Beer Birthday: Chris Swersey

October 18, 2018 By Jay Brooks Leave a Comment

Today is the 54th birthday of Chris Swersey, who’s on the staff of the Brewers Association as the Competition Manager for both the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup. He coordinates all the judges, volunteers and the thousands of beers needed for each festival. It’s a big job and Chris seems to do it effortlessly. Plus, the last two years, Chris and I both judged in Belgium at the Brussels Beer Challenge, which has been great fun. Join me in wishing Chris a very happy birthday.

Chris reading the list of World Beer Cup winners in 2008.

Nancy Johnson, Justin Crossley & Chris right before the GABF Awards Ceremony in 2009.

Eric and Lauren Salazar, both from New Belgium Brewing, sandwiched by Jim Crooks, from Firestone Walker, and Chris Swersey, Competition Manager for GABF judging.

Me, Chris and another BA staff member freshly arriving at CBC in Austin in 2007.

GABF Medal Streaks

September 28, 2018 By Jay Brooks 8 Comments

A few days ago, I posted the results of this year’s Great American Beer Festival, a list of the medal winners, along with some statistics and a few photographs from the ceremony. A comment thread ensued about the longest streak of winning medals, meaning how many years in a row has a brewery won at least one medal. Intrigued, I reached out to the BA’s economist Bart Watson to see if that was a data point that the Brewers Association tracked. They do not, but one of the leading candidates, Iron Hill Brewery’s Mark Edleson, pointed out that the GABF website could be filtered not only by year but also by “All Years” and then you could search for a particular brewery and see which years they won. One problem with that is, as Bart pointed out, is that brewery names have on occasion changed, as have some ownership situations, over the years, but apart from that you could look at some of the leading candidates, at least. Undaunted, I started noodling through the data, somewhat randomly, but having been around almost thirty years, I tried as many of the old breweries I could remember.

At first, I thought I’d spend maybe an hour or so on this, just for fun, but as is typical for me it got out of hand and I’ve been doing searches off and on for a few days now. Obviously, I don’t have the time to search every brewery that’s won a medal since 1983, but I did search a lot of them. If you know of one I missed or just want to look up your favorite brewery, start at the BA’s GABF Winners page. Set the drop-down menu to “All Years” and then type in the brewery name you want to check in the “Search” field. I’d suggest using the fewest number of names as possible to weed out name changes like brewery to brewing co., etc. If the name itself is unique then leave off brewing entirely, although if it’s a place name you’ll probably need to include it. If you do find one that has a streak of three or more years, please comment below and I’ll add it to this list. Thanks.

Current Streak

This first list is what I’m calling the “Current Streak,” meaning a streak that’s still active. This means the brewery won a medal this year, and stretching back in previous consecutive years. For purposes of compiling this, a minimum of three years of winning medals is the minimum for no better reason then it seemed sensible. One win is great, two could be a happy coincidence, but once you hit three, it feels like a streak.

22 Years: Iron Hill 1997-2018 *

19 Years: Pizza Port 2000-2018 *

17 Years: Firestone Walker 2002-2018 *^

8 Years:
- Beachwood BBQ & Brewery 2011-2018 *
- Figueroa Mountain 2011-2018 *
7 Years: Real Ale Brewing 2012-2018

6 Years:
- Cannonball Creek Brewing 2013-2018
- Karl Strauss 2013-2018 *
5 Years:
- Chuckanut 2014-2018
- Fat Head’s 2014-2018 *
4 Years:
- Alvarado Street 2015-2018
- Austin Beer Garden 2015-2018
- Boise Brewing 2015-2018
- Denver Beer Co. 2015-2018
- Grimm Brothers 2015—2018
- TAPS Fish House and Brewery – Corona 2015-2018
3 Years:
- Alesong 2016-2018
- Bruery 2016-2018
- Snake River 2016-2018
- Summit Brewing 2016-2018
- Sunriver 2016-2018
- Uberbrew 2016-2018

* = The asterisk represents an elephant in the room, meaning these medals were won by the same company, but for multiple locations. I don’t mean to detract from the awesome achievement that their streaks represent, but it feels like it needs an asterisk since having more locations, especially under the older rules of entering, represents an advantage because they entered more beers than a single brewery would have been able to enter.

^ = This is a unique situation. Firestone Walker’s Paso Robles production brewery won medals for sixteen years in a row, from 2002 to 2017. This year Firestone Walker Barrelworks, in Buellton, won a medal. However, in the new special category, without a number, the Collaboration Competition, they won a medal for their collaboration with themselves, Firestone Walker Barrelworks of Buellton won for Pixie Dusted with Firestone Walker Brewing – Paso Robles. So does that mean Paso has won 17 Years in a row, or is it only 16? I don’t really know the answer, but it’s worth a discussion.

All Streaks

This second list is what I’m calling “All Streaks,” meaning every streak, whether it’s still active or not. This means the brewery won a medal at least three years in a row. As I mentioned, I undoubtedly missed some, and I apologize in advance if I miised yours. It’s a lot of data, and I’m just one guy. If you know of one I missed, please comment below. Thanks.

22 Years:
- Anheuser-Busch 1988-2009
- Coors 1988-2009
- Iron Hill 1997-2018
19 Years: Pizza Port 2000-2018 *

17 Years: Firestone Walker 2002-2018 *^

16 Years:
- Firestone Walker – Paso Robles 2002-2017
- Goose Island 1997-2012
- Sandlot Brewery at Coors Field 1999-2014
15 Years:
- Boston Beer Co. 1985-1999
- Rock Bottom 2000-2014 *
14 Years:
- Miller Brewing 2003-2016
- New Belgium 2000-2013
13 Years: Bear Republic 2004-2016

