother Kate “Ma” Barker were killed in a shootout with the FBI at Lake Weir. Volney Davis was also captured, and Sawyer was tracked down and captured in Mississippi.

Alvin Karpis, who was co-leader of the gang along with Fred Barker, was arrested by the FBI in May, 1936. Karpis pleaded guilty to kidnapping and Doc Barker was convicted after a trial. Both men were sent to Alcatraz. Karpis became the Rock’s longest serving inmate, eventually being paroled in 1969 after decades in prison. Barker was shot while trying to escape from Alcatraz in 1939. Sawyer received a life sentence in 1936. He was released from prison in 1955 due to ill health and died shortly after.

The kidnapping had a significant effect on campaigns against police corruption. During the investigation it became clear to FBI agents that information was being leaked to the kidnappers. Tom Brown was strongly suspected to be the source of the leaks and forced out of the team investigating the case. Brown was implicated as a conspirator in the kidnapping after an investigation by the FBI and a hearing before the city Civil Service Board. Brown was fired from the police force, but the federal government declined further prosecution. The death and arrests of all the important Barker-Karpis gang-members greatly enhanced the reputation of the FBI.

Brussels Beer Challenge Winners 2020

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Yesterday, the winners of the 9th annual Brussels Beer Challenge were announced. Exactly 1,546 beers from 36 countries were judged in 8 broad styles (Pale Ale, Dark Ale, Red Ale, Pils, Stout/Porter, White, Flavoured Beers, and Specialty Beers) and then further subdivided into 80 smaller categories (lambic, abbey, chocolate beers, etc.). In a normal year, I would have been there for the judging, but with Covid restrictions, the EU was not permitting Americans to fly to Europe. I had hoped to post this yesterday, but it took me this long to go through and reformat the winners into a list. Congratulations to all the winners!

Belgium won the most medals, with the United States coming in second. Here are the top medal winners, by country.

Medals Won by Country:

  1. Belgium = 79
  2. United States = 31
  3. Italy = 30
  4. Netherlands = 23
  5. Brazil = 16
  6. France = 13
  7. Canada = 10
  8. TIE: China = 9 / Germany = 9
  9. Ireland = 6
  10. TIE: South Korea = 3 / Taiwan = 3

The 2019 Brussels Beer Challenge Winners

Category 1 — Dark Ale: Abbey / Trappist Style Dubbel

  • Gold: Viven Classic Bruin (Belgium) Owned by Brouwerij Viven
  • Silver: Ter Dolen Donker (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Ter Dolen
  • Bronze: Deduction (United States) Brewed by Taxman Brewing Company
  • Bronze: Duits & Lauret Biere de Garde Brune (Netherlands) Brewed by Brouwerij Duits & Lauret

Category 2 — Dark Ale: Brown Ale

  • Gold: Dark Coffee Break (Brazil) Brewed by Wäls Ambev
  • Silver: Joup (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Grain d’Orge
  • Bronze: Rur’ale Brune (France) Brewed by Brasserie Robiche

Category 3 — Dark Ale: Dark/Black IPA

  • Gold: Black Bucket (Ireland) Brewed by Kinnegar Brewing
  • Silver: Colorado Black Indica (Brazil) Brewed by Cervejaria Colorado
  • Bronze: Obaa Three (Belgium) Owned by Obaa Sprl

Category 4 — Dark Ale: Oud Bruin (Flanders Brown Ale)

  • Gold: No award.
  • Silver: Queue de Charrue vieille brune (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Vanuxeem
  • Bronze: Liefmans Goudenband (Belgium) Brewed by Duvel Moortgat

Category 5 — Dark Ale: Strong Dark Ale

  • Gold: Qualified (United States) Brewed by Taxman Brewing Company
  • Silver: De Poes Bruin (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij De Poes BVBA
  • Silver: St.Bernardus Abt 12 (Belgium) Brewed by St.Bernardus Brouwerij
  • Bronze: Gladium Symphony (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio Artigianale della Presila di Verrino Anselmo & C. Sas

Category 6 — Flavoured Beer: Chocolate

  • Gold: Endless Love (South Korea) Brewed by Artmonster Brewery
  • Silver: Peanut Butter Hazelnut Caramel Chocolate Cake Stout (United States) Brewed by Hoppin’ Frog Brewing Co
  • Bronze: Bodebrown – Iron Maiden Trooper Brasil IPA (Brazil) Brewed by Cervejaria Bodebrown Ltda

Category 7 — Flavoured Beer: Coffee

  • Gold: Dadgum Coffee IPA (United States) Brewed by Rahr & Sons Brewing Co.
  • Silver: Goodieson Coffee Stout (Australia) Brewed by Goodieson Brewery
  • Bronze: Kaffee (Canada) Brewed by Microbrasserie La Souche
  • Bronze: Panda Nero (Ireland) Brewed by Brú Brewery

Category 8 — Flavoured Beer: Field Beer

  • Gold: No Award
  • Silver: Colorado Double Brown Coconut (Brazil) Brewed by Cervejaria Colorado
  • Bronze: La Diablesse (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie du Renard

Category 9 — Flavoured Beer: Fruit Beer

  • Gold: Daobrew Free-fall Litchi Gose (China) Brewed by Chengdu Fengshou Craft Beer Company, Ltd
  • Silver: Cranbic (United States) Brewed by New Glarus Brewing Company
  • Bronze: Markens Grøde – Farmer´s Reserve (Norway) Brewed by Lindheim Ølkompani

Category 10 — Flavoured Beer: Herb & Spice

  • Gold: Rumpy (United States) Brewed by Rahr & Sons Brewing Co.
  • Silver: SpontanBasil (Belgium) Brewed by Lindemans Brewery
  • Bronze: GingerGueuze (Belgium) Brewed by Lindemans Brewery
  • Bronze: Straf Gouden Boelsbier (Belgium) Owned by Bieren Boels

Category 11 — Flavoured Beer: Honey Beer

  • Gold: Bee Bock (Italy) Brewed by Ibeer
  • Silver: Piersech Honey Saison (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio Gardena SRL
  • Bronze: Bière de Miel (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Dupont
  • Bronze: Wallabierke (Belgium) Owned by Wallabieke

Category 12 — Flavoured Beer: Old Style Fruit-Lambic

  • Gold: Kriek Mariage Parfait (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Boon
  • Silver: Oude Kriek Oud Beersel (Belgium) Brewed by Oud Beersel BVBA
  • Silver: Oude Riesling Tilquin à l’ancienne (Belgium) Brewed by Gueuzerie Tilquin S.A.
  • Bronze: Kriek (Belgium) Brewed by Hof ten Dormaal
  • Bronze: Schaarbeekse Oude Kriek Oud Beersel (Belgium) Brewed by Oud Beersel BVBA

Category 13 — Flavoured Beer: Russian Imperial Stout Barrel Or Oaked Aged

  • Gold: Huge Arker (United States) Brewed by Anderson Valley Brewing
  • Silver: Tiki Tiki (United States) Brewed by Veza Sur Brewing Company
  • Bronze: Parabola (United States) Brewed by Firestone

Category 14 — Flavoured Beer: Smoked Beer

  • Gold: Friend or Foe? (Poland) Owned by Browar Rockmill Sp. Z O.O.
  • Silver: Buckskin Rauchbier (Taiwan) Brewed by Buckskin, King Car Group
  • Bronze: Duits & Lauret Houtgerijpte Rook Dubbelbock (Netherlands) Brewed by Brouwerij Duits & Lauret
  • Bronze: Rauch Marzen (South Korea) Brewed by Goose Island Brewhouse Seoul

Category 15 — Flavoured Beer: Sweet/Milk Stout

  • Gold: No award.
  • Silver: No award.
  • Bronze: Film G Milk Stout (China) Brewed by 18 Brewery

Category 16 — Flavoured Beer: Wood/Barrel Aged (Less Than 10% ABV)

  • Gold: Dama Wood Selection Imperial Brown Porter (Brazil) Brewed by Renato Bazzo
  • Silver: Rust – Farmer’s Reseve (Norway) Brewed by Lindheim Ølkompani
  • Bronze: Podere La Berta – Vècc Barrel Aged (Italy) Brewed by Felsina S.p.a.

Category 17 — Flavoured Beer: Wood/Barrel Aged Higher Than 10% ABV)

  • Gold: Bush de Nuits (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Dubuisson
  • Gold: Peak Triple Rum Barrel Aged (Belgium) Brewed by Belgium Peak Beer S.A
  • Silver: La Curita Imperial (United States) Brewed by Veza Sur Brewing Company
  • Bronze: Grande Réserve Fermentée en Barriques – Edition Armagnac (Belgium) Brewed by Bières de Chimay

Category 18 — Lager: American-Style Pilsner

  • Gold: No award.
  • Silver: Dama Pilsen (Brazil) Brewed by Renato Bazzo
    Bronze: Firestone Lager (United States) Brewed by Firestone Walker

Category 19 — Lager: Bohemian-Style Pilsner

Gold: Pils (Italy) Brewed by Qubeer
Silver: Mama’s Little Yella Pils (United States) Brewed by Oskar Blues Brewery
Bronze: Kingpin Pils (Poland) Owned by Browar Kingpin Sp. z.o.o.

