A Farewell To Wookey

Courtesy of Firestone Walker Brewing Co

Paso Robles, CA—Is it truly a farewell to Wookey Jack, Double Jack and Opal as Firestone Walker Brewing Company steels itself to stop brewing these beloved beers?

The answer is complicated, but yes, Firestone Walker’s Proprietor’s Reserve line is winding down, and the three beers referenced above will accordingly dwindle from distribution by the end of the year.

“It’s a bittersweet occasion,” said David Walker. “Each of these beers was forward-thinking and representative of some of our best brewing efforts, but they are now stepping aside to make room for the next generation.”

Added Adam Firestone, “This was a hard decision made for the sake of innovation. These beers were born of that ideal, and now they are yielding to it.”

Wookey Jack (Black Rye IPA), Double Jack (Imperial IPA) and Opal (Dry-Hopped Saison) have collectively represented the Proprietor’s Reserve Series tier for several years. This tier was dedicated to smaller-batch standout beers, and as such was aligned between Firestone Walker’s widespread Lion & Bear offerings and the limited Vintage Reserve tier of barrel-aged beers.

“The suspension of the Proprietor’s Reserve tier will create a void that the brewers here are extremely excited to fill,” said Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “It opens up a brand new canvas. That’s all I can say for now on that.”

He added, “Wookey isn’t dead yet, and neither are the others. They may make curtain calls as special limited releases, or get reimagined into something more fantastical, or both. Our Propagator pilot brewhouse in Venice should be on line soon, and it will not only provide a platform for new R&D beers, but also for bringing back small batches of these Proprietor’s Reserve beers periodically for on-premise enjoyment.”

BridgePort Brewing Releases New Year-Round Ale - Stumptown Oatmeal Red Ale

Courtesy of Bridgeport Brewing Co

 Brewers Use Four Different Hops to Create the New Full-Flavored Oatmeal Red Ale

PORTLAND, Ore. – October 14, 2016 – BridgePort Brewing Company, Oregon’s original craft brewery, today announced the release of their newest year-round brew offering, Stumptown Oatmeal Red Ale (ORA). Channeling old school brewing from the 1980s, BridgePort Brewers used four separate hop varietals, Nuggets, Sterling, Cascade and Mt. Hood, in six separate hop additions during the brewing process.

This brew marks the first production beer for BridgePort in which the brewers added hops in the whirlpool as well as the first time they have dry-hopped 2lbs/bbl. In addition to the intense dry-hopping, ORA contains a judicious amount of flaked oatmeal, caramel malt, a specialty malt called Red-X, as well as another specialty malt, Midnight Wheat. The combination of these ingredients created a beer with a unique red hue and smooth mouthfeel.

“Everyone in the brewery is excited about this new addition to our family of beers,” states Jeff Edgerton, brewmaster at BridgePort Brewing. “This unique dry-hopped Oatmeal Red Ale really showcases the care and precision that went into brewing it. Anyone who enjoys full-flavored red ales will certainly want to try this one out.”

Stumptown Oatmeal Red Ale comes in at 5.6% ABV, 14.2% OG, and 48 IBU. The mixture of four hop varietals, flaked oatmeal and caramel malt created a subtle herbal and citrusy hop profile, balanced by a distinct caramel note. Available mid-October in 22oz. bottles, 12oz. six-packs, on-draft at BridgePort BrewPub in Portland, Ore. and where BridgePort is sold.

Courtesy of Bridgeport Brewing Co

About BridgePort Brewing Company

Oregon's oldest craft brewery continues to evolve from a microbrewery to a regional leader committed to producing high quality craft ales. Led by Brewmaster Jeff Edgerton, the team of BridgePort brewers prides itself on using hops from an hour away and clear glacial water from Mount Hood. The BridgePort family of ales includes the Conviction Pale Ale, IPA, Hop Czar Imperial IPA, Kingpin and other specialty styles. BridgePort Brewery is located at 1313 N.W. Marshall. For more information, call 503-241-7179 or visit www.bridgeportbrew.com.                        

Oskar Blues Brewery Releasing Death By Coconut

Courtey of Oskar Blues Brewery

LONGMONT, Co., BREVARD, N.C. and AUSTIN, Tx. - The nut is back. Oskar Blues Brewery's cult classic Death By Coconut Irish Porter returns to store shelves and taps across the nation this month.