12 Years:
- Alaskan 1987-1998
- New Glarus 1996-2007
- Steelhead 1991-2002 *
11 Years:
- BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery 2002-2012 *
- Boston Beer Co. 2004-2014
10 Years:
- Bend Brewing 2006-2015
- Dry Dock Brewing 2008-2017 *
- Russian River Brewing 2001-2010
- Stoudt’s 1988-1997
9 Years:
- Alaskan 2000-2008
- Capital Brewery Co. 2004-2012
- Big Horn Brewing/CB & Pott’s 2000-2008 *
- Pabst 1990-1998
- RAM Restaurant & Brewery 2006-2014 *
- Sierra Nevada 1987-1995
- Tröegs Brewing 2006-2014
8 Years:
- Anchor 2001-2008
- Barley Brown’s Brew Pub 2009-2016
- Beachwood BBQ & Brewery 2011-2018 *
- Deschutes 2007-2014
- Devils Backbone Brewing 2009-2016 *
- Figueroa Mountain 2011-2018
- Montana Brewing 2005-2012
- Pabst 2010-2017
- Pennsylvania Brewing 1997-2004
- Southampton Publick House 2000-2007
- Sun King Brewing 2010-2017
7 Years:
- AC Golden Brewing 2009-2015
- Anchor 1987-1993
- Celis Brewery 1992-1998
- Deschutes 1990-1996
- Flossmoor Station 1997-2003
- Flying Dog 2003-2009
- G. Heileman Brewing 1990-1996
- Laurelwood Brewing 2006-2012
- Leinenkugel 2002-2008
- Lost Abbey 2007-2013
- Marble Brewery 2011-2017
- Pacific Coast 1989-1995
- Pelican Brewery 2004-2010
- Prescott Brewing 1996-2002
- Pyramid Breweries 2004-2010
- Real Ale Brewing 2012-2018
- Schooner’s Grille and Brewery/Morgan Territory 2004-2010
- Sierra Nevada 2008-2014
- Tommyknocker 2002-2008
6 Years:
- Cannonball Creek Brewing 2013-2018
- Capital Brewery Co. 1987-1992
- Dogfish Head 2004-2009
- Elysian Brewing 2002-2007
- Gordon Biersch 2009-2014
- Hart/Pyramid/Thomas Kemper 1994-1999
- Hudepohl-Schoenling 1987-1992
- John Harvard’s Brew House 1997-2002
- Karl Strauss 2013-2018
- Moose’s Tooth Brewing 2003-2008
- Pabst 2003-2008
- Pug Ryan’s Brewery 2003-2008
- Rocky River Brewing 1998-2003
- Rogue 2007-2012
- Saint Arnold 2005-2010
- Snake River 1999-2004
- Snake River 2007-2012
- Stroh Brewery 1997-2002
- Uinta Brewing 2009-2014
5 Years:
- 21st Amendment Brewery 2009-2013
- Butterfield Brewing 1992-1996
- Chuckanut 2014-2018
- Cigar City Brewery 2009-2013
- Clipper City Brewing 2006-2010
- The Commons Brewery 2012-2016
- Deschutes 2001-2005
- Fat Head’s 2014-2018
- Glenwood Canyon 2009-2013
- Great Adirondack Brewing 2008-2012
- Marin Brewing 1989-1993
- Millstream Brewing 2003-2007
- New Glarus 2009-2013
- North Coast 1999-2003
- Pelican Brewery 2012-2016
- Piece Brewery 2005-2009
- Redrock Brewing 2010-2014
- Redwood Coast Brewing/Tied House 1990-1994
- Rogue 1990-1994
- Saxer Brewing 1994-1998
- Seabright Brewery 1991-1995
- Third Street AleWorks 2000-2004
- Widmer Brothers 2006-2010
4 Years:
- AleSmith Brewing 2011-2014
- Alvarado Street 2015-2018 *
- Angelic Brewing 2001-2004
- Austin Beer Garden 2015-2018
- Avery Brewing 2012-2015
- Big Time 1990-1993
- Blind Tiger 2009-2012
- Boise Brewing 2015-2018
- Boscos Brewing 2000-2003
- Boulevard Brewing 2011-2013
- Boundary Bay Brewery 2001-2004
- Chuckanut 2009-2012
- Coors 2014-2017
- Denver Beer Co. 2015-2018
- Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery 2014-2017
- Firehouse Grill & Brewery 2008-2011
- Flossmoor Station 2005-2008
- Frankenmuth Brewing 1989-1992
- Gella’s Diner and Lb. Brewing 2007-2010
- Great Lakes 1990-1993
- Grimm Brothers 2015—2018
- Heavenly Daze Brewery & Grill 1993-1996
- Left Hand Brewing 2013-2016
- Mad River Brewing 2010-2013
- Midnight Sun Brewing 2005-2008
- Miller Brewing 1992-1995
- Miller Brewing 1997-2000
- Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery 2011-2014
- Minnesota Brewing 1992-1995
- New Belgium 1995-1998
- Nodding Heading 2002-2005
- Odell 2005-2008
- Oggi’s Pizza & Brewing 2003-2006
- Pelican Brewery 1999-2002
- Plank Road Brewery 2000-2004
- Portland Brewing/MacTarnahan’s 2000-2003
- Redrock Brewing 2005-2008
- Russian River Brewing 2012-2015
- SKA Brewing 2013-2016
- Snake River 1994-1997
- Squatters Pub Brewery 2001-2004
- Steamworks Brewing 2013-2016
- St. Ides Brewing 1999-2002
- SweetWater Brewing 2000-2003
- TAPS Fish House and Brewery – Brea 2010-2013
- TAPS Fish House and Brewery – Corona 2015-2018
- Telegraph Brewing 2011-2014
- Third Street AleWorks 2007-2010
- Thirsty Dog Brewing 2000-2003
- Three Floyds Brewing 2010-2013
- Twenty Tank Brewery 1995-1998
- Wicked Weed Brewing 2013-2016 *
- Widmer Brothers 2001-2004
3 Years:
- Alaskan 2010-2012
- Alesong 2016-2018
- Allagash 2005-2007
- Allagash 2009-2011
- Allagash 2014-2016
- Anchor 1997-1999
- Anderson Valley 1994-1996
- Atwater Block Brewing 1997-1999
- Auburn Alehouse 2012-2014
- Avery Brewing 2007-2009
- Baltimore Brewing/DeGroen’s 1994-1996
- Baltimore Brewing/DeGroen’s 1998-2000
- Bitter End Bistro & Brewery 1998-2000
- Blitz-Weinhard 1999-2001
- Bluegrass Brewing 1996-1998
- Blue Moon Brewing 2006-2008
- Blue Point Brewing 2005-2007
- Boscos Brewing 2005-2007
- Bristol Brewing 2000-2002
- Bristol Brewing 2005-2007
- Bruery 2010-2012
- Bruery 2016-2018
- Cambridge Brewing 2006-2008
- Captain Lawrence Brewing 2007-2009
- Chama River Brewing 2008-2010
- Chicago Brewing (Las Vegas) 2011-2013
- Church Brew Works 1999-2001
- Commonwealth Brewing 1998-2000
- CooperSmith’s Pub 1991-1993
- Copper Tank Brewing 1996-1998
- Durango Brewing 2007-2009
- Eel River Brewing 2004-2006
- Elk Grove Brewery 1997-1999
- Epic Brewing 2010-2012
- Foothills Brewing 2009-2011
- Founders Brewing 2014-2016
- Four Peaks Brewing 2009-2011
- Genesee/High Falls 1993-1995
- Glenwood Canyon Brewing 2001-2003
- Glenwood Canyon Brewing 2005-2007
- Golden Pacific Brewing 1995-1997
- Grand Teton Brewing 2007-2009
- Great Basin 2013-2015
- Great Divide 2008-2010
- Grimm Brothers 2011-2013
- Hollister Brewing 2008-2010
- Hoptown Brewing 2002-2004
- Hub City Brewery 2001-2003
- Humboldt Brewery 1990-2000
- Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales 2008-2010
- Kona Brewing 2015-2017
- Lakefront Brewery 2006-2008
- Left Hand Brewing 2008-2010
- Lone Star 1993-1995
- Long Trail Brewing 1990-1992
- Main Street Brewery – Corona 2004-2006
- Mammoth Brewing 2000-2002
- Maui Brewing 2007-2009
- Melvin Brewing 2015-2017 *
- Mendocino 1990-1992
- Michigan Brewing 2002-2004
- Mickey Finn’s Brewery 1996-1998
- Miller Brewing 1988-1990
- Millstream Brewing 1989-1991
- Morgan Territory 2014-2016
- New Holland Brewing 2000-2002
- North Coast 1992-1994
- Oasis Brewery 1992-1994
- Old Dominion 2004-2006
- Perennial Artisan Ales 2015-2017
- P.H. Woods 2000-2002
- Pig’s Eye Brewing 2005-2007
- Powerhouse Brewing 1999-2001
- Rhino Chasers 1993-1995
- Rockies Brewing 1992-1994
- Rogue 1996-1998
- Russian River Brewing 1997-1999
- Saint Arnold 1999-2001
- Saint Arnold 2013-2015
- Schaefer Brewing 2000-2002
- Schlitz Brewing 1997-1999
- SKA Brewing 2009-2011
- SLO Brewing 2000-2002
- Sly Fox Brewing 2013-2015
- Snake River 2016-2018
- Societe 2014-2016
- Spoetzl Brewery 2004-2006
- Starr Hill Brewing 1999-2001
- Starr Hill Brewing 2003-2005
- Steamworks Brewing 2005-2007
- Stoddard’s Brewhouse & Eatery 1994-1996
- Stone Brewing 2005-2007
- Summit Brewing 2012-2014
- Summit Brewing 2016-2018
- Sunriver 2016-2018
- Sun Valley Brewing 1989-1991
- SweetWater Brewing 2011-2013
- Tabernash Brewing 1997-1999
- Telluride Brewing 2014-2016
- Thomas Kemper 1995-1997
- Titletown Brewing 2008-2010
- Triumph Brewing Co. of New Hope 2004-2006
- Triple Rock 2009-2011
- Uberbrew 2016-2018
- Uinta Brewing 1999-2001
- Wild River Brewing 1995-1997
- Willoughby Brewing 1999-2001
- Yards Brewing 2012-2014