Category 20 — Lager: Dark/Dunkel (Including Schwarzbier)

  • Gold: Marilune Moonroe (France) Brewed by Brasserie de la Pleine Lune
  • Silver: Eastside Dark (United States) Brewed by Lakefront Brewery
  • Bronze: Slow Chill Dunkel Lager (United States) Brewed by Oskar Blues Brewery

Category 21 — Lager: German-Style Dunkel Bock/Doppelbock

  • Gold: Brand Dubbelbock (Netherlands) Brewed by Heineken
  • Silver: Weyermann® Bamberger Hofbräu® Exquisator (Germany) Brewed by Constantin Förtner
  • Bronze: Dubec (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio Via Priula di San Pellegrino

Category 22 — Lager: German-Style Helles- / MaiBock / Doppelbock

  • Gold: Maestra Doble Lúpulo (Spain) Brewed by Mahou San Miguel
  • Silver: Alfa Krachtig Dort (Netherlands) Brewed by Meens Bierbrouwerij B.V. NL
  • Bronze: Buckskin Heller Bock (Taiwan) Brewed by Buckskin, King Car Group

Category 23 — Lager: German-Style Märzen

  • Gold: Pietra (France) Brewed by Brasserie Pietra
    Silver: Ketterer Edel (Germany) Brewed by Familienbrauerei M. Ketterer GmbH & Co. KG
  • Bronze: No award.

Category 24 — Lager: German-Style Pilsner

  • Gold: Pagoda Hill Pilsner (China) Owned by Blue Marlin Brewing Co.
  • Silver: Pils2 (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio Otus Srl
  • Bronze: AntiKorpo Brewing – Grommet (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio Cittavecchia Soc. Agr. a r.l.
  • Bronze: Ketterer Zwickel-pils (Germany) Brewed by Familienbrauerei M. Ketterer GmbH & Co. KG

Category 25 — Lager: Helles

  • Gold: Waldhaus Hell (Germany) Brewed by Privatbrauerei Waldhaus Joh. Schmid GmbH
  • Silver: B5 (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio Otus Srl
  • Bronze: Bayreuther Hell (Germany) Brewed by Bayreuther Bierbrauerei AG

Category 26 — Lager: Hoppy Lager

  • Gold: Dama American Lager (Brazil) Brewed by Renato Bazzo
  • Silver: American Jasper (Italy) Brewed by Soc.Coop. La Piazza
  • Bronze: American Magut (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio Lambrate
  • Bronze: Pils 13 – White label (Belgium) Owned by The Ministry of Belgian Beer

Category 27 — Lager: International Style Pilsner

  • Gold: Colorado Ribeirão Lager (Brazil) Brewed by Cervejaria Colorado
  • Silver: Alfa Edel Pils (Netherlands) Brewed by Meens Bierbrouwerij B.V. NL
  • Bronze: Estrella Damm (Spain) Brewed by S.A.Damm
  • Bronze: Primus (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Haacht

Category 28 — Lager: Light Lager

  • Gold: DL (Ireland) Brewed by Kinnegar Brewing
  • Silver: Brahma Duplo Malte (Brazil) Brewed by Cervejaria Ambev
  • Bronze: Bohemia Puro Malte (Brazil) Brewed by Cervejaria Ambev
  • Bronze: Brahma Chopp (Brazil) Brewed by Cervejaria Ambev

Category 29 — Lager: Vienna Lager

  • Gold: Vienna Festbier (United States) Brewed by Quarter Celtic Brewpub
    Silver: No award.
  • Bronze: Gangnam Style (South Korea) Brewed by Artmonster Brewery

Category 30 — Pale&Amber Ale: (Belgian Style) Tripel

  • Gold: Paix Dieu (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Caulier SPRL
    Gold: Tripel LeFort (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Omer Vander Ghinste
    Silver: Kompel L’or Noir (Belgium) Owned by Brouwerij Kompel
    Silver: Tongerlo Tripel (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Haacht
  • Bronze: No award.

Category 31 — Pale&Amber Ale: Abbey / Trappist Style Blond

  • Gold: Ter Dolen Blond (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Ter Dolen
  • Silver: Lamme Goedzak (Belgium) Brewed by Scheldebrouwerij BVBA
  • Bronze: Herkenrode Cister (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Cornelissen
  • Bronze: Malheur 8 (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Malheur

Category 32 — Pale&Amber Ale: Amber

  • Gold: La Bonne Aventure (Canada) Brewed by Microbrasserie Pit Caribou
  • Silver: La Rousse du Mont Blanc (France) Brewed by Brasserie du Mont Blanc
  • Bronze: Donna di Cuori (Italy) Brewed by Ibeer

Category 33 — Pale&Amber Ale: American IPA (Higher Than 6.5 ABV)

  • Gold: Born and Raised (United States) Brewed by No-Li Brewhouse
  • Gold: California West Coast IPA (Italy) Brewed by Mastri Birrai Umbri Società Agricola
  • Silver: Revision IPA (United States) Brewed by Revision Brewing Company
  • Bronze: Missile (United States) Brewed by Champion Brewing Company

Category 34 — Pale&Amber Ale: American IPA (Less Than 6.5 ABV)

  • Gold: Bird of Prey (Netherlands) Brewed by Uiltje Brewing Company
  • Silver: So Hoppy! (Belgium) Brewed by Dum’s Brew
  • Bronze: Jopen Hop Zij Met Ons (Netherlands) Brewed by Jopen BV
  • Bronze: La Conquereor (Canada) Brewed by Microbrasserie Pit Caribou

Category 35 — Pale&Amber Ale: American Pale Ale

  • Gold: Dikke Lul 3 Bier (Netherlands) Brewed by Uiltje Brewing
  • Silver: Aero (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio della Granda
  • Silver: Day Job Pale Ale (United States) Brewed by Three Weavers Brewing, Co.
  • Bronze: Tiny Gangsta (China) Owned by Crafters Brewing Co.

Category 36 — Pale&Amber Ale: Belgian Style IPA

  • Gold: No award.
  • Silver: Lumunus (Netherlands) Brewed by Stadsbrouwerij 013
    Bronze: Jack’s Precious IPA (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij The Musketeers
    Bronze: Viven Master IPA (Belgium) Owned by Brouwerij Viven

Category 37 — Pale&Amber Ale: Best Bitter

  • Gold: Roger Bitter (Italy) Brewed by Birra 100Venti
  • Silver: La Galipette (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Le Fou du Roi – E.L.T sprl
  • Bronze: Aubel Pure (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Grain d’Orge

Category 38 — Pale&Amber Ale: Bières De Garde Ambrée

  • Gold: No award.
  • Silver: Gare de Roubaix (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio Mezzavia
    Bronze: PAPITOU (Belgium) Owned by MV²O – LPDLT BV.
    Bronze: St Idesbald Rousse (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij L. Huyghe

Category 39 — Pale&Amber Ale: Bitter

  • Gold: Doom Bar (United Kingdom) Owned by Sharps Brewery
  • Silver: Bertinchamps Légère (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie de Bertinchamps
  • Bronze: Santé Maris Otter (Belgium) Owned by Sante Beer

Category 40 — Pale&Amber Ale: Double Saison

  • Gold: Moinette Blonde (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Dupont
  • Silver: Tank 7 (United States) Brewed by Boulevard Brewing Company
  • Bronze: Saison Dupont Dry Hop (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Dupont
(Photo by Bart Van der Perre)

Category 41 — Pale&Amber Ale: English IPA

  • Gold: SUPER 8 IPA (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Haacht
  • Silver: NONNE IPA (France) Brewed by Les Brasseurs Savoyards
  • Bronze: Ninkasi French IPA (France) Brewed by Ninkasi Fabriques

Category 42 — Pale&Amber Ale: Golden Ale

  • Gold: No award.
  • Silver: Wilderen Goud (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij & Distilleerderij Wilderen
    Bronze: St-Feuillien Five (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie St-Feuillien
    Bronze: Troubadour Blond (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij The Musketeers

Category 43 — Pale&Amber Ale: Imperial IPA

  • Gold: Thumper (Ireland) Brewed by Kinnegar Brewing
  • Silver: Azz (Italy) Brewed by Birra Gaia SrL
  • Bronze: Jopen Heavy Cross (Netherlands) Brewed by Jopen BV

Category 44 — Pale&Amber Ale: Kölsch

  • Gold: La Blonde du Pêcheur (Canada) Brewed by Microbrasserie Pit Caribou
  • Silver: No award.
  • Bronze: No award.

Category 45 — Pale&Amber Ale: Light Bitter Blond/Golden Ale

  • Gold: Ename Pater (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Roman
  • Silver: Fientje (Belgium) Owned by Huisbrouwerij Fienneke- Ellen Winters
  • Bronze: 8 File (Italy) Brewed by La Collina Trattoria & Birrificio Artigianale
  • Bronze: Super Sanglier (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Minne

Category 46 — Pale&Amber Ale: Modern Saison

  • Gold: Funky Brett (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Lefebvre
  • Silver: Blue Butterfly (United States) Brewed by Deschutes Brewery
  • Bronze: 28 Saison (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie 28

Category 47 — Pale&Amber Ale: New England IPA

  • Gold: Loup des Saules (Canada) Brewed by Microbrasserie La Souche
  • Silver: Disco Ninja (United States) Brewed by Revision Brewing
  • Bronze: Juice Punch V10 (Netherlands) Brewed by Brouwerij Frontaal
  • Bronze: Master Gao Birdland (China) Brewed by Master Gao Brewing Co. of Nanjing

Category 48 — Pale&Amber Ale: Pacific IPA

  • Gold: Crikey IPA (United States) Brewed by Reuben’s Brews
  • Silver: The Pupil (United States) Brewed by Societe Brewing Company
  • Bronze: No award.