Death by Coconut (6.4% ABV/25 IBUs) is a semi-sweet porter made from loads of dark chocolate and extra dark caramel malt. It pours a rich velvet black with a frothy head and exudes intense fresh cacao flavors swirled with popping coconut aromas.

"Take a porter with crème brulee, burnt sugar, and rich caramel profile and blend it with heaps of coconut and chocolate and Death by Coconut is born," said head of brewing operations Tim Mathews.  "The chocolate comes from Cholaca - a Boulder, ColoRADo-based company bringing in fair trade cacao and liquefies it.  We then swirl the Cholaca around in the finished beer and drop it on top of tons of coconut to create a crazy delicious beer treat."

Cholaca is a form of pure liquid chocolate that contains only three ingredients: cacao, water and coconut sugar. Cholaca adds a rich and smooth chocolate touch that makes this beer liquid perfection. Using only fair-trade cacao beans sourced from select farms in Ecuador and Peru, Cholaca gives it the most authentic flavor kick.

Death by Coconut, awarded the 2014 GABF Silver Medal in the Chocolate Beer category, hits shelves nationally in 4-packs of 12-ounce CANS and on tap at your favorite bar beginning this month. Search our Beer Finder for locations of DBC and other great Oskar Blues brews: www.oskarblues.com/beerfinder

Death By Coconut Release Parties in ColoRADo and North Carolina

 

Git your DBC fix straight from the tap, in cans, and Crowlers to-go at our release parties. Music, food, fundraising, and more at each event!

Tasty Weasley North Carolina - Friday, October 13th (5-9pm ET)

342 Mountain Industrial Dr., Brevard, NC 28712

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/971010969692694/

Tasty Weasel Longmont (CO) - Saturday, October 14th (1-8pm MT)

1800 Pike Rd, Unit B, Longmont, CO 80501

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/1760168980899717

About Oskar Blues Brewery 

 

Founded by Dale Katechis in 1997 in Lyons, Colorado, Oskar Blues Brewery launched the craft beer-in-a-can apocalypse with their hand-canned, flagship brew Dale's Pale Ale. Today, Oskar Blues is one of the fastest growing breweries in the country and operates breweries in Longmont, Colorado and Brevard, North Carolina, and now Austin, Texas, while producing 192,000 barrels in 2015. The original canned craft brewery continues push innovation with creations like The Crowler, Hotbox Coffee Roasters, B. Stiff & Sons Old Fashioned Sodas, Oskar Blues Fooderies, and REEB Cycles. Oskar Blues is available in all 50 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., parts of Canada, Puerto Rico Sweden, Spain, Chile, the Netherlands, Belgium, the U.K., Ireland and Australia. 

 

In 2013, Oskar Blues founded the CAN'd Aid Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity that offers grassroots grants to those making a difference in the areas of community, the environment, music, and more. In 2015 alone, CAN'd Aid partnered with 52 organizations and provided nearly $400,000 in charitable contributions, bringing the total amount raised $1.9 million to date. CAN'd Aid's "do-goodery" efforts include: 

 

Towns - building strong communities 

Tunes - for your eyeholes and earholes 

Treads + Trails - get outside and get after it 

Love Yur Mama - save the blue marble 

 

To keep up with all things Oskar Blues, visit http://www.oskarblues.com.

Deschutes Brewery Releasing 2016 Jubelale Festive Winter Ale

Courtesy of Deschutes Brewery

Bend, Oregon –  The Jubelale tradition carries on with custom artwork wrapping the outside of the bottle and warm spiciness, dried fruit, malty caramel and a hoppy finish inside the bottle. The 2016 vintage of this winter seasonal beer features a piece by Bend, Oregon artist Karen Ruane entitled "First Snow". The artwork, which was created through a centuries-old process called marbling, was inspired by the highly anticipated first storm of the season.

Ruane said, “With this piece I wanted to capture the change in the air, the smells, the excitement and festive atmosphere around the anticipation of playing in the first snow of the season. I absolutely love the packaging, and am so honored to have my artwork featured on it. I think the designers did a wonderful job showcasing the art of marbling and I hope that this rather rare art form is able to get a little attention from this year’s Jubelale.”