GABF Winners 2018

September 24, 2018 By Jay Brooks Leave a Comment

Yesterday, the winners of the 37th Great American Beer Festival were announced. A record 8,496 beers were judged in 102 categories (or 167 different beer styles if you include the subcategories), plus the ProAm and Collaboration competitions, by 293 judges, of which I was again privileged to be one. Here are some more factoids on the results and the festival:

Category with the most entries: Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale: 391 entries (unseating American-style IPA, which had been number #1 since 2002)
Top 5 Categories: IPA (336 entries); Imperial IPA (208); Wood- & Barrel-Aged Strong Beer (179); Session IPA (161); and American Pale Ale (160)
Average number of competition beers entered in each category: 83
2,404 breweries in the competition from 49 states, plus Washington, D.C. (No brewery from Mississippi entered a beer.)
537 first-time breweries entered the competition
31 first-time breweries won medals
3 breweries tied for most medals won, with three apiece; 10 Barrel Brewing, Alesong Brewing and Blending, and Lewis & Clark Brewing
Over 800 breweries in the festival hall
Over 4,000 beers served at the festival
62,000 attendees
New Categories This Year: Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale, Juicy or Hazy Imperial or Double India Pale Ale, American-Style Pilsener, Australian-Style Pale Ale, plus a new category outsie the numbered ones, Collaboration Beers

Medals Won by State:

California = 72
Colorado = 30
Oregon = 22
Texas = 18
Washington = 17
Ohio = 14
North Carolina = 13
Minnesota = 12
Illinois = 11
Michigan = 9
Virginia = 8
TIE:
- Florida = 7
- South Carolina = 7
New Mexico = 6
TIE:
- Indiana = 5
- Massachusetts = 5
- Montana = 5
- Pennsylvania = 5
TIE:
- Georgia = 4
- Kansas = 4
- Nevada = 4
- Wisconsin = 4
TIE:
- New Jersey = 3
- New York = 3
TIE:
- Arizona = 2
- New Hampshire = 2
- Tennessee = 2
- Utah = 2
- Wyoming = 2

The 2018 Great American Beer Festival Winners

Category 1: American-Style Wheat Beer – 54 Entries
Gold: Sweet As Pacific Ale, GoodLife Brewing Co., Bend, OR
Silver: Goofy Footed, Escape Brewing Co., Trinity, FL
Bronze: Easy, Breezy, Beautiful, Cloudburst Brewing, Seattle, WA

Steve Luke from Cloudburst Brewing, on the left, opening his shirt to reveal his “Fuck AB-InBev” T-Shirt. I’ve judged with Steve a couple of times recently, and he’s an awesome person.

Category 2: American-Style Wheat Beer with Yeast – 37 Entries
Gold: Miner’s Gold, Lewis & Clark Brewing Co., Helena, MT
Silver: Fuzztail, Sunriver Brewing, Sunriver, OR
Bronze: Hefeweizen, Widmer Brothers Brewing, Portland, OR

Category 3: American-Style Fruit Beer – 140 Entries
Gold: Raspberry Twist Lager, Garage Brewing Co., Temecula, CA
Silver: Cherry Blonde, Ignite Brewing Co., Barberton, OH
Bronze: Tropic Maelstrom, Peter B’s Brewpub, Monterey, CA

Category 4: Fruit Wheat Beer – 103 Entries
Gold: Passionate Envy, 10 Barrel Brewing Co., Bend, OR
Silver: Purple Line, Smylie Brothers Brewing Co., Evanston, IL
Bronze: Cherry Wheat, Sierra Blanca Brewing Co., Moriarty, NM

Category 5: Belgian-Style Fruit Beer – 65 Entries
Gold: Foxy Lady, Silver City Brewery, Bremerton, WA
Silver: Blood-Orange Wit, Great Basin Brewing Co. – Sparks, Sparks, NV
Bronze: Kumquat Saison, Smog City Brewing Wood Cellar, Torrance, CA

Category 6: Pumpkin/Squash Beer or Pumpkin Spice Beer – 38 Entries
Gold: Gordgeous, NoDa Brewing Co. – NE, Charlotte, NC
Silver: Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale, Stevens Point Brewery, Stevens Point, WI
Bronze: Phantoms Pumpkin Spice Barleywine, Philipsburg Brewing Co.
– The Vault, Philipsburg, MT

Category 7: Field Beer – 90 Entries
Gold: Cool for the Summer, Lakes & Legends Brewing Co., Minneapolis, MN
Silver: Coco Piña Gose, Coastal Empire Beer Co., Savannah, GA
Bronze: Hawaiian Lion Toasted Coconut & Coffee Porter, Big Top Brewing Co., Sarasota, FL

Category 8: Chili Beer – 96 Entries
Gold: White Legs Jalapeno Wheat, Tribute Brewing Co., Eagle River, WI
Silver: Chamuco, Künstler Brewing, San Antonio, TX
Bronze: San Antonio Hatch Lager, Ranger Creek Brewery, San Antonio, TX

Category 9: Herb and Spice Beer – 130 Entries
Gold: Pendragon, Royal Docks Brewhouse and Cannery, Massillon, OH
Silver: Hazelnut Crunch, North By Northwest Restaurant and Brewery – Slaughter, Austin, TX
Bronze: Wheatstone Bridge, Tin Whiskers Brewing, St. Paul, MN

Category 10: Chocolate Beer – 59 Entries
Gold: Coco for Coxness, Copperpoint Brewing Co., Boynton Beach, FL
Silver: Genesee Brew House Pilot Batch Dark Chocolate Scotch Ale, Genesee Brew House,
Rochester, NY
Bronze: Chocolate Macadamia Nut Stout, Kilowatt Brewing, San Diego, CA

Category 11: Coffee Beer – 92 Entries
Gold: Coffee Cream Ale, Kiitos Brewing, Salt Lake City, UT
Silver: Mystery Airship 4.0: Temple Cascara Golden Ale, New Helvetia Brewing Co.,
Sacramento, CA
Bronze: First Call, Modist Brewing Co., Minneapolis, MN

I first met the owner of New Helvetia long before he opened his brewery, and it’s been great watching it grow.

Category 12: Coffee Stout or Porter – 113 Entries
Gold: Speargun, Snake River Brewing Co., Jackson, WY
Silver: Breakfast Stout, Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, MI
Bronze: Udder Chaos, RAM Restaurant & Brewery – Seattle, Seattle, WA

If you want me to take your picture, take a flag on stage with you. I’ve known Chris Ericson from Snake River for a lot of years, but it’s the Wyoming flag thta sealed the deal.

Category 13: Specialty Beer – 55 Entries
Gold: Graham Cracker Porter, Denver Beer Co. – Canworks, Denver, CO
Silver: Double Stack, Great Notion Brewing, Portland, OR
Bronze: I Did It All For The Cookie, FiftyFifty Brewing – Production Facility, Truckee, CA

Category 14: Rye Beer – 57 Entries
Gold: Rye Dawn, Breakwater Brewing Co., Oceanside, CA
Silver: Unite the Clans, Third Space Brewing, Milwaukee, WI
Bronze: Rise Up Rye, Gun Hill Brewing Co., Bronx, NY

Category 15: Honey Beer – 79 Entries
Gold: Belgian Honey Blonde, No Clue Craft Brewery, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Silver: Honey Comb Cream Ale, Rock Bottom Brewery – Pittsburgh, Denver, CO
Bronze: Basil Better Have My Honey, Low Tide Brewing, Johns Island, SC

Category 16: Session Beer – 50 Entries
Gold: Natural Bridge: Vienna Lager, Eppig Brewing, San Diego, CA
Silver: Noble Miner, Burgeon Beer Co., Carlsbad, CA
Bronze: Stonefly Session Ale, Three Creeks Production, Sisters, OR

Category 17: Session India Pale Ale – 92 Entries
Gold: The Coachman, Societe Brewing Co., San Diego, CA
Silver: Little Downtown Tom, Three Mile Brewing Co., Davis, CA
Bronze: Mosaic Reprise, Little City Brewing Co., Raleigh, NC

I first met Travis when he was brewing at Russian River, and it’s great to see his own place, Societe Brewing, do so well.