Category 49 — Pale&Amber Ale: Session IPA

  • Gold: Jackie Dunn (Canada) Brewed by Microbrasserie La Souche
  • Silver: La Cristal IPA (France) Brewed by Brasserie du Mont Blanc
  • Bronze: Canaia (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio Bradipongo S.r.l.
  • Bronze: Perroquet IPA (Canada) Brewed by Microbrasserie Le Trou du diable

Category 50 — Pale&Amber Ale: Strong Amber

  • Gold: No award.
  • Silver: Pauwel Kwak (Belgium) Brewed by n.v. Brouwerij Bosteels Brasserie s.a.
    Bronze: Millican Extra (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio Mezzopasso

Category 51 — Pale&Amber Ale: Strong Blonde

  • Gold: Hapkin (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Alken-Maes
  • Silver: Duvel Tripel Hop Citra (Belgium) Brewed by Duvel Moortgat
  • Bronze: Bon Secours Blonde (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Caulier

Category 52 — Pale&Amber Ale: Strong/Extra Special Bitter

  • Gold: Gatsby (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio La Villana – Centoundici srl
  • Silver: Royal Bitter (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio Legnone
  • Bronze: El Dorado (Italy) Brewed by Ibeer

Category 53 — Pale&Amber Ale: Traditional Saison

  • Gold: Saison Dupont Bio (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Dupont
  • Silver: Saison Dupont (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Dupont
  • Bronze: Biolégère (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie Dupont

Category 54 — Red Ale: American Red Ale

  • Gold: No award.
  • Silver: No award.
  • Bronze: Apache (Italy) Brewed by Birra 100Venti
    Bronze: Scarlet Pimpernel (Ireland) Brewed by Killarney Brewing Company

Category 55 — Red Ale: Irish Red Ale

  • Gold: No award.
  • Silver: Brú Red Ale (Ireland) Brewed by Brú Brewery
  • Bronze: No award.

Category 56 — Red Ale: Oud Rood (Flanders Red Ale)

  • Gold: No award.
    Silver: Tsai’s Flanders Red Ale (Taiwan) Brewed by Tsai’s Actual Brewing Co., Ltd.
  • Bronze: No award.

Category 57 — Speciality Beer: Alcohol-Free

  • Gold: Ramon (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Roman
  • Silver: Amstel 0.0 (Netherlands) Brewed by Heineken
  • Bronze: Affligem 0.0% (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Alken-Maes

Category 58 — Speciality Beer: Barley Wine

  • Gold: Barley Wine Brune 2017 (France) Brewed by Cap d’Ona
  • Silver: Base Bohemia Reserva (Brazil) Brewed by Cervejaria Bohemia
  • Bronze: Troost Barleywine (Netherlands) Brewed by Brouwerij Troost

Category 59 — Speciality Beer: Brut Beer

  • Gold: No award.
  • Silver: Kessbier Belgian Mango Brut (Brazil) Brewed by Kessbier Cervejaria
    Bronze: Asparagus (Netherlands) Owned by Brouwerij Hommeles

Category 60 — Speciality Beer: Gluten Free

  • Gold: Brunehaut Triple (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie de Brunehaut
  • Silver: Biosfera (Italy) Brewed by Il Mastio ssa
  • Bronze: Blonde Bio Sans Gluten (France) Brewed by Cap d’Ona
  • Bronze: Grisette Blonde Bio gluten free (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie St-Feuillien

Category 61 — Speciality Beer: Low-Alcohol

  • Gold: BIIR – Lots off cry(o)hops almost no alcohol (Belgium) Owned by Biir Noble Brew Trading
  • Silver: Bakalár nealko za studena Chmelený (Czech Republic) Brewed by Tradicní Pivovar v Rakovníku, a.s.
  • Bronze: Maisel & Friends Alkoholfrei (Germany) Brewed by Brauerei Gebr. Maisel

Category 62 — Speciality Beer: Old Style Gueuze-Lambic

  • Gold: Oude Geuze Oud Beersel (Belgium) Brewed by Oud Beersel BVBA
  • Silver: Oude Geuze Vandervelden (Belgium) Brewed by Oud Beersel BVBA
  • Silver: Oude Gueuze Cuvée René (Belgium) Brewed by Lindemans Brewery
  • Bronze: Feral One (United States) Brewed by Firestone Walker

Category 63 — Speciality Beer: Other Sour Ale

  • Gold: Kriek Whiskey BA (Belgium) Brewed by Hof ten Dormaal
  • Silver: Praia do Meio (Brazil) Owned by Cervejaria Cozalinda
  • Bronze: Flower Power (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Angerik
  • Bronze: Summer Sour (United States) Brewed by New Glarus Brewing

Category 64 — Speciality Beer: Speciality Beer (Higher Than 7 ABV)

  • Gold: Apfelstrudel Doppelbock (Netherlands) Brewed by Uiltje Brewing Company
  • Silver: Tiramisù Imperial Stout (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio Lambrate
  • Bronze: Beer Van Brugge Single Malt Whiskey Infused (Belgium) Brewed by Beer Van Brugge
  • Bronze: Dama Oatmeal Golden Coffee Ale (Brazil) Brewed by Renato Bazzo

Category 65 — Speciality Beer: Speciality Beer (Less Than 7 ABV)

  • Gold: Gelders Graan Geluk (Netherlands) Owned by GraanGeluk
  • Silver: La Trappe Puur (Netherlands) Brewed by Bierbrouwerij de Koningshoeven B.V.
  • Silver: Timmermans Lambicus Faro (Belgium) Brewed by Timmermans NV
  • Bronze: The Harlot (United States) Brewed by Societe Brewing Company

Category 66 — Speciality Beer: Speciality Beer: Italian Style Grape Ale

  • Gold: L’Equilibrista (Italy) Brewed by Birra del Borgo Srl
  • Silver: Bienne (Belgium) Owned by Aligenti BV
  • Bronze: Fèlsina Birrificio – White IGA (Italy) Brewed by Felsina S.p.a.

Category 67 — Speciality Beer: Winter Ales

  • Gold: Pietra Brassin d’Hiver (France) Brewed by Brasserie Pietra
  • Silver: Gouden Carolus Christmas (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Het Anker
  • Bronze: Evil Santa (United States) Brewed by The Virginia Beer Co.

Category 68 — Stout/ Porter: American Stout

  • Gold: No award.
  • Silver: No award.
  • Bronze: All Black (Netherlands) Owned by Stanislaus Brewskovitch BV

Category 69 — Stout/ Porter: Baltic Porter

  • Gold: Teodorico (Italy) Brewed by Birra Mastino
  • Silver: No award.
  • Bronze: No award.

Category 70 — Stout/ Porter: Dry Stout

  • Gold: Le Sang d’Encre (Canada) Brewed by Microbrasserie Le Trou du diable
  • Silver: Cheerday Stout (China) Brewed by Hangzhou Cheerday Brewery Co., Ltd.
  • Bronze: Mac Lomas Stout (United States) Brewed by Quarter Celtic Brewpub

Category 71 — Stout/ Porter: Oatmeal Stout

  • Gold: Panty (Netherlands) Brewed by Oedipus Brewing
  • Silver: No award.
  • Bronze: No award.

Category 72 — Stout/ Porter: Porter

  • Gold: La Gaspésienne #13 (Canada) Brewed by Microbrasserie Pit Caribou
    Silver: La Machurée (France) Brewed by SAS Brasserie Stéphanoise
  • Bronze: No award.

Category 73 — Stout/ Porter: Russian Imperial Stout

  • Gold: Dangerous (Italy) Brewed by Birrificio della Granda
  • Gold: Wrecking Ball (United States) Brewed by No-Li Brewhouse
  • Silver: B.O.R.I.S. The Crusher Oatmeal Imperial Stout (United States) Brewed by Hoppin’ Frog Brewing Co
  • Silver: Kollusion (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Maenhout
  • Bronze: No award.

Category 74 — Stout/ Porter: Stout Export

  • Gold: No award.
  • Silver: van Vollenhoven Extra Stout (Netherlands) Brewed by Brouwerij Poesiat & Kater
    Bronze: Dama Stout (Brazil) Brewed by Renato Bazzo

Category 75 — Wheat: Dubbel Wit/Imperial White

  • Gold: Bogaerden Dubbel Tarwe Tripel (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Sako
  • Gold: Jopen Witte Kerst (Netherlands)Brewed by Jopen BV
  • Bronze: Grosse Bertha (Belgium) Owned by Brussels Beer Project

Category 76 — Wheat: Dunkel Weizen(Doppel)Bock

  • Gold: No award.
  • Silver: TAP6 Aventinus (Germany) Brewed by Schneider Weisse G. Schneider & Sohn GmbH
    Bronze: Weizenbock (Netherlands) Brewed by Davo Bieren Bv

Category 77 — Wheat: Gose

  • Gold: La Gose IPA du Barachois (Canada) Brewed by Microbrasserie Pit Caribou
    Silver: No award.
  • Bronze: No award.