Marbling originated both in Asia and Eastern Europe, where they called it Ebru (translated to 'like a cloud') and from there made its way into Western Europe and the rest of the world. The process uses a viscous fluid, most often water thickened with a type of seaweed. Ruane uses thinned acrylic paints and then applies them to the surface of this fluid. She then manipulates the paints into patterns and designs. The process is completed by laying a sheet of treated paper over the top of the fluid to take a single contact print. Each piece is therefore totally unique, including “First Snow”.

For its 29^th bottling, Jubelale once again brings fans the perfect brew for holiday celebrations. The beer is unique to many of Deschutes Brewery’s other beers in its malty and dried fruit character, along with the use of EKG hops which are lightly herbal and spice. This enhances the flavor profile and balances the malt for Jubelale.

Deschutes Brewery brewmaster Veronica Vega said, “Out of all our seasonals, Jubelale gets the most conversation about differences from year to year. I personally think this is tied to the amount of special memories that are created during this time of year, when the beer is consumed. So every year, the sentence ‘best year ever’ is repeated throughout the season in our brewery.”

Jubelale will be available everywhere Deschutes Brewery beer is sold, starting in October.  6.7% Alcohol by Volume (ABV); 60 International Bitterness Units (IBUs); 12-ounce bottles and draft.

Courtesy of Deschutes Brewery

About Deschutes Brewery

Named as OUTSIDE’s Best Places to Work for the last three years in a row and winner of the 2015 Oregon Sustainability Award, Deschutes Brewery was founded in 1988 as a brew pub in Bend, Oregon. Still family and employee owned 28 years later, the brewery is known for brewing a diverse line-up of award winning beers including the popular Fresh Squeezed IPA, Black Butte Porter, and Mirror Pond Pale Ale. From the beginning, the focus has been on crafting the best beer and food using thoughtfully curated ingredients. With a second brew pub in Portland’s Pearl District that has become a popular destination for craft beer lovers from around the world, Deschutes Brewery now ships beer to 28 states, the District of Columbia, and internationally from its main brewing facility located on the banks of the Deschutes River.  To find out more, visit www.DeschutesBrewery.com.

Full Sail’s Gold-Medal Winning Wassail Winter Ale is Home for the Holidays

Courtesy of Full Sail Brewing Co

Hood River, Oregon – October 12, 2016 – When the Wassail starts flowing, it’s wintertime in the Gorge. Hood River’s favorite annual tradition – the gold-medal winning Wassail Winter Ale – is back and all wrapped up for the holidays in a new, festive package as part of the Full Sail Pub Series, a rotating series that bottles the best of the brewery’s Hood River drafts.

“We’ve brewed Wassail every holiday season since 1988, and it’s now as much a part of the festivities as sharing a roaring fire with our closest family and friends,” says Full Sail Executive Brewmaster Jamie Emmerson.

This multi-medal winning Winter Warmer is one of our favorite beers to brew,” says Full Sail Brewmaster Jim Kelter. Choosing ingredients for Wassail is like taking time to choose the perfect gift. This year’s Wassail is brewed with a range of caramel and dark chocolate malts giving it a deep mahogany color and full malty body. “We use a blend of Pacific Northwest hops for a pleasant hoppy aroma and finish creating a deliciously balanced beer that appeals to both hop and malt lovers alike,” Kelter says. “In other words, it’s a Christmas miracle.”

Whatever’s on the menu this holiday season will taste great with Wassail. Kick off a Wassail-themed holiday meal with toasted walnuts, spicy roasted almonds and pecans served with baked brie. For the main course, pair red meat such as steaks, prime rib, beef Wellington and burgers, or ribs, brats, roasted chicken, pork tenderloin, venison or lamb. Wassail also tastes great with pepper-crusted ahi tuna, oysters and salmon chowder, and holiday favorites like garlic mashed potatoes, stuffed mushrooms, and Walla Walla sweet onions. Save room for a dessert of Mincemeat pie, gingerbread, pumpkin ice cream or Wassail over vanilla ice cream.