Category 18: Other Strong Beer – 44 Entries
Gold: Golden Prairie Doppel Alt, Argus Brewery, Chicago, IL
Silver: False Hope, Spilled Grain Brewhouse, Annandale, MN
Bronze: Lampshade Porter, Starr Brothers Brewing Co., Albuquerque, NM

Category 19: Experimental Beer – 112 Entries
Gold: Feral Brute, Firestone Walker Barrelworks, Buellton, CA
Silver: Terroir Pinot Noir, Alesong Brewing & Blending, Eugene, OR
Bronze: Chips & Salsa Cream Ale, Cogstone Brewing Co., Colorado Springs, CO

Matt Van Wyk, from Alesong, is one of my favorite people, and it’s great to see his new place doing so well. Alesong was one of only three breweries to win three medals.

Category 20: Historical Beer – 38 Entries
Gold: Pushing Trees, Central Standard Brewing, Wichita, KS
Silver: The BIG Lubelski, Divine Barrel Brewing, Charlotte, NC
Bronze: Zungen Brecher, Home Brewing Co., San Diego, CA

Category 21: Gluten-Free Beer – 38 Entries
Gold: Puckerberry, High Hops Brewery, Windsor, CO
Silver: Aurochs Blonde Ale, Aurochs Brewing Co., Emsworth, PA
Bronze: Dark Ale, Ground Breaker Brewing, Portland, OR

Category 22: American-Belgo-Style Ale – 51 Entries
Gold: Whitewall Wheat, Crank Arm Brewing Co., Raleigh, NC
Silver: #4.5 Dry Hopped Saison, Brown Truck Brewery, High Point, NC
Bronze: Mischief, The Bruery, Placentia, CA

Category 23: American-Style Sour Ale – 53 Entries
Gold: Kveik 1, Shades of Pale Brewery, Park City, UT
Silver: Brevity, Brewery Silvaticus, Amesbury, MA
Bronze: Wicked Shifty, Shoe Tree Brewing Co., Carson City, NV

Category 24: Fruited American-Style Sour Ale – 148 Entries
Gold: Pink Passionfruit Sour, BearWaters Brewing Co., Canton, NC
Silver: Kirby Pucker No. 21, Eastlake Craft Brewery, Minneapolis, MN
Bronze: Flaming Fury, Captain Lawrence Brewing Co., Elmsford, NY

Category 25: Brett Beer – 61 Entries
Gold: C’mon Sunshine, Birds Fly South Ale Project, Greenville, SC
Silver: Terroir Pinot Gris, Alesong Brewing & Blending, Eugene, OR
Bronze: Touch of Brett Mandarina, Alesong Brewing & Blending, Eugene, OR

Category 26: Mixed-Culture Brett Beer – 77 Entries
Gold: Druif, pFriem Family Brewers, Hood River, OR
Silver: Citra Dry Hopped Funk Yo Couch, Wiley Roots Brewing Co., Greeley, CO
Bronze: Coming to Fruition: Cherry, Oregon City Brewing Co., Oregon City, OR

Category 27: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer – 77 Entries
Gold: Barrel Aged Japance Off, Denver Beer Co. – Olde Town Arvada, Arvada, CO
Silver: Redrum, Duck Foot Brewing Co., San Diego, CA
Bronze: beWILDering C, Ten Pin Brewing Co., Moses Lake, WA

Category 28: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer – 162 Entries
Gold: Santa’s Brass, Drake’s Brewing Co., San Leandro, CA
Silver: Willett Barrel-Aged Ye Old Sprinklerhead Barleywine, The Wrecking Bar Brewpub,
Atlanta, GA
Bronze: Straight Jacket, Revolution Brewing, Chicago, IL

Great to see Wil Turner from Revolution Brewing, too.

Category 29: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout – 177 Entries
Gold: 70K Amburana, Against the Grain Brewery, Louisville, KY
Silver: A Night to End All Dawns, Kane Brewing, Ocean, NJ
Bronze: Eclipse, FiftyFifty Brewing Co., Truckee, CA

Category 30: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer – 76 Entries
Gold: 3 Barrel Circus, River Dog Brewing Co., Bluffton, SC
Silver: Duck Duck Gooze, Port Brewing Co. / The Lost Abbey, San Marcos, CA
Bronze: Oak-Aged Sour, Propolis Brewing, Port Townsend, WA

Always great to see Tomme Arthur win another medal, especially for Duck Duck Gooze, which is such a great beer.

Category 31: Fruited Wood- and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer – 102 Entries
Gold: Réserve Dorée de Pêche, Wooden Robot, Charlotte, NC
Silver: Sour Cherry Sour, Hermitage Brewing Co., San Jose, CA
Bronze: Zoned AG Golden Raspberry, Corralitos Brewing Co., Watsonville, CA

Category 32: Aged Beer – 53 Entries
Gold: Quadtum Leap, Revelry Brewing Co., Charleston, SC
Silver: Lock, Stock and Brandy Barrel, Maize Valley Craft Brewery, Hartville, OH
Bronze: Solzhenitsyn, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant – Media, Media, PA

Category 33: Kellerbier or Zwickelbier – 67 Entries
Gold: Keller Pils, Summit Brewing Co., St. Paul, MN
Silver: STS Pils, Russian River Brewing Co. – Production, Santa Rosa, CA
Bronze: NashZwickel, Nashville Brewing Co., Nashville, TN

Great to see Russian Rover win for their STS Pils, one of my favorite American pilsners.

Category 34: Smoke Beer – 50 Entries
Gold: St. Chuck’s Smoke, Rogue Ales Issaquah Brewhouse, Issaquah, WA
Silver: Pro-Pro Porter, Wormtown Brewery, Worcester, MA
Bronze: Raucher, Wolverine State Brewing Co., Ann Arbor, MI

Category 35: American-Style Pilsener – 91 Entries
Gold: Rocket 100, The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co., Austin, TX
Silver: NZ Pils, Wolverine State Brewing Co., Ann Arbor, MI
Bronze: Howdy Beer, The Post Brewing Co., Lafayette, CO

Category 36: International-Style Pilsener – 86 Entries
Gold: Wooden Teeth, Turtle Mountain Brewing Co., Rio Rancho, NM
Silver: Nano – OG Lager, Market Garden Brewery, Cleveland, OH
Bronze: Cerveza Delray, Brew Detroit, Detroit, MI

Category 37: Light Lager – 63 Entries
Gold: Altitude Banquet, Altitude Chophouse and Brewery, Laramie, WY
Silver: Awesome Beer Rice Lager, State Room Brewery, San Rafael, CA
Bronze: Super Awesome Lager, Austin Beerworks, Austin, TX

Category 38: American-Style Lager or American-Style Malt Liquor – 65 Entries
Gold: Lager, Appalachian Mountain Brewery – Boone, Boone, NC
Silver: American Lager, Castle Island Brewing Co., Norwood, MA
Bronze: Lumino, Unsung Brewing Co., Tustin, CA

Category 39: American-Style Cream Ale – 92 Entries
Gold: Gateway Cream Ale, Lockport Brewery, Bolivar, OH
Silver: Dayblazer Easygoing Ale, New Belgium Brewing Co. – Ft. Collins, Fort Collins, CO
Bronze: El Sully, 21st Amendment Brewery, San Leandro, CA

Sully wins for El Sully!