Category 78 — Wheat: Weizen

  • Gold: TAP7 Original (Germany) Brewed by Schneider Weisse G. Schneider & Sohn GmbH
  • Silver: Primátor Weizen (Czech Republic) Brewed by Primátor A.s.
  • Bronze: Beluga Beer (China) Brewed by Hunan Beluga Beer Co. , Ltd
  • Bronze: Ketterer Ur-Weisse hell (Germany) Brewed by Familienbrauerei M. Ketterer GmbH & Co. KG

Category 79 — Wheat: White IPA/Hoppy Weizen

  • Gold: Blitz (Netherlands) Owned by Brouwerij Bliksem
  • Silver: No award.
    Bronze: Daobrew CDC Chengmsterdam White IPA (China) Brewed by Chengdu Fengshou Craft Beer Company, Ltd
    Bronze: Pearl of the Orient (China) Brewed by 18 Brewery

Category 80 — Wheat: Witbier

  • Gold: Hoegaarden White (Belgium) Brewed by Hoegaarden AB-Inbev
  • Silver: Blanche de Namur (Belgium) Brewed by Brasserie du Bocq
  • Bronze: Affligem Belgisch Wit (Belgium) Brewed by Brouwerij Alken-Maes
  • Bronze: La Blanche du Mont Blanc (France) Brewed by Brasserie du Mont Blanc
Tasting Director Luc De Raedemaeker (photo by Bart Van der Perre)

The Battle of Gravensteen Castle

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One of the more majestic castles in Belgium is The Gravensteen (which in Dutch means the “Castle of the Counts”). It is a medieval castle built in 1180 and located in Ghent, East Flanders in Belgium. It was only occupied by anyone other than the owners one time, on November 16, 1949, when 138 students from the University of Ghent took over the castle to protest an increase in the price of beer.

Onlookers filled the streets outside the castle in downtown Ghent.

Here is a description of the day’s events from the University of Ghent website, as translated by Google:

On November 16, 1949, 138 students (including one girl) entrenched themselves in the Gravensteen in Ghent. The battlements are adorned with playful student slogans, while the police and fire brigade are treated to overripe fruit and smoke bombs. The student-like violence can only be contained with the greatest difficulty by the police. The student joke is front-page news in the international press. 

Firemen turned their hoses on the students.

In addition to protesting the new beer tax which caused the price to go up, the students also wanted to abolish the use of white helmets by the police. This helmet was replaced by a blue kepi so that the police officers would be less distinguishable from postmen, among others. I don’t know why that was important to the students, but apparently, it was.

Eventually, the police and fire brigade managed to charge the students, but despite this, the students still essentially won the day. Public opinion was on the side of the students and no students were prosecuted and they essentially got what they asked for. To this day, each year it’s commemorated with a parade and a cantus song; and is considered, by the city of Ghent at least, the greatest student prank in its history.

A caricature of the day’s events from shortly after it took place.

The song they sing every year is entitled, of course, “The Battle of the Gravensteen,” and is based on a poem by Flemish teacher and folk poet Eugeen De Ridder. Belgian composer and organist Armand Preud’homme wrote the music for it. Below are the lyrics:

1. In Ghent, the old city,
there was the Gravensteen
For centuries as forgotten,
Abandoned and alone.
Until suddenly student times,
Lust for fun and laughter,
With trickery to renovate the castle,
Without a blow or a blow.

Sprayers of Flanders!
Ghent roars with pleasure:
“‘t Gravenkasteel occupied by students!”
They’re in it! who gets z’er out.
They fear neither club nor water nor spray!
Besiegers if you want to attack.
Watch out, watch out, watch out, watch out!
Ulenspiegel, Ulenspiegel leads them!

2. ‘t Pandoerheir, sealike, Rolls
ladders by the wall,
And takes with water lances,
The ruin under fire.
But apples like grenades,
Explode on the ground,
And the slimey scraps sow, crushing,
Confusion all around.

3. The Student’s Guild, doggedly
Covered with dust and ashes,
Faded its last apple,
His last sod of grass.
Then their battle was over …
But, through the centuries,
Vlaadren’s laughter will commemorate,
The Battle of ‘t Gravensteen!

The Gravensteen Castle today.

GABF Winners 2020

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Earlier today, the winners of the 39th Great American Beer Festival were announced (and the 34th with judging). Given the world in 2020, an impressive 8,806 entries in 91 categories (or 170 different beer styles if you include the subcategories) were tasted by 115 judges, of which I was again privileged to be one. Here are some more factoids on the results:

  • Category with the most entries: Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale: 348 entries (This is the third year in a row that it’s been #1.
  • Top 5 Categories: Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale (377 entries); American-Style India Pale Ale (355 entries); German-Style Pilsener (200 entries); Wood and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout (199 entries); and Juicy or Hazy Imperial India Pale Ale (192 entries)
  • Average number of competition beers entered in each category: 97
  • 1,720 breweries in the competition from all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C.
  • 337 first-time breweries entered the competition
  • 19 first-time breweries won medals
  • Only one brewery won 4 medals, Sun King Brewery of Indianapolis, Indiana. Three won 3 medals apiece: Cannonball Creek Brewing of Golden, Colorado; Chuckanut Brewery of Bellingham, Washington; and Riip Beer Co., from Huntington Beach, California. In addition, 23 breweries won 2 medals.

Medals Won by State:

  1. California = 62
  2. Colorado = 26
  3. Oregon = 22
  4. Washington = 16
  5. Virginia = 15
  6. North Carolina = 11
  7. TIE: Indiana = 10 / Texas = 10
  8. Ohio = 9
  9. TIE: Illinois = 6 / Michigan = 6
  10. TIE: IOWA = 5 / Missouri = 5 / Nevada = 5 / New York = 5
Print

The 2018 Great American
Beer Festival Winners

Category 1: American-Style Wheat Beer – 59 Entries
Gold: Whoopty Whoop Wheat, Wild Ride Brewing, Redmond, OR
Silver: Emmer, Lost Worlds Brewing, Cornelius, NC
Bronze: 10 Barrel TWheat, 10 Barrel Brewing Co. – Bend Pub, Bend, OR

Category 2: American-Style Fruit Beer – 125 Entries
Gold: Strawberry Zwickelbier, Twin Sisters Brewing Co., Bellingham, WA
Silver: Everything But The Seeds, 1623 Brewing Co., Eldersburg, MD
Bronze: Berry, Berry, Quite Contrary, Territorial Brewing Co., Springfield, MI

Category 3: Fruit Wheat Beer – 107 Entries
Gold: Liliko’i Kepolo, Avery Brewing Co., Boulder, CO
Silver: Grandma’s Favorite Recipe, Silver Harbor Brewing Co., Saint Joseph, MI
Bronze: Afternoon Delight, Storm Peak Brewing Co., Steamboat Springs, CO

Category 4: Field Beer – 107 Entries
Gold: Lime Cucumber Gose, Urban South Brewery – New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
Silver: Coconut Bligh’s Barleywine, Dry Dock Brewing Co.- North Dock, Aurora, CO
Bronze: No Rules, Perrin Brewing Co., Comstock Park, MI

Category 5: Pumpkin Beer – 51 Entries
Gold: Gordgeous, NoDa Brewing Co. – NE, Charlotte, NC
Silver: 5 Phantoms 2018, Philipsburg Brewing Co., Philipsburg, MT
Bronze: Pumpkin Patch Ale, Rogue Ales & Spirits, Newport, OR

Category 6: Chili Beer – 76 Entries
Gold: 325 Pineapple Chili, Hoops Brewing, Duluth, MN
Silver: Poblano Pils, Cervecería Colorado, Denver, CO
Bronze: Hatch Chile Gatos, Fate Brewing Co., Scottsdale, AZ

Category 7: Herb and Spice Beer – 99 Entries
Gold: Allergeez, Panther Island Brewing, Fort Worth, TX
Silver: Yerba Buena, Del Cielo Brewing Co., Martinez, CA
Bronze: Powder Run, Living the Dream Brewing Co., Littleton, CO

Category 8: Chocolate Beer – 53 Entries
Gold: Weapon of Mash Destruction, Main & Six Brewing Co., Jacksonville, FL
Silver: Old Balltown Bulleit Bourbon Barrel Aged Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Brownie Milk Stout, PIVO Brewery, Calmar, IA
Bronze: Von Schrag, Mother’s Brewing Co., Springfield, MO

Category 9: Coffee Beer – 72 Entries
Gold: Daybreak, Wolf’s Ridge Brewing – Columbus, OH
Silver: Golden Stout, Karl Strauss Brewing Co. – Anaheim, Anaheim, CA
Bronze: BJ’s Coffee Blonde, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery – Reno, Reno, NV

Category 10: Coffee Stout or Porter – 75 Entries
Gold: Super Tonic, Docent Brewing, San Juan Capistrano, CA
Silver: The Riizzo, Riip Beer Co., Huntington Beach, CA
Bronze: Venti is Large, Hop Dogma Brewing Co., Half Moon Bay, CA

Category 11: Specialty Beer – 35 Entries
Gold: Coco Burrito Porter, Shoe Tree Brewing Co., Carson City, NV
Silver: Cookies & Cream Milk Stout, Waconia Brewing Co., Waconia, MN
Bronze: Cactus Warrior, Toltec Brewing Co., Albuquerque, NM

Category 12: Rye Beer – 52 Entries
Gold: Crazy Jackass Ale, Great American Restaurants – Sweetwater Tavern, Centreville, VA
Silver: Hugzilla, Gezellig Brewing Co., Newton, IA
Bronze: Chuckanut Rye, Chuckanut Brewery – North Nut, Bellingham, WA

Category 13: Honey Beer – 72 Entries
Gold: Honey Please, Armadillo Ale Works, Denton, TX
Silver: Tra La La, Grimm Artisanal Ales, Brooklyn, NY
Bronze: Grid City Honey Cream Ale, Grid City Beer Works, Salt Lake City, UT

Category 14: Session Beer or Non-Alcohol Beer – 89 Entries
Gold: Tip the Calf, SingleSpeed Brewing, Waterloo, IA
Silver: Guillaume, Pizza Port Ocean Beach, San Diego, CA
Bronze: Straight Drank N/A IPA, Two Roots Brewing Co., San Diego, CA