This platinum and 13-time gold medal winner Wassail Winter Ale is available in 6-packs and on draft October through December. 7.2% ABV, 56 IBUs.

About the Full Sail Pub Series:

Like a portal to our pub, seasonal brews only available for a limited time (get ’em while they’re cold) give you a taste of the pints and people that celebrate the Pacific Northwest. Perched high on a hill in Hood River, Oregon, Full Sail overlooks the truly spectacular Columbia River Gorge and has been brewing award-winning, ridiculously tasty craft beer using responsibly sourced, local ingredients since 1987.  From our pub to your place – Cheers!

About Full Sail Brewing Company

Perched on a bluff in Hood River, Oregon, overlooking the mighty Columbia River’s epic wind and kite surfing and the snow-capped volcanic peaks of Mt. Hood, Full Sail is a true craft-brewing pioneer. Since 1987, Full Sail has been pouring pure Mt. Hood water, local ingredients and responsible processes into each and every pint. Full Sail’s brews and sustainable practices have garnered more than 300 national and international awards, including 150 gold medals and Beverage World ‘s “Craft Brewer of the Year” distinction. From Full Sail Amber and IPA to Session Lager and bourbon barrel-aged beers, Full Sail Jamconsistently strives to brew complex, balanced and ridiculously tasty beers. Learn more at www.fullsailbrewing.com.

Block 15 Releases Late Fall Bottled Offering, Cosmic Cold Brew

Courtesy of Block 15 Brewing Co

 A stout conditioned with Ethiopian Zonegediyo Gedeb coffee from Bespoken Coffee Roasters

Corvallis, OR — Today Block 15 Brewing Company releases its late fall seasonal, Cosmic Cold Brew, available bottled and on tap at bottle shops and beer bars around Oregon. Block 15 worked alongside their south Corvallis neighbors, Bespoken Coffee Roasters, to elevate their classic stout Nebula with additional malt and a 24-hour cold extraction on washed Ethiopian Zonegediyo Gedeb coffee. Both varietal and roast profile were selected to complement the base beer with delicately fruity notes, moderate acidity, and a delightful aroma that seamlessly melds into their stout's rich chocolate and caramel roast character.

Block 15 plans on releasing future variations of Cosmic Cold Brew, featuring additional ingredients that are inspired by classic coffee drinks from around the world.

Grains: 2-row, Maris Otter, Chocolate Malt, C120, Chocolate Wheat, C-35, Roast, Flaked oats
Hops: Columbus, Crystal
Adjunct: Washed Ethiopian Zonegediyo Gedeb coffee beans
Yeast: London Ale III
ABV: 7%
FG: 1.019

Cosmic Cold Brew is available in 500mL bottles featuring artwork from artist Patricia Smith.

Courtesy of  Block !5 Brewing Co

About Block 15 Brewing Company
Offering unique hop forward ales, crisp lagers, barrel-aged rarities and one of the Northwest’s most extensive wild & sour programs, Block 15 produces a range of artfully crafted beers, brewed with a nod toward fresh ingredients and fresh thinking. Established in 2008, and brewer-owned from day one.

Velvert Merlin Oatmeal Stout Arrives for Fall

Courtesy of Firestone Walker Brewing Co

Paso Robles, CA: With All Hallows’ Eve on the near horizon, it is time once again for a little black magic from Firestone Walker Brewing Company as the brewery’s seasonal Velvet Merlin oatmeal stout is set to make its annual return starting in mid October.

The 2016 release of Velvet Merlin sticks to the beer’s proven script as a decadent oatmeal stout that will warm your innards on a cold autumn or winter night.

The malt bill features Maris Otter, 2-Row Pale, Roast Barley, English Dark Caramel, Medium Caramel, Carafa Malt, and Oats. A subtle hop profile comes entirely from U.S.-grown Fuggle hops.

“I have a real soft spot for oatmeal stouts,” said Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “The Velvet Merlin recipe is from my homebrew days. It’s pretty straightforward, and it’s all about the malt.”

The resulting beer offers robust cocoa and espresso aromas with subtle American hop nuances.  Rich dark chocolate and roasted coffee flavors accentuate a creamy mouthfeel and dry finish to create perfect balance in this full-bodied stout.