Category 40: American-Style Amber Lager – 91 Entries
Gold: Pecos Amber Lager, Texas Beer Co., Taylor, TX
Silver: Märzen, Sudwerk Brewing Co., Davis, CA
Bronze: Oktoberfest, Lager Heads Brewing Co., Medina, OH

Category 41: German-Style Pilsener – 159 Entries
Gold: Netflix and Pils, Cannonball Creek Brewing Co., Golden, CO
Silver: Pilsner, pFriem Family Brewers, Hood River, OR
Bronze: Pilsner, Ardent Craft Ales, Richmond, VA

Category 42: Bohemian-Style Pilsener – 84 Entries
Gold: Bohemian Pilsner, Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant – Tysons Corner, McLean, VA
Silver: Pompey’s Pilsner, Lewis & Clark Brewing Co., Helena, MT
Bronze: Bird Park, North Park Beer Co., San Diego, CA

Category 43: Munich-Style Helles – 99 Entries
Gold: Hell Yes, The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co., Austin, TX
Silver: Chuckanut Helles, Chuckanut Brewery – North Nut, Bellingham, WA
Bronze: House Lager, Jack’s Abby Brewing, Framingham, MA

I confess I’m not sure what brewery these guys are from, but I love their outfits.

Category 44: Dortmunder or German-Style Oktoberfest – 67 Entries
Gold: Grandpa Tractor, Barley Forge Brewing, Costa Mesa, CA
Silver: Freiheit Oktoberfest Wiesn, Wayfinder Beer, Portland, OR
Bronze: Figtoberfest, Figueroa Mountain Brewing – Westlake Village, Westlake Village, CA

Category 45: Vienna-Style Lager – 92 Entries
Gold: Oktoberfest, SKA Brewing, Durango, CO
Silver: 13.Five Ofest, Blue Mountain Barrel House and Organic Brewery, Arrington, VA
Bronze: Vienna Lager, Grains of Wrath Brewing, Camas, WA

Category 46: German-Style Maerzen – 129 Entries
Gold: Oktoberfest, Rahr & Sons Brewing Co., Fort Worth, TX
Silver: Oktoberfest, RAM Restaurant and Brewery – Lakewood, Lakewood, WA
Bronze: Oktoberfest, Oak Highlands Brewery, Dallas, TX

Category 47: Munich-Style Dunkel or European-Style Dark Lager – 52 Entries
Gold: Chuckanut Dunkel, Chuckanut – South Nut, Burlington, WA
Silver: Duck River Dunkel, Goat Island Brewing, Cullman, AL
Bronze: Babee Bock, Brew Kettle – Production Works, Strongsville, OH

Great to See Will Kemper win again, he’s such a great lager brewer.

Category 48: Dark Lager – 62 Entries
Gold: Iron Horse Lager, Great American Restaurants – Sweetwater Tavern Centreville,
Centreville, VA
Silver: The Bennie, Granite City Food & Brewery, Olathe, KS
Bronze: Nighthawk, Enegren Brewing Co., Moorpark, CA

Category 49: Bock – 49 Entries
Gold: Guten Bock, Gilded Goat Brewing Co., Fort Collins, CO
Silver: New Kids on Maibock, Independent Brewing Co., Bel Air, MD
Bronze: Blind Tiger Bock, Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant, Topeka, KS

Category 50: German-Style Doppelbock or Eisbock – 31 Entries
Gold: Smooth Like Jazz, Revelry Brewing Co., Charleston, SC
Silver: Delaminator Doppelbock, Rip Current Brewery, San Marcos, CA
Bronze: St. Nigels’ Doppelbock, Front Range Brewing Co., Lafayette, CO

Paul Sangster (on the right) from Rip Current Brewing picking up his award.

Category 51: Baltic-Style Porter – 33 Entries
Gold: Odin’s Sword, Big Island Brewhaus, Kamuela, HI
Silver: Death and the Maiden, Cambridge Brewing Co., Cambridge, MA
Bronze: Bangor Slate Baltic Porter, Two Rivers Brewing Co., Easton, PA

Category 52: Golden or Blonde Ale – 127 Entries
Gold: MadeWest Standard, MadeWest Brewing Co., Ventura, CA
Silver: 1956 Golden Ale, Bootstrap Brewing Co., Niwot, CO
Bronze: Pistol Pete’s 1888 Ale, Bosque Brewing Co. – Bosque North, Bernalillo, NM

Category 53: German-Style Koelsch – 149 Entries
Gold: Colorado Kölsch, Steamworks Brewing Co., Durango, CO
Silver: Kascadia, 54°40’ Brewing Co., Washougal, WA
Bronze: Veedels Bräu Kölsch, Crooked Lane Brewing Co., Auburn, CA

Category 54: English-Style Summer Ale – 61 Entries
Gold: Liquid AC, Karl Strauss Brewing Co. – La Jolla, La Jolla, CA
Silver: Provider, Steel Toe Brewing, St. Louis Park, MN
Bronze: Zest A Peel, Triple C Brewing, Charlotte, NC

Category 55: Classic English-Style Pale Ale – 33 Entries
Gold: Pale Ale, Omission Brewing Co., Portland, OR
Silver: MacTarnahan’s Amber Ale, Portland Brewing – Portland, OR
Bronze: Prickly Pear, Lewis & Clark Brewing Co., Helena, MT

Category 56: English-Style India Pale Ale – 50 Entries
Gold: Castillo IPA, Alaro Craft Brewery, Sacramento, CA
Silver: Silverspot IPA, Pelican Brewing Co., Pacific City, OR
Bronze: Hoppy Poppy IPA, Figueroa Mountain Brewing, Buellton, CA

Darron Welch (next to Charlie), from Pelican Brewing picking his millionth award.

Category 57: Australian-Style Pale Ale – 46 Entries
Gold: Sunshine Express, Butcherknife Brewing Co., Steamboat Springs, CO
Silver: Strata IPA, Worthy Brewing Co., Bend, OR
Bronze: Flavor Country, Austin Beerworks, Austin, TX

Category 58: International-Style Pale Ale – 23 Entries
Gold: Mai Tai P.A., Alvarado Street Brewery & Grill, Monterey, CA
Silver: Guayabera, Cigar City Brewing, Tampa, FL
Bronze: The Penske File, Faction Brewing Co., Alameda, CA

A very restrained Rodger Davis, from Faction Brewing.

Category 59: American-Style Pale Ale – 170 Entries
Gold: B.Right On Pale Ale, Ocean Beach Brewery, San Diego, CA
Silver: Neighborhood, Ventura Coast Brewing Co., Ventura, CA
Bronze: Charlatan, Maplewood Brewing Co., Chicago, IL

Category 60: Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale – 132 Entries
Gold: Voodoo, Tin Roof Brewing Co., Baton Rouge, LA
Silver: Sippin on Dank 2.0, Kings Brewing Co., Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Bronze: Madame Psychosis, Fiction Beer Co., Denver, CO

Category 61: American-Style Strong Pale Ale – 129 Entries
Gold: Green Battles IPA, Pinthouse Pizza North, Austin, TX
Silver: Easy Runaway, Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop, WA
Bronze: Lucky Day, Central Coast Brewing Co. – Higuera St., San Luis Obispo, CA

Category 62: American-Style India Pale Ale – 311 Entries
Gold: Bine, Root Down Brewing Co., Phoenixville, PA
Silver: Not an IPA (P.S. it’s an IPA), Appalachian Mountain Brewery – Portsmouth, Portsmouth, NH
Bronze: West Coast IPA is Dead!, Green Cheek Beer Co., Orange, CA