Category 15: Session India Pale Ale – 94 Entries
Gold: Hefty Fee, Docent Brewing, San Juan Capistrano, CA
Silver: Pedal Pounder, LazyG Brewhouse, Prescott, AZ
Bronze: On Pins & Needles, Institution Ale Co., Camarillo, CA

Category 16: Other Strong Beer – 82 Entries
Gold: Rico, Chihuahua Cerveza, Costa Mesa, CA
Silver: Krimson King, Accomplice Beer Co., Cheyenne, WY
Bronze: Hello, Sabro!, Danville Brewing Co., Danville, CA

Category 17: Experimental Beer – 115 Entries
Gold: Barrel Aged Coco Piña, Coastal Empire Beer Co., Savannah, GA
Silver: Choco Tuesday, Lone Pine Brewing Co. – Gorham Tasting Room, Gorham, ME
Bronze: Get Artistic, Creature Comforts Brewing Co., Athens, GA

Category 18: Experimental India Pale Ale – 103 Entries
Gold: Pepper & Peaches, Claremont Craft Ales, Claremont, CA
Silver: Lazy Tiger, Lamplighter Brewing Co., Cambridge, MA
Bronze: Vladimir Brutin, Cannonball Creek Brewing Co., Golden, CO

Category 19: Historical Beer – 28 Entries
Gold: Decorah Nordic Gruit, PIVO Brewery, Calmar, IA
Silver: Seedstock Gratzer, Seedstock Brewery, Denver, CO
Bronze: Fr. Bernard’s Grodziskie, New Magnolia Brewing Co., Houston, TX

Category 20: Gluten-Free Beer – 45 Entries
Gold: Aurochs Hazy IPA, Aurochs Brewing Co., Emsworth, PA
Silver: 1808, ALT Brew, Madison, WI

Category 21: American-Belgo-Style Ale – 34 Entries
Gold: Tank 7, Boulevard Brewing Co., Kansas City, MO
Silver: Dear You, Ratio Beerworks, Denver, CO
Bronze: Still Single, Light the Lamp Brewery, Grayslake, IL

Category 22: American-Style Sour Ale – 36 Entries
Gold: Vice Sans Fruit, Wild Barrel Brewing Co., San Marcos, CA
Silver: Mirage, New Terrain Brewing Co., Golden, CO
Bronze: Sour IPA, New Belgium Brewing Co., Fort Collins, CO

Category 23: Fruited American-Style Sour Ale – 180 Entries
Gold: Guava Dreams, Del Cielo Brewing Co., Martinez, CA
Silver: Peach Afternoon, Port Brewing Co. / The Lost Abbey, San Marcos, CA
Bronze: Summer Sun, Stereo Brewing Co., Placentia, CA

Category 24: Brett Beer – 48 Entries
Gold: Bottle Conditioned Day Drinker, Lost Forty Brewing, Little Rock, AR
Silver: Touch of Brett, Alesong Brewing & Blending, Eugene, OR
Bronze: Saison de Walt, Flix Brewhouse, Carmel, IN

Category 25: Mixed-Culture Brett Beer – 74 Entries
Gold: Wild James, Coldfire Brewing, Eugene, OR
Silver: Déluge, Sanitas Brewing Co., Boulder, CO
Bronze: Gathering Red Currants & Peaches, Grimm Artisanal Ales, Brooklyn, NY

Category 26: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer – 65 Entries
Gold: Afternoon Delight, Sun King Brewery – Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN
Silver: Amburana Graham Cracker Porter, Denver Beer Co., Denver, CO
Bronze: B.A.DUNKEL, TAPS Brewery & Barrel Room, Tustin, CA

Category 27: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer – 154 Entries
Gold: Amburana Dream, Denver Beer Co. – Olde Town Arvada, Arvada, CO
Silver: Bourbon B.A. Big Game, Bravery Brewing, Lancaster, CA
Bronze: Barrel-Aged Full Malted Jacket, Beachwood BBQ & Brewing, Long Beach, CA

Category 28: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout – 199 Entries
Gold: A Night to End All Dawns, Kane Brewing Co., Ocean, NJ
Silver: Ruckus, Melvin Brewing – Thai Me Up, Jackson, WY
Bronze: Grasp of Oak, Moksa Brewing Co., Rocklin, CA

Category 29: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer – 54 Entries
Gold: Cuvee De Funk, Lone Pine Brewing Co., Portland, ME
Silver: Triad Blanc, IMBIB Custom Brews, Reno, NV
Bronze: Freedom 7, True Anomaly Brewing Co., Houston, TX

Category 30: Fruited Wood- and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer – 111 Entries
Gold: The Many Lives of Our Lives, Big aLICe Brewing Co., Long Island City, NY
Silver: Cleft, Little Fish Brewing Co., Athens, OH
Bronze: Cherry Busey, Sun King Brewery – Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN

Category 31: Kellerbier or Zwickelbier – 71 Entries
Gold: Safety Dance, Smartmouth Brewing Co., Norfolk, VA
Silver: Royal Bohemian Pilsner, Earth Rider Brewery, Superior, WI
Bronze: TF Brewing Granary Keller Bier, Templin Family Brewing, Salt Lake City, UT

Category 32: Smoke Beer – 60 Entries
Gold: O’Fallon Smoked Porter, O’Fallon Brewery, Maryland Heights, MO
Silver: Holy Smokes!, Santa Maria Brewing Co., Atascadero, CA
Bronze: Buchenrauch, Wolf’s Ridge Brewing, Columbus, OH

Category 33: American Lager – 137 Entries
Gold: Lager at World’s End, Epidemic Ales, Concord, CA
Silver: Seismic Tremor, Seismic Brewing Co., Santa Rosa, CA
Bronze: Lite Thinking, Pollyanna Brewing Co., Lemont, IL

Category 34: Light Lager – 85 Entries
Gold: Wander Litely, Wander Brewing, Bellingham, WA
Silver: Chuckanut Chuck Lite, Chuckanut Brewery – North Nut, Bellingham, WA
Bronze: Pachanga, Sun King Brewery – Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN

Category 35: American Pilsener – 120 Entries
Gold: Beachscape, Ventura Coast Brewing Co., Ventura, CA
Silver: Imagine a World with Beer Cellars Instead of 401ks, Freetail Brewing Co., San Antonio, TX
Bronze: Pilsner, Old Town Brewing, Portland, OR

Category 36: International Pilsener – 114 Entries
Gold: Japanese Lager, pFriem Family Brewers, Hood River, OR
Silver: Rioveza, Kern River Brewing Co. – The Backyard, Kernville, CA
Bronze: Little Wing, Horse Thief Hollow Brewing Co., Chicago, IL

Category 37: American-Style Cream Ale – 135 Entries
Gold: Moonlite, Moontown Brewing Co., Whitestown, IN
Silver: Cerveza, True North Ale Co., Ipswich, MA
Bronze: Let’s Talk About Mex, Cannonball Creek Brewing Co., Golden, CO

Category 38: American Amber Lager – 111 Entries
Gold: Volksbier Vienna, Wibby Brewing, Longmont, CO
Silver: Oktoberfest, Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, MI
Bronze: Amber Lager, Skipping Rock Beer Co., Staunton, VA

Category 39: German-Style Pilsener – 200 Entries
Gold: Sprockets, Gravely Brewing Co., Louisville, KY
Silver: Prost Pils, Prost Brewing Co., Denver, CO
Bronze: Pils, Kansas City Bier Co., Kansas City, MO

Category 40: Bohemian-Style Pilsener – 137 Entries
Gold: Perle Haggard, Ex Novo Brewing Co., Portland, OR
Silver: Fortune & Glory, Precarious Beer Project – Precarious Beer Hall, Williamsburg, VA
Bronze: Tres Tres, Ocean Beach Brewery, San Diego, CA

Category 41: Munich-Style Helles – 131 Entries
Gold: Augenblick Light Lager, Masthead Brewing Co., Cleveland, OH
Silver: Nashville Lager, Nashville Brewing Co., Nashville, TN
Bronze: Helles, Kulshan Brewing Co. – K2, Bellingham, WA

Category 42: Dortmunder or German-Style Oktoberfest – 90 Entries
Gold: CounterWeight Fest Bier, Counter Weight Brewing Co., Hamden, CT
Silver: The Prince of DORTness, Quarter Celtic Brewpub, Albuquerque, NM
Bronze: Funfest, Bootlegger’s Brewery, Fullerton, CA

Category 43: Vienna-Style Lager – 109 Entries
Gold: RhinO’fest, Lost Rhino Brewing Co., Ashburn, VA
Silver: Vienna Lager, East Rock Brewing Co., New Haven, CT
Bronze: Oktoberfest, Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA

Category 44: German-Style Maerzen – 142 Entries
Gold: Amber’s Lager-Amber Lager, Irwin Brewing Co., Crested Butte, CO
Silver: White Rocktoberfest, White Rock Alehouse & Brewery, Dallas, TX
Bronze: Big Grove Oktoberfest, Big Grove Brewery, Iowa City, IA

Category 45: German Dark Lager – 98 Entries
Gold: Maximilian, La Reforma, Albuquerque, NM
Silver: Dozer Line, Topa Topa Brewing Co., Ventura, CA
Bronze: Umbeereon, GameCraft Brewing, Laguna Hills, CA

Category 46: International Dark Lager – 89 Entries
Gold: Baltic Porter, Skipping Rock Beer Co., Staunton, VA
Silver: Murder Ballads, Noble Beast Brewing Co., Cleveland, OH
Bronze: Public Enemy Baltic Porter, Dust Bowl Brewing Co., Turlock, CA