In The Beginning…

Velvet Merlin was born under the name Velvet Merkin back in 2004, when it was first offered as a brewery-only beer.

Several years later, when this astonishingly silky stout became popular enough to package for distribution, Velvet Merkin was recast as Velvet Merlin for the sake of public manners, and as a nod to Brynildson’s nickname at the brewery, Merlin.

“I initially fought the name change, but ultimately had to agree that things might get a bit hairy if we sent a beer called Velvet Merkin to broad market,” Brynildson said. “The important part of the name is ‘velvet,’ which describes the texture we’re always aiming for with this beer.”

(Editor’s Note: The moniker “Velvet Merkin” did not die, but rather went underground at the brewery, and later resurfaced as the name for a barrel-aged version of what had become known as Velvet Merlin. Last year, Firestone Walker also launched Nitro Merlin Milk Stout on draft, a nitrogenated milk stout version of Velvet Merlin. Yes, it’s confusing.)

Full Sail and Session Win 1st Place at Sip’s Best of the Northwest Awards

Courtesy of Full Sail Brewing Co

In a region known for its delicious craft beer, Full Sail and Session stand out

Hood River, Oregon – October 11, 2016 – Sip Northwest, the locally owned magazine that showcases regional wines, beers and spirits, has awarded Session Premium Lager and Full Sail Bourbon Barrel Aged Wheatwine Ale first-place prizes in their annual Best of the Northwest Awards. The new and innovative Full Sail Blood Orange Wheat took home second place in the wheat category.

“We know that our customers are the ultimate judges and we strive to consistently brew balanced beers that taste good with them in mind,” says Full Sail Executive Brewmaster Jamie Emmerson. “We’re excited about winning Sip Magazine’s Best of the Northwest Awards and we hope it will inspire even more people to taste our balanced and ridiculously tasty beers.”

Session Premium Lager is no stranger to first-place wins. With 22 gold medals around its neck (if it had a neck), Session’s first-place Best of the Northwest Award is an honor, but not a surprise. The original Session is a classic, all-malt lager that’s crisp, smooth, and refreshing, consistently making it the winner of multiple gold medals at top national and international competitions.

Originally brewed and released in 2014, Wheatwine Ale, another Sip first-place winner, was so good the brewers decided barrel aging would make it even better. Very tasty and unique, Full Sail’s Bourbon Barrel Wheatwine Ale was aged in Wild Turkey bourbon barrels for 12 months, rounding out this big beer by adding a rich tannic structure. New this year to Full Sail’s Pub Series, Blood Orange is a refreshing wheat beer with a subtle blood orange twist. It has become a new favorite of beer drinkers, and its second-place Best of the Northwest win validates its delicious taste.

Sip Northwest will be celebrating with a Best of the Northwest Tap Takeover, on October 27^th in Seattle, Washington’s Fremont neighborhood. 

Courtesy of Full Sail Brewing Co

About Full Sail Brewing Company

Perched on a bluff in Hood River, Oregon, overlooking the mighty Columbia River’s epic wind and kite surfing and the snow-capped volcanic peaks of Mt. Hood, Full Sail is a true craft-brewing pioneer. Since 1987, Full Sail has been pouring pure Mt. Hood water, local ingredients and responsible processes into each and every pint. Full Sail’s brews and sustainable practices have garnered more than 300 national and international awards, including 150 gold medals and Beverage World ‘s “Craft Brewer of the Year” distinction. From Full Sail Amber and IPA to Session Lager and bourbon barrel-aged beers, Full Sail consistently strives to brew complex, balanced and ridiculously tasty beers. Learn more at www.fullsailbrewing.com.

Ecliptic Brewing Celebrates Third Anniversary

PORTLAND, Ore. (October 11)– Ecliptic Brewing is turning three and to celebrate will host its Third Orbit Anniversary Party with live music, food, and special beer releases on Saturday, Oct. 22.

“It is really awesome to finish our third orbit around the sun at Ecliptic.” said Brewmaster and Owner John Harris.  “Thank you to everyone that has been part of us getting here.  In celebration, we created a Third Orbit Anniversary Ale and I can’t wait for everyone to try it.”

Courtesy of Ecliptic Brewing Co

About the Third Orbit Anniversary Ale