Category 63: Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale – 391 Entries
Gold: Le Jus, Alarmist Brewing, Chicago, IL
Silver: Fairy Nectar London Double Dry Hopped, Kros Strain Brewing Co., La Vista, NE
Bronze: Foiken Haze, Eris Brewery and Cider House, Chicago, IL

Category 64: Imperial India Pale Ale – 157 Entries
Gold: Nobility, Noble Ale Works, Anaheim, CA
Silver: Northern Lights, Moonraker Brewing Co. – Production Facility, Auburn, CA
Bronze: Unbridled Enthusiasm, Third Space Brewing, Milwaukee, WI

Category 65: Juicy or Hazy Imperial or Double India Pale Ale – 150 Entries
Gold: New England Style Double IPA, Black Market Brewing Co., Temecula, CA
Silver: DDH Double IPA, Corridor Brewery & Provisions, Chicago, IL
Bronze: Contains No Juice, Alvarado Street Brewery, Salinas, CA

Category 66: American-Style Amber/Red Ale – 124 Entries
Gold: West Coast Swing Amber, The Mitten Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, MI
Silver: Sepia Amber, Hopping Gnome Brewing Co., Wichita, KS
Bronze: Avalon Amber Ale, Slack Tide Brewing Co., Cape May Court House, NJ

Category 67: Double Hoppy Red Ale – 56 Entries
Gold: Midwest Red IPA, Masthead Brewing Co., Cleveland, OH
Silver: Roundhouse, Bell’s Eccentric Cafe, Kalamazoo, MI
Bronze: Bad Polaroid, Werk Force Brewing Co., Plainfield, IL

Always great to see Larry Bell up on stage.

Category 68: Imperial Red Ale – 45 Entries
Gold: Happy Days, Claremont Craft Ales, Claremont, CA
Silver: Robot, Stereo Brewing Co., Placentia, CA
Bronze: Cinder Beast, Sunriver Brewing, Sunriver, OR

Category 69: English-Style Mild Ale – 55 Entries
Gold: Drift, First Magnitude Brewing Co., Gainesville, FL
Silver: Hold The Reins, Brink Brewing Co., Cincinnati, OH
Bronze: Fools & Babies, Green Cheek Beer Co., Orange, CA

Category 70: Ordinary or Special Bitter – 41 Entries
Gold: Sawtooth Ale, Left Hand Brewing Co., Longmont, CO
Silver: Copperline Amber Ale, Carolina Brewery – Chapel Hill, Pittsboro, NC
Bronze: Saint Arnold Amber Ale, Saint Arnold Brewing Co., Houston, TX

Category 71: Extra Special Bitter – 72 Entries
Gold: Happy Amber, MadTree Brewing 2.0, Cincinnati, OH
Silver: ESB, Hillman Beer, Asheville, NC
Bronze: Bull Kelp ESB, San Juan Island Brewing Co., Friday Harbor, WA

The Ohio Brewers Guild is very organized, and sends their Ohio Brewers up on stage with an Ohio Brewers Flag, but MadTree gets extra points for having their own flag. I’m starting to think every brewery should have their own flag.

Category 72: Scottish-Style Ale – 40 Entries
Gold: Taildragger Clan-Destine, Saddle Mountain Brewing Co., Goodyear, AZ
Silver: Saint Arnold Oktoberfest, Saint Arnold Brewing Co., Houston, TX
Bronze: It Takes a Tribe Red Ale, Goat Patch Brewing Co., Colorado Springs, CO

Category 73: Irish-Style Red Ale – 81 Entries
Gold: Scarlet > Fire, Tighthead Brewing Co., Mundelein, IL
Silver: TAPS Irish Red, TAPS Fish House and Brewery – Corona, Corona, CA
Bronze: DEFCON Red, Comrade Brewing Co., Denver, CO

Category 74: English-Style Brown Ale – 56 Entries
Gold: Get Up Offa That Brown, Golden Road Brewing – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Silver: My Brown Eyed Girl, Thornapple Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, MI
Bronze: No. 3 Brown, The Freehouse, Minneapolis, MN

This is another brewery group that I couldn’t identify, but take a close look at their hats, which resemble MAGA hats. Another brewery had these hats, too, and they read “Make Beer Clear Again.”

Category 75: American-Style Brown Ale – 76 Entries
Gold: Davy Brown Ale, Figueroa Mountain Brewing, Buellton, CA
Silver: Groundswell Piloncillo Brown Ale, Groundswell Brewing Co., Santee, CA
Bronze: Wallops Island, Rocket Frog Brewing Co., Reston, VA

Category 76: American-Style Black Ale – 47 Entries
Gold: Alpha Force Double Tap, Uberbrew, Billings, MT
Silver: Black the Riipper, Riip Beer Co., Huntington Beach, CA
Bronze: Midnight Moonlight, Fat Head’s Brewery, Middleburg Heights, OH

Category 77: Berliner-Style Weisse – 115 Entries
Gold: Baywindow, 10 Barrel Brewing Co., Bend, OR
Silver: Germophile, Rowley Farmhouse Ales, Santa Fe, NM
Bronze: Nevada Weisse, IMBIB Custom Brews, Reno, NV

Always great to hang out with Tonya Cornett from 10 Barrel.

Category 78: Gose – 112 Entries
Gold: Two of Tarts, Upland Brewing Co., Bloomington, IN
Silver: Salty by Nature, Root Down Brewing Co., Phoenixville, PA
Bronze: Brewer’s Day Off, D9 Brewing Co., Cornelius, NC

Category 79: German-Style Altbier – 38 Entries
Gold: Legendary Red, Golden City Brewery, Golden, CO
Silver: Little Red Cap, Grimm Brothers Brewhouse, Loveland, CO
Bronze: Alt 1848, Utepils Brewing Co., Minneapolis, MN

Category 80: South German-Style Hefeweizen – 152 Entries
Gold: Civil Rest, Little Brother Brewing, Greensboro, NC
Silver: Hoofer’s Hef, Bankhead Brewing Co., Rowlett, TX
Bronze: Hefeweizen, Standard Deviant Brewing, San Francisco, CA

Category 81: German-Style Wheat Ale – 36 Entries
Gold: Bananenhängematte, FiftyFifty Brewing Co. – Production Facility, Truckee, CA
Silver: Alviso Mills Hefeweizen, Santa Clara Valley Brewing, San Jose, CA
Bronze: Doppel Blur, Circle Brewing Co., Austin, TX

Steve Donohue picking up a medal for his newish brewery, Santa Clara Brewing.

Category 82: Belgian-Style Blonde Ale or Pale Ale – 56 Entries
Gold: Jean-Claude Van Blond, Wit’s End Brewing Co., Denver, CO
Silver: Singel, Hardywood West Creek, Richmond, VA
Bronze: Blonde Betty, Smuggler’s Brewpub, Telluride, CO

Category 83: Belgian-Style Witbier – 86 Entries
Gold: Biére Blanche, Pedal Haus Brewery, Tempe, AZ
Silver: Optimal Wit, Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA
Bronze: Allagash White, Allagash Brewing Co., Portland, ME

Category 84: Classic Saison – 90 Entries
Gold: Saison, Bent Paddle Brewing Co., Duluth, MN
Silver: One Arm Farmhouse Ale, Hobbs Tavern & Brewing Co., West Ossipee, NH
Bronze: Hayshaker, Gunwhale Ales, Costa Mesa, CA

Category 85: Specialty Saison – 116 Entries
Gold: Apricot Saison, 105 West Brewing Co., Castle Rock, CO
Silver: Sunken City, Insight Brewing Co., Minneapolis, MN
Bronze: Rustic Sunday, Birds Fly South Ale Project, Greenville, SC

Category 86: Belgian- and French-Style Ale – 39 Entries
Gold: 5 Branches Biere de Garde, Munkle Brewing Co., Charleston, SC
Silver: Biere de Garde, Blackberry Farm Brewery, Walland, TN
Bronze: Abby Blonde, Thirsty Monk Pub Brewery, Denver, CO

Category 87: Belgian-Style Lambic or Sour Ale – 78 Entries
Gold: Funk Yeah, Beachwood Blendery, Long Beach, CA
Silver: Triad, IMBIB Custom Brews, Reno, NV
Bronze: I Am Only Memories, Orpheus Brewing, Atlanta, GA

Julian’s on fire at his Beachwood Blendery.

