Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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California Wins Big at World Beer Cup

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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.

Russian River Wins Triple Gold

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Vinnie and Natalie Cilurzo, the owners of Russian River Brewing Co. in Santa Rosa, California were beaming Friday night at the Gala Awards Dinner for the 2006 World Beer Cup. And with good reason, they’d won not only three gold medals but also World Beer Cup Champion Brewmaster and Brewery of the Year for Large Brewpub.

The three gold medals were for Temptation (in Category 48: Other Belgian-Style Ale), Blind Pig IPA (in Category 79: American-Style India Pale Ale), and Pliny the Elder (in Category 80: Imperial or Double India Pale Ale).

Vinnie and Natalie, with BA President Charlie Papazian, accepting one of their three golds.

Back on stage for the big award.

Natalie leans in for a celebratory kiss. Congratulations to Vinnie and Natalie and Russian River Brewing.

Marin Takes Top Honors at Double IPA Festival

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Marin Brewing was chosen best in show at the 6th annual Double IPA Festival today at the Bistro in Hayward, California. The full winner list is below.

 
 

 
 

Russian River Named Brewery of the Year by Malt Advocate

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Russan River Brewing Co. of Santa Rosa, California was named brewery of the year by Malt Advocate. The announcement was made today with the publication of the latest issue of the magazine. Malt Advocate is primarily a magazine for the whisky enthusiast but they do cover beer, as it does contain a considerable amount of malt, after all. The Malt Advocate Whisky Awards are given each year in a variety of categories including brewery of the year. This year marks the 12th year awards have been given by the magazine. Previous winners include Stone Brewing, Deus Brut des Flandres, Victory Brewing, and New Glarus Brewing. Congratulations to Vinnie and Natalie at Russian River.

John Hansell, Publisher & Editor of Malt Advocate, had this to say about Russian River Brewing:

Beer without boundaries. I’m not sure if the Russian River Brewing Company has a motto, but this one would certainly work. One glance through their beer portfolio and you’ll understand why: Supplication, a brown ale aged for 12 months in pinot noir barrels, produced with sour cherries and wild bacteria and yeast; Beatification, a blond ale aged in New Belgium Brewing Company’s La Folie Barrels for 22 months; Pliny the Elder, a high-alcohol, high-gravity, super-hopped double IPA. Their list of beers seems endless, restricted only by how many hours a day brewing craftsman Vinnie Cilurzo (pictured) is willing to brew, and not willing to sleep.

Vinnie first started brewing Russian River beers at the Korbel Champagne Cellars in 1997, and there is indeed a wine influence in many of the beers he produces today—both in his production methods and flavors. Since 2003, he has been producing his cutting-edge beers in downtown Santa Rosa, California. Within the past two years, he has already garnered many awards and accolades from the beer industry. It’s time that the rest of the world discovers his beers. He doesn’t make much, so it will make his already scarce beers even more coveted. But in the long run, we will all benefit.

Russian River beers transcend styles and marry cultures. Truly, beer without boundaries.