Category 47: Bock – 50 Entries
Gold: Chuckanut Maibock, Chuckanut Brewery – North Nut, Bellingham, WA
Silver: Maibock, NoDa Brewing Co. – NE, Charlotte, NC
Bronze: Skool House Bock, Moontown Brewing Co., Whitestown, IN

Category 48: German-Style Doppelbock or Eisbock – 40 Entries
Gold: Agent Provocator, Clandestine Brewing, San Jose, CA
Silver: Duck-Rabbit Duck-Rabbator, Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery, Farmville, NC
Bronze: Doppelbock, Lupulin Brewing, Big Lake, MN

Category 49: Golden or Blonde Ale – 137 Entries
Gold: Carolinian, Columbia Craft Brewing Co., Columbia, SC
Silver: Salty Crew, Coronado Brewing Co., Coronado, CA
Bronze: Sunlight Cream Ale, Sun King Brewery – Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN

Category 50: German-Style Koelsch – 162 Entries
Gold: Kolsch, pFriem Family Brewers, Hood River, OR
Silver: Kodiak Kolsch, Bear Chase Brewing Co., Bluemont, VA
Bronze: Kolsch Money, Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers, Framingham, MA

Category 51: English Ale – 93 Entries
Gold: Proper Beer, Proper Brewing Co., Salt Lake City, UT
Silver: Summer Lovin’, Blue Mountain Brewery, Afton, VA
Bronze: Uncle Dave’s, Discretion Brewing, Soquel, CA

Category 52: International Pale Ale – 87 Entries
Gold: Locals Only, Pizza Port Carlsbad, Carlsbad, CA
Silver: Carlsbad Crush, Burgeon Beer Co., Carlsbad, CA
Bronze: Inner Light, Our Mutual Friend Brewing, Denver, CO

Category 53: American-Style Pale Ale – 156 Entries
Gold: Featherweight Pale Ale, Cannonball Creek Brewing Co., Golden, CO
Silver: Somewhere Golden, Institution Ale Co., Camarillo, CA
Bronze: Pantsless, Alarmist Brewing, Chicago, IL

Category 54: Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale – 137 Entries
Gold: Moon Haze, Blue Moon Brewing Co., Denver, CO
Silver: Hazy L IPA, Bale Breaker Brewing Co., Yakima, WA
Bronze: Mosaic Pale Ale, Random Row Brewing Co., Charlottesville, VA

Category 55: American-Style Strong Pale Ale – 149 Entries
Gold: Built For Speed, Grains of Wrath Brewing, Camas, WA
Silver: Superpower IPA, Comrade Brewing Co., Denver, CO
Bronze: Mai Tai P.A., Alvarado Street Brewery & Tasting Room, Salinas, CA

Category 56: Juicy or Hazy Strong Pale Ale – 145 Entries
Gold: Goofy Boots, Penrose Brewing Co., Geneva, IL
Silver: Reuben’s Crush, Reuben’s Brews – The Taproom, Seattle, WA
Bronze: Tight Quarters, Slice Beer Co., Lincoln, CA

Category 57: American-Style India Pale Ale – 355 Entries
Gold: IPA, Perry Street Brewing, Spokane, WA
Silver: Updrift India Pale Ale, Pelican Brewing Co. – Tillamook, Tillamook, OR
Bronze: Nothing Noble, Von Ebert Brewing – Pearl, Portland, OR

Category 58: Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale – 377 Entries
Gold: Spellbinder, Wren House Brewing Co., Phoenix, AZ
Silver: Yojo, Moonraker Brewing Co., Auburn, CA
Bronze: Wicked Pawesome, Metazoa Brewing Co. – Stringtown Production Facility, Indianapolis, IN

Category 59: Imperial India Pale Ale – 166 Entries
Gold: Hammerland DIPA, El Segundo Brewing Co., El Segundo, CA
Silver: Double Cone, Alvarado Street Brewery & Tasting Room, Salinas, CA
Bronze: Freak of Nature Double IPA, Wicked Weed Brewing, Asheville, NC

Category 60: Juicy or Hazy Imperial India Pale Ale – 192 Entries
Gold: The Hopsplainer, Burke-Gilman Brewing Co., Seattle, WA
Silver: Not A Scientist, Cloudburst Brewing, Seattle, WA
Bronze: Sugar on My Tongue, Highland Park Brewery, Los Angeles, CA

Category 61: American-Style Amber/Red Ale – 110 Entries
Gold: Avalon Amber Ale, Bowigens Beer Co., Casselberry, FL
Silver: Justin’s Easy Going Amber, Zuni Street Brewing Co., Denver, CO
Bronze: Paulie’s Not Irish, Old Town Brewing, Portland, OR

Category 62: Strong Red Ale – 75 Entries
Gold: Happy Days, Claremont Craft Ales, Claremont, CA
Silver: Side Hike, Kern River Brewing Co., Kernville, CA
Bronze: Devil’s Path, El Segundo Brewing Co., El Segundo, CA

Category 63: English Mild or Bitter – 57 Entries
Gold: Deep Roots, Three Weavers Brewing Co., Inglewood, CA
Silver: English Pale Mild Ale, Wallenpaupack Brewing Co., Hawley, PA
Bronze: MSB (McFleshman’s Special Bitter), McFleshman’s Brewing Co., Appleton, WI

Category 64: Extra Special Bitter – 56 Entries
Gold: Wicket Awesome, Eureka Heights Brew Co., Houston, TX
Silver: Extra Special StormBreaker, StormBreaker Brewing, Portland, OR
Bronze: English Sporting Beer, Midwest Coast Brewing Co., Chicago, IL

Category 65: Scottish-Style Ale – 43 Entries
Gold: Back Country, Lewis & Clark Brewing Co., Helena, MT
Silver: It Takes a Tribe Red Ale, Goat Patch Brewing Co., Colorado Springs, CO
Bronze: Taildragger Clan-Destine, Saddle Mountain Brewing Co., Goodyear, AZ

Category 66: Irish-Style Red Ale – 78 Entries
Gold: Balefire Irish Red, Mirror Image Brewing Co., Frederick, CO
Silver: Crimson Lass, Quarter Celtic Brewpub, Albuquerque, NM
Bronze: Vixen, Old Bust Head Brewing Co., Vint Hill, VA

Category 67: English-Style Brown Ale – 55 Entries
Gold: Get Up Offa That Brown, Golden Road Brewing, Anaheim, CA
Silver: Bloodhound Brown Ale, Attic Brewing Co., Philadelphia, PA
Bronze: Brown Ale, Lowercase Brewing – Production Facility, Seattle, WA

Category 68: American-Style Brown Ale – 60 Entries
Gold: Brown Ale, Second Street Brewery, Santa Fe, NM
Silver: Wallops Island, Rocket Frog Brewing Co., Sterling, VA
Bronze: All-American Brown, Auburn Alehouse, Auburn, CA

Category 69: American-Style Black Ale or American-Style Stout – 69 Entries
Gold: Wookey Jack, Firestone Walker Brewing Co. – The Propagator, Marina del Rey, CA
Silver: Black the Riipper, Riip Beer Co., Huntington Beach, CA
Bronze: 1979 Stout, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. – Mills River, Mills River, NC

Category 70: German-Style Sour Ale – 54 Entries
Gold: Breakside Gose, Breakside Brewery, Portland, OR
Silver: Slightly Sour, Second Chance Beer Co., San Diego, CA
Bronze: First Steps on a Sour Planet, Aeronaut Brewing Co., Somerville, MA

Category 71: Specialty Berliner-Style Weisse – 74 Entries
Gold: Razzle Fo Shazzle, Great Basin Brewing Co. – Reno, Reno, NV
Silver: Glitz & Glam, Eppig Brewing, Vista, CA
Bronze: Plumpricot, Beale’s, Bedford, VA

Category 72: Contemporary Gose – 81 Entries
Gold: Cruise to Nowhere, Town Brewing Co., Charlotte, NC
Silver: Haole Punch, Alvarado Street Brewery & Grill, Monterey, CA
Bronze: Steady As She Gose – P.O.G., Big Ugly Brewing, Chesapeake, VA

Category 73: German-Style Altbier – 44 Entries
Gold: Howitzer Amber, Red Leg Brewing Co., Colorado Springs, CO
Silver: Control ALT, Devil’s Logic Brewing, Charlotte, NC
Bronze: Altitude Alt, Altitude Chophouse & Brewery, Laramie, WY

Category 74: German-Style Wheat Ale – 145 Entries
Gold: Goggle Fogger Hefeweizen, Fat Head’s Brewery & Saloon, North Olmsted, OH
Silver: Hefeweizen, Kansas City Bier Co., Kansas City, MO
Bronze: Doc’s Dunkel, Gravely Brewing Co., Louisville, KY

Category 75: Belgian-Style Ale or French-Style Ale – 74 Entries
Gold: First To Fall, The Good Society, Seattle, WA
Silver: Crazy Train, Fretboard Brewing Co., Blue Ash, OH
Bronze: III Belgian Blond, Third Window Brewing Co., Santa Barbara, CA

Category 76: Belgian-Style Witbier – 72 Entries
Gold: White, Allagash Brewing Co., Portland, ME
Silver: Boeman Belgian White, Ogopogo Brewing, San Gabriel, CA
Bronze: Wolk, Lock 27 Brewing, Centerville, OH