Category 88: Belgian-Style Dubbel or Quadrupel – 57 Entries
Gold: BJ’s Quad, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery – Boulder, Boulder, CO
Silver: Kung Fu Smurf, Bastone Brewery, Royal Oak, MI
Bronze: Deduction, Taxman Brewing Co., Bargersville, IN

Category 89: Belgian-Style Tripel – 68 Entries
Gold: Tripel Carmel-ite, Flix Brewhouse – Carmel, Carmel, IN
Silver: Belgian Tripel, Village Idiot Brewing Co., Mount Holly, NJ
Bronze: Neighbor Girl, Paradigm Shift Brewing, Massillon, OH

Category 90: Belgian-Style Strong Specialty Ale – 65 Entries
Gold: Midwatch, Figurehead Brewing Co., Seattle, WA
Silver: Qualified, Taxman Brewing Co., Bargersville, IN
Bronze: Sol Hominis (The Sun Of Man), Save the World Brewing Co., Marble Falls, TX

Category 91: Other Belgian-Style Ale – 41 Entries
Gold: Pour le Mineur, Corridor Brewery & Provisions, Chicago, IL
Silver: Call of the Void, Original Pattern Brewing Co., Oakland, CA
Bronze: Red Devil, Printer’s Ale Manufacturing Co., Carrollton, GA

Category 92: Brown Porter – 61 Entries
Gold: Maduro Brown Ale, Cigar City Brewing, Tampa, FL
Silver: Brown Claw, Kern River Brewing Co., Kernville, CA
Bronze: Knee-Knocker Porter, Crow Hop Brewing Co., Loveland, CO

Category 93: Robust Porter – 91 Entries
Gold: Lomporter, Lompoc Brewing – The 5th Quadrant, Portland, OR
Silver: Porter, Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, MI
Bronze: Ghost Rider Porter, Big Ugly Brewing Co., Chesapeake, VA

Category 94: Classic Irish-Style Dry Stout – 54 Entries
Gold: Shooter McMunn’s, Lost Rhino Brewing Co., Ashburn, VA
Silver: It’s My Island, Pocock Brewing Co., Santa Clarita, CA
Bronze: Know Ego, Groundswell Brewing Co., Santee, CA

I confess I don’t know the folks at Lost Rhino Brewing, but I have to give it up to them for bringing a member of Star Fleet up on stage with them, who I asume works with them part-time, when he’s not on a five-year mission.

Category 95: Export Stout – 52 Entries
Gold: Dissent, Steel Toe Brewing, St. Louis Park, MN
Silver: Malpais Stout, La Cumbre Brewing Co., Albuquerque, NM
Bronze: Shut Up & Adore Me, Morgan Territory Brewing, Tracy, CA

Craig Cauwels quietly making great beer at Morgan Territory Brewing.

Category 96: American-Style Stout – 43 Entries
Gold: Hooligan Stout, Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop, WA
Silver: P2P, 10 Barrel Brewing Co., Bend, OR
Bronze: Black Cliffs, Boise Brewing, Boise, ID

Category 97: Sweet Stout or Cream Stout – 56 Entries
Gold: Moozie, Brink Brewing Co., Cincinnati, OH
Silver: Udder Love, Beachwood Brewing, Huntington Beach, CA
Bronze: Melk Stout, Columbus Brewing Co., Columbus, OH

See, I told you Beachwood’s on fire.

Category 98: Oatmeal Stout – 59 Entries
Gold: Shoshone Stout, Glenwood Canyon Brewing Co., Glenwood Springs, CO
Silver: Oats, Pizza Port Solana Beach, Solana Beach, CA
Bronze: Wall of Sound, Stereo Brewing Co., Placentia, CA

Category 99: Imperial Stout – 86 Entries
Gold: Kill the Lights, The Tap Brewery, Bloomington, IN
Silver: The Shroud, Bravery Brewing, Lancaster, CA
Bronze: Shimmergloom, Loowit Brewing Co., Vancouver, WA

Category 100: Scotch Ale – 53 Entries
Gold: Real Heavy, Real Ale Brewing Co., Blanco, TX
Silver: Skag, 6th and La Brea, Los Angeles, CA
Bronze: Kilt Switch, 903 Brewers, Sherman, TX

Category 101: Old Ale or Strong Ale – 37 Entries
Gold: Drunkard’s Cloak, Banded Oak Brewing Co., Denver, CO
Silver: Old Scrooge, Silver City Brewery, Bremerton, WA
Bronze: Rail Gun Wee Heavy, BNS Brewing & Distilling Co., Santee, CA

Category 102: Barley Wine-Style Ale – 52 Entries
Gold: Chicago Overcoat, Midnight Pig Beer, Plainfield, IL
Silver: Barnacled Manatee, Walking Tree Brewery, Vero Beach, FL
Bronze: Bear Temper, Trustworthy Brewing Co., Burbank, CA

And finally, the folks from Walking Tree Brewery brought their Florida flag with them.

2018 Great American Beer Festival Pro-Am Competition, 101 Entries

Gold: Deer Crossing, Little Harpeth Brewing Co., Nashville, TN
Brewmaster: Jesse Brown
AHA Member: Chris Allen

Silver: Gone for a Burton, Rock Bottom Brewery – Warrenville, Denver, CO
Brewmaster: Erik Pizer
AHA Member: Jim Todd

Bronze: La Bomba, Cheluna Brewing Co., Aurora, CO
Brewmaster: Jennifer Perez
AHA Member: Chris Cardillo

2018 Great American Beer Festival Collaboration Competition, 49 Entries

Gold: Transatlantique Kriek, New Belgium Brewing Co. – Ft. Collins, Fort Collins, CO
Oud Beersel, Beersel, Belgium

Silver: Pixie Dusted, Firestone Walker Barrelworks, Buellton, CA
Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Paso Robles, CA

Bronze: Mocha Hipster Bomb, Quarter Celtic Brewpub, Albuquerque, NM
Palmer Brewery and Cider House, Albuquerque, NM

The 2018 Great American Beer Festival Brewery & Brewer of the Year Awards

Very Small Brewing Company of the Year (<1,000 barrels produced in 2017)
Brink Brewing Co.; Cincinnati, OH
Brewmaster: Kelly Montgomery

See what I mean about the Ohio Brewers Flag.

Small Brewing Company of the Year (1,000 – 14,999 barrels produced in 2017)
Lewis & Clark Brewing Co.; Helena, MT
Brewmaster: Lewis & Clark Brewing and Packaging Crew

Mid-Size Brewing Company of the Year (Over 6,000,000 barrels produced in 2017 or multi-location breweries wishing to compete as a group)
FiftyFifty Brewing Co.; Truckee, CA
Brewmaster: FiftyFifty BrewCrew

Fantastic to see how happy Brian was picking up his award for Mid-Size Brewing Company of the Year.

Large Breweries or Multiple Location Breweries of the Year (15,000 – 6,000,000 barrels produced in 2017)
pFriem Family Brewers; Hood River, OR
Brewmaster: pFriem Family Brewers

Small Brewpub of the Year (<750 barrels produced in 2017)
Ocean Beach Brewery; San Diego, CA
Brewmaster: Jim Millea & Scott Watkins

Mid-Size Brewpub of the Year (750 – 1,500 barrels produced in 2017)
Root Down Brewing Co.; Phoenixville, PA
Brewmaster: Root Down Brew Team

Large Brewpub of the Year (Over 1,500 barrels produced in 2017)
The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co.; Austin, TX
Brewmaster: Amos Swifty Kim

Beer Birthday: Paul Gatza

July 25, 2018 By Jay Brooks 2 Comments

Today is also Paul Gatza’s 54th birthday. Paul is the Director of the Brewers Association in Boulder, Colorado. He’s held numerous executive positions with the BA and its previous incarnation, the Association of Brewers. An avid homebrewer, Paul is great face for the BA and a terrific person. Join me in wishing Paul a very happy birthday.

Toasting in New Orleans for CBC.

Working the AHA booth at GABF.

At the podium during the opening of CBC in 2008.

Paul giving his annual state of the industry talk at CBC in 2012.

1877 U.S. Brewers Association Convention

June 6, 2018 By Jay Brooks Leave a Comment

This is an interesting photo I came across in 100 Years of Brewing, which was originally published in 1903. This two-page double truck is a photo of all the attendees of the Seventeenth annual convention of the United States Brewers Association, which was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The photo was taken on June 6, 1877.

There are 133 people in the photo, although not all of them are identified. Quite a few of the people in the photo are, or rather were, pretty big deals in the brewing industry at that time, which makes sense. This was, after all, the biggest trade convention for brewing. But when you read the names, it’s a veritable who’s who of the brewing industry.

Luckily, they included a numbered key to identify the people in the picture.

Interestingly, even though the photo was taken in 1877, by the time it was published in “100 Years of Brewing,” 26 years later, 55 of the 133 people in the photo had died, or over 40%.

Here are slightly larger images of the two pages, first the left page, followed by the right.

Beer In Ads #2626: Yes…The Brewers Do Mean Business

April 30, 2018 By Jay Brooks Leave a Comment

Monday’s ad is for is by the United Brewers Industrial Foundation, from 1938. Beginning during World War II, the USBIF began a series of positive ads under the name “Morale is a Lot of Little Things” followed by an unnumbered series of illustrated ads that were a precursor to the numbered “Home Life in America,” the crown jewel of ads which ran from 1945 to 1956, also known as the Beer Belongs series. But they didn’t end there, and for a short time afterward, beginning in 1956, several more similar ads were created but without the numbering or the “Home Life in America” association. But even before those efforts, the UBIF put their toe in the trade advertising pond with ads under the title “The Record … Facts That Concern You” and always ending with the tagline “Beer … a beverage of moderation,” and the continued on with some similar-themed ads after that.

In this ad, with the headline “Yes… the brewers do mean business,” the ad is all about “Beer Statesmanship” and ensuring all of the bars and retailers selling beer post-prohibition do so in a positive manner with no illegal activities or unscrupulous practices taking place in them. This was their attempt to clean up their image and, in effect, undo the damage of the smear campaign and propaganda that the prohibitionists employed to get prohibition passed in the first place, and which they returned to immediately after its repeal.

Beer In Ads #2625: The Moderation Hour

April 29, 2018 By Jay Brooks Leave a Comment

Sunday’s ad is for is by the United Brewers Industrial Foundation, from 1940. Beginning during World War II, the USBIF began a series of positive ads under the name “Morale is a Lot of Little Things” followed by an unnumbered series of illustrated ads that were a precursor to the numbered “Home Life in America,” the crown jewel of ads which ran from 1945 to 1956, also known as the Beer Belongs series. But they didn’t end there, and for a short time afterward, beginning in 1956, several more similar ads were created but without the numbering or the “Home Life in America” association. But even before those efforts, the UBIF put their toe in the trade advertising pond with ads under the title “The Record … Facts That Concern You” and always ending with the tagline “Beer … a beverage of moderation,” and the continued on with some similar-themed ads after that.

In this ad, with the headline “The Moderation Hour,” the scene is two men in what I think is supposed to be a booth at a bar having a beer together. But the cuckoo clock on the wall behind them doesn’t have any chains or weights to make it work, or the pendulum for that matter. But the tagline below the table is what the ad is trying to promote. “Good Beer and Ale in wholesome, modern taverns, offer Americans pleasant, inexpensive relaxation!” And they point out that all that relaxing led to the industry paying $411,596,780 in state and federal taxes.

Beer In Ads #2624: Within The Family’s Inner Circle … Beer Is Welcome, Too!

April 29, 2018 By Jay Brooks Leave a Comment

Saturday’s ad is for is by the United Brewers Industrial Foundation, from 1944. Beginning during World War II, the USBIF began a series of positive ads under the name “Morale is a Lot of Little Things” followed by an unnumbered series of illustrated ads that were a precursor to the numbered “Home Life in America,” the crown jewel of ads which ran from 1945 to 1956, also known as the Beer Belongs series. But they didn’t end there, and for a short time afterward, beginning in 1956, several more similar ads were created but without the numbering or the “Home Life in America” association. But even before those efforts, the UBIF put their toe in the trade advertising pond with ads under the title “The Record … Facts That Concern You” and always ending with the tagline “Beer … a beverage of moderation,” and the continued on with some similar-themed ads after that.

In this ad, with the headline “Within The Family’s Inner Circle … Beer Is Welcome, Too!,” the scene is a 50th-anniversary party, but the ad talks about how welcome beer is, and ought to be, welcome at so many family gatherings as “a beverage of moderation.”

Beer In Ads #2623: But Why Court-Martial The Whole Regiment?

April 27, 2018 By Jay Brooks Leave a Comment

Friday’s ad is for is by the United Brewers Industrial Foundation, from 1943. Beginning during World War II, the USBIF began a series of positive ads under the name “Morale is a Lot of Little Things” followed by an unnumbered series of illustrated ads that were a precursor to the numbered “Home Life in America,” the crown jewel of ads which ran from 1945 to 1956, also known as the Beer Belongs series. But they didn’t end there, and for a short time afterward, beginning in 1956, several more similar ads were created but without the numbering or the “Home Life in America” association. But even before those efforts, the UBIF put their toe in the trade advertising pond with ads under the title “The Record … Facts That Concern You” and always ending with the tagline “Beer … a beverage of moderation,” and the continued on with some similar-themed ads after that.

In this ad, with the headline “But Why Court-Martial The Whole Regiment?,” they’re suggesting that every group of soldiers has one or two who can’t pass muster and that you would simply get rid of those underperforming ones rather than get rid of the entire unit. That’s compared again to bad bars and taverns, so there must have been a concerted effort by prohibitionists using the unscrupulous bars and retailers again the entire industry at that time (not that they’ve stopped) and these ads were the industry’s response.

Beer In Ads #2622: What Hops Do For Beer And Ale

April 26, 2018 By Jay Brooks Leave a Comment

Thursday’s ad is for is by the United Brewers Industrial Foundation, from 1940. Beginning during World War II, the USBIF began a series of positive ads under the name “Morale is a Lot of Little Things” followed by an unnumbered series of illustrated ads that were a precursor to the numbered “Home Life in America,” the crown jewel of ads which ran from 1945 to 1956, also known as the Beer Belongs series. But they didn’t end there, and for a short time afterward, beginning in 1956, several more similar ads were created but without the numbering or the “Home Life in America” association. But even before those efforts, the UBIF put their toe in the trade advertising pond with ads under the title “The Record … Facts That Concern You” and always ending with the tagline “Beer … a beverage of moderation.”

In this ad, with the headline “What Hops Do For Beer And Ale,” the short answer is they’re “for flavor.” One curious aspect of this particular ad is that in the upper right-hand corner it indicates that this ad is “No. 21 of a series.” So far, I’ve only found three ads with this same “The Record” banner at the top. I’d long suspected there must have been more, but this leads me o believe there are many more, at least 21 and probably more than that. I wonder where they are?

November 2018
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