Category 77: Classic Saison – 80 Entries
Gold: Beyond the Gnome World, Silver Branch Brewing Co., Silver Spring, MD
Silver: Tomorrow’s Verse, Urban Roots Brewing & Smokehouse, Sacramento, CA
Bronze: Meadowlark, Metazoa Brewing Co. – Taproom, Indianapolis, IN

Category 78: Specialty Saison – 74 Entries
Gold: Farmhouse Cuvée, Alesong Brewing & Tasting Room, Eugene, OR
Silver: Seeds of Infinity, Coldfire Brewing, Eugene, OR
Bronze: Obeisance, Von Ebert Brewing – Glendoveer, Portland, OR

Category 79: Belgian-Style Lambic or Sour Ale – 108 Entries
Gold: Funk Yeah, Beachwood Blendery, Long Beach, CA
Silver: Peche, Block 15 Brewing Co., Corvallis, OR
Bronze: Cerise Morte, Wicked Weed – Funk House, Arden, NC

Category 80: Belgian-Style Strong Specialty Ale – 103 Entries
Gold: Cosmic Sloth, Pinthouse Pizza – South Lamar, Austin, TX
Silver: Qualified, Taxman Brewing Co., Bargersville, IN
Bronze: Hell Camino Belgian Quad, Dos Desperados Brewery, San Diego, CA

Category 81: Belgian-Style Abbey Ale – 106 Entries
Gold: Dubbel or Nothing, Monkless Belgian Ales, Bend, OR
Silver: 228 Tripel, Stormcloud Brewing Co., Frankfort, MI
Bronze: Lux Mundi, Save The World Brewing Co., Marble Falls, TX

Category 82: Belgian-Style Specialty Ale – 47 Entries
Gold: Tangible Passion, Riip Beer Co., Huntington Beach, CA
Silver: Goin’ Stag, Cabin Boys Brewery, Tulsa, OK
Bronze: Orange Diva, StillFire Brewing, Suwanee, GA

Category 83: Brown Porter – 54 Entries
Gold: Brown Claw, Kern River Brewing Co., Kernville, CA
Silver: FivePine Porter, Three Creeks Brewing Co., Sisters, OR
Bronze: Old Normal, Bend Brewing Co., Bend, OR

Category 84: Robust Porter – 60 Entries
Gold: Tabula Rasa, Second Chance Beer Co., San Diego, CA
Silver: Porter, Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, MI
Bronze: Thriller Pillar Porter, Bron Yr Aur Brewing Co., Naches, WA

Category 85: Stout – 72 Entries
Gold: ODIS, O’Connor Brewing Co., Norfolk, VA
Silver: Void of Light, Gun Hill Brewing Co., Bronx, NY
Bronze: Dry Stout, The Post Brewing Co., Lafayette, CO

Category 86: Sweet Stout or Cream Stout – 39 Entries
Gold: Moozie Milk Stout, Brink Brewing Co., Cincinnati, OH
Silver: Korova Milk Porter, Gnarly Barley Brewing Co., Hammond, LA
Bronze: Irish Prenup, Barley Naked Brewing Co., Stafford, VA

Category 87: Oatmeal Stout – 52 Entries
Gold: Settlers’ Oatmeal Stout, Vallensons’ Brewing Co., Pearland, TX
Silver: North Tower Stout, Earth Rider Brewery, Superior, WI
Bronze: Stagecoach Stout, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co., Buellton, CA

Category 88: Imperial Stout – 88 Entries
Gold: The Snow, Community Beer Works, Buffalo, NY
Silver: Doggin Wrench, Five Branches Brewing, Tarpon Springs, FL
Bronze: Stoutacus, Shoe Tree Brewing Co., Carson City, NV

Category 89: Scotch Ale – 58 Entries
Gold: No. 17 Scotch Ale, The Freehouse, Minneapolis, MN
Silver: The Bruce, Überbrew, Billings, MT
Bronze: Wee Heavy HINDER, H.H. Hinder Brewing Co., Waupaca, WI

Category 90: Old Ale or Strong Ale or Barley Wine-Style Ale – 91 Entries
Gold: Miss Cleo’s Barkleywine, Sanford Brewing Co., Sanford, FL
Silver: Baby Maker, Triple C Brewing Co., Charlotte, NC
Bronze: Waterline Wee Heavy, Waterline Brewing Co., Wilmington, NC

Category 91: Fresh Hop Beer – 58 Entries
Gold: Conelick’r, Three Creeks Brewing Co., Sisters, OR
Silver: Fresh Hop Ride the Pine, Belching Beaver Brewery – Tavern & Grill, Vista, CA
Bronze: Fresh Hop Hazealicious, Reuben’s Brews – Production Brewery, Seattle, WA

2020 Brewery and Brewer of the Year Awards

Small Brewpub and Small Brewpub Brewer of the Year
The Good Society, Seattle, WA
Phil Cammarano & Nick Berger

Mid-Size Brewpub and Mid-Size Brewpub Brewer of the Year
Monkless Belgian Ales, Bend, OR
Todd Clement & Chris Dinsdale

Large Brewpub and Large Brewpub Brewer of the Year
The Freehouse, Minneapolis, MN
The Freehouse Team

Very Small Brewing Company and Very Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year
Five Branches Brewing, Tarpon Springs, FL
Jerry Brown

Small Brewing Company and Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year
Big aLICe Brewing Co., Long Island City, NY
Big aLICe Production Team

Mid-Size Brewing Company and Mid-Size Brewing Company Brewer of the Year
Lost Forty Brewing, Little Rock, AR
Lost Forty Brewing Team

Brewery Group and Brewery Group Brewer of the Year
Three Creeks Brewing Co., Sisters, OR
Team Three Creeks

NFL Football: Pick The Winners At Brookston Fantasy Games 2020: Pandemic Edition

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This is the fourteenth year for the Brookston Fantasy Football Games. We’ve had a lot of fun over the last thirteen, so if you love football and beer, consider joining us this year, whether you’ve played in past seasons or are a newcomer. The NFL season begins tomorrow, Thursday, September 10, so you’ve got just a few hours to sign up. And this year is the Pandemic Edition, which just means with so little else to do, everybody should sign up this year. Why not join us?

I’ve again set up two free Yahoo fantasy football games, one a simple pick ’em game and the other a survival pool. Up to 50 people can play each game (that’s Yahoo’s limit, not mine), so if you’re a regular Bulletin reader feel free to sign up for one or even both. It’s free to play, all you need is a Yahoo ID, which is also free. Below is a description of each game and the details on how to join each league and play.

Pro Football Pick’em

In this Pick’em game, just pick the winner for every game each week, with no spread, and let’s see who gets the most correct throughout the season. All that’s at stake is bragging rights, but it’s still great fun.

Also, like the last few years, we’ll be able to keep picking all through the playoffs, so the game will continue through to the Super Bowl, which is pretty cool.

In order to join the group, just go to Pro Football Pick’em, click the “Sign Up” button and look for a link or bottom that reads “Join Group.” From there, follow the path to join an existing private group and when prompted, enter the following information…

Group ID#: 33460 (Brookston Football Picks)
Password: brookston

Survival Football

If picking all sixteen football games every week seems like too much, then Survival Football is for you. In Survival Football, you only have to pick one game each week. The only catch is you can’t pick the same team to win more than once all season. And you better be sure about each game you pick because if you’re wrong, you’re out for the season. Actually a few years ago they added a new feature and I changed the game so to be kicked out you have to be wrong twice. In that way more people stand a better chance of lasting longer into the season. So get one wrong, and you’re still okay, get a second wrong, now you’re gone for the season. Last man standing wins.

Again, like the last few years, we can keep picking all through the playoffs, assuming our luck holds. So the game could even continue through to the Super Bowl.

This year it’s even easier to join, with a new streamlined sign-up process. Just click on this direct link and follow the instructions from there.

With 50 players allowed in each game, there’s plenty of room, so don’t be shy. Sign up for one or both games. In past seasons, I’ve posted the standings on the home page, but wasn’t able to figure out a way to do that recently. Hopefully, I’ll figure out something this year. Anyway, why not join us? Go head to head again me and my team, the Brookston Brew Jays.

Historic Beer Birthday: Bert Grant

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bert-grants-real-ales

Today would have been Bert Grant’s 92nd birthday, and he is still definitely missed. Bert opened the country’s first brewpub in 1982 in Yakima, Washington and was a fixture in the industry until his death in late July of 2001. Join me tonight in lifting a pint to Bert’s memory.

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Here’s his obituary from Real Beer:

Craft brewing pioneer Bert Grant, who founded the first modern day brewpub in the United States, is dead at 73.

Grant had been ill for two years and died Tuesday at the University of British Columbia Hospital in Vancouver. He had moved to that city a year ago to be close to his children.

When Grant founded his brewpub in Yakima, Wash., in 1982 there were fewer than 50 individual brewing operations in the U.S. Today there are more than 1,500. That brewpub expanded to become a bottling microbrewery, selling about 10,000 barrels of Bert Grant’s Ales in 2001. He sold the brewery to Chateau Ste. Michelle wines in 1995, but Grant remained an active spokesman until being slowed by illness.

He’d sometimes wear a kilt at his pub in Yakima and occasionally dance on the bar. He kept a claymore — a double-bladed broadsword — just in case he had to enforce his ban on smoking.

He was born in Dundee, Scotland, in 1928. He moved to Toronto, where he grew up and got his first job in a brewery … at 16, he became a beer taster. He remained in the beer business all his life. He moved to Yakima in 1967, where he helped build and operate two plants that processed hops. His patented processing of hops is still in use today.

Bert Grant Bert was one of a kind,” said Paul Shipman, who founded Red Hook Brewery around the time Grant began Yakima Brewing and Malting Co. “He was a scientist, a brewer, and I don’t think he even graduated high school.”

He remained dedicated to assertive beer and carried a vial of hop oil in his pocket to boost the flavor of a bland domestic beer. His first priority was to brew beer he liked. “It may not be your favorite beer,” Grant’s son Peter said. “But it was his.”

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Bert at GABF in the 1990s.

And here is his obituary from the New York Times:

Bert Grant, a veteran brew master who in 1982 opened the granddaddy of all the good, bad and so-so brew pubs slaking thirsts across the country today, died on July 31 at a hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he had recently made his home. He was 73 and a longtime resident of Yakima, Wash.

The cause was a bowel rupture, his family said.

Mr. Grant’s experience in brewing stretched back to his teenage years in Canada. He worked at big brewing companies and later as an international consultant to them before settling in Yakima, the center of American hops country.

Mr. Grant started the Yakima Brewing and Malting Company in the 19th-century former home of the Yakima Opera, using plenty of the flavorful hops he thought other beers lacked. At first he brewed just eight kegs at a time.

Friends who sampled his recipe liked it and spread the word. It caught on with Yakima beer lovers, who welcomed it as an alternative to national brands and expensive imports. Mr. Grant got some chairs to sit on in the lobby and convinced skeptical licensing officials that Washington State law permitted each brewer to operate one pub.

This gave birth in the summer of 1982 to Grant’s Brewery Pub, the first such establishment in the United States since Prohibition. Food and tables were added, and a growing clientele prompted Mr. Grant to move his pub across the street into what used to be Yakima’s downtown railroad station. He liked to greet customers personally and, as a native of Scotland, often did so wearing a plaid kilt with a clan pin.

His brewing company, meanwhile, came to offer an assortment of beers and ales, including seasonal brews that varied with the harvest of the region’s distinctive types of hops. Mr. Grant built the company into one of the Northwest’s leading microbreweries and started bottling his brands, like Grant’s Scottish Ale, Imperial Stout and HefeWeizen. Last year, Yakima Brewing and Malting brewed 10,000 barrels and shipped bottles to distributors in 20 states, from Alaska to Connecticut to Florida.

Herbert Lewis Grant was born in Dundee but immigrated to Canada with his parents as a toddler. With World War II draining his adopted country of manpower, he left school at 16 to work at Canadian Breweries (now Carling).

He moved on to the United States to develop a pilot brewing program for Stroh and, as his reputation grew, became an independent consultant for makers like Anheuser-Busch and the Australian brewer Foster’s.
Also working for hops companies, he became well acquainted with Yakima and moved there when he decided to brew to his own taste. He sold his business in 1995 to Stimson Lane Ltd., a long-established winery, but remained a consultant to it until recently.

Mr. Grant is survived by two sons, David H., of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Peter A., of Vancouver; three daughters, Shannon D. Grant and Melanie Bond of Vancouver, and Wendy Cundall of Calgary, Alberta; and five grandchildren. Also surviving is his former wife, Daphne Grant of Vancouver.

According to family lore, the Scottish doctor who delivered little Herbert lifted him by the heels and, slapping breath into him, said, ”Bottoms up.” His first cradle, the lore goes, was an oaken barrel sawed in half — possibly apocryphal, Mr. Grant allowed.

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And finally, here’s a great retrospective written by Ryan Messer for the Yakima Herald in 2017, entitled “Bert Grant: The Godfather of Craft Brewing.”

He’s been called the “Dean of America’s craft brewers” and the Wall Street Journal called him “The Patriarch of the micro movement.” Personally, I prefer Bert Grant as the “Neil Young of Microbrews.” Neil didn’t invent Rock ’n Roll, but he was the Godfather of Grunge. Likewise, Bert didn’t invent beer but what he did to change it made an indelible mark.

Most people know Bert Grant as the man who gave us Yakima brewing and Malting Co., or Grant’s Ales. While he launched that business in 1982, his passion for beer, and hops in general, started decades before.

Bert was born in 1928 in Dundee, Scotland. Before he reached the age of 10, the Grant family moved to Toronto, and Bert had consumed his first beer. I should say his first of many beers. I don’t even know if it’s possible to quantify what Bert consumed over his lifetime. As a child, Bert’s father let him drink opened beers left behind, and his first job at age 16 was to taste beer; 50-100 per day — you do the math.

The thing about beer drinking for Bert was that he truly enjoyed it. It wasn’t about the feeling, it was about the flavor. And, it was about the science behind the flavor. Bert was a chemist and loved studying why one beer could taste remarkable, and another could ruin your evening.

Part of his career included working for Canadian Breweries (parent company of Carling) and Stroh Brewing Company, doing experimental brewing. He had the freedom to try new things, but sadly neither company utilized his research or expertise. Finally, Bert realized consulting was the best direction for him. He eventually worked with large breweries spanning the globe such as Guinness, Coors, Foster’s, Anheuser-Busch and Yakima hop company, S.S. Steiner.

Steiner was the business that really changed Bert’s world, and ours as a collective of beer drinkers. They convinced him to move to Yakima and redesign a hop extract plant. After great success, Bert and Steiner changed gears — literally. Under Bert’s supervision, Steiner built the first hop pellet plant in the United States. This was a game changer for the beer industry. It took the varying aroma of a whole hop cone (based on time from harvest) and replaced it with exacting smell and bitterness. It was similar in nature to the extract, but far easier and more precise for the brewer to use.

With over 40 years of beer tasting and testing under his belt, Bert wanted to share his knowledge with the world, or at least the people of the Yakima Valley. It would be a daunting task because at the time, no one even knew what a microbrew was. In the early ‘80s, there were two little known breweries in California, Sierra Nevada and Anchor Brewing, that were making something entirely different than the “King of Beers.” In 1982, when Bert was ready to start brewing professionally, his only competition in the state was Redhook. On July 1st that year, Yakima Brewing and Malting Co. poured its first Grant’s Scottish Ale in the old Opera House on Yakima’s Front Street.

Bert was at the helm as one of the chief investors and brewmaster, and the recipes and ideas all stemmed from him. He started with his son-in-law and a few others to round out the investment team and hired Rick Desmarais (who he had worked with at Steiner) as his first head brewer and Dan Boutillier as production manager. Within the first few years the Scottish Ale shared tap space with an Imperial Stout and an India Pale Ale (IPA). A few years beyond that, a low calorie “Celtic Ale”, Weis (white beer), “Spiced Ale” (winter beer) and Yakima Cider (a hard cider made exclusively from apple concentrate) were added to the lineup.

The unique thing about Yakima Brewing and Malting is that it started without a bottling line. It was only available in plastic bottles that the consumer could bring or purchase like a crude precursor to today’s growler. It was also available for consumption on premises. This is what really stood out because it was the first time anyone had an establishment of that nature in the United States since before prohibition. Yakima, Washington was the home of the first “brewpub” in America in over 60 years.

In 1984, Bert hired Darren Waytuck who eventually became head brewer. Waytuck said it was a tremendous learning experience working for someone like Bert. “He wasn’t only into the chemistry of the beer and that process, but in hops as well. That was really his forte. But he also had incredible experience. Someone new might know if a beer was flawed but wouldn’t know why. It was Bert’s job to understand why and how to correct it.”

As brew master, Bert was still in charge of all things happening with his beer. All ideas would come from him on the brewing process and ingredients. When asked about what hops they used to brew with, Waytuck said, “I preferred the whole hop cone and didn’t care for the smell of a hop pellet, but Bert insisted. When I still didn’t use them, Bert ran us out of whole hops so I had to use the pellets.”

Bert was a risk taker though, and had no problem with pushing the envelope for something he was passionate about. “No one was out there getting their beer in front of people like Bert did, it just didn’t happen before his time.” Waytuck said. With that success they had to build a bottling line directly behind the brewery in the Opera House. They also expanded into a space to the north for a larger pub which my mother, Jana Johnson, ran for the better part of two decades. When that wasn’t enough, the brewery expanded to a 20,000 square foot building off Washington Avenue and the pub moved across the street to the old train depot.

Waytuck and the crew enjoyed their craft, but he said, “it was a lot more fun at the Opera House. It became more corporate at the new brewery and was more of a task.”

Shortly after the locations changed, Bert continued to push the envelope, but this time with an organization that no one beats — the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, (ATF). Bert had done some testing on his beers and found that a 12 ounce bottle of Scottish Ale contained beneficial vitamins and nutrients, including 170 percent of the U.S. RDA of Vitamin B-12. He had table tents printed, added it to his 6-pack cartons and even made shirts advertising the news (although a bit tattered, I’m happy to say I still have mine).

Of course the ATF wouldn’t allow someone to suggest that beer was actually healthy for you and ordered him to stop. At the same time, the Bureau looked into his cider making process which was not technically a beer, but considered by them as a wine. Not only did they prevent him from continuing to make the cider, they required he pay back taxes for the years he paid too little. Waytuck said, “It was tough for Bert. He didn’t like the confrontation, but he was going to push as far as he could.”

After achieving a greater success than I believe Bert imagined he could, Yakima Brewing and Malting was sold to Stimson Lane, the parent company of Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia Crest and other wineries in Washington and California, in 1995. While his role changed, Bert stayed on with the company until he passed away in July of 2001. Stimson Lane sold the company only a few months later. Waytuck stayed committed to the brand and eventually became brewmaster, before the company closed in 2004. “I promised Bert I would see it through and make the best beer as long as we were open,” Waytuck said.

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Me and the two Berts at OBF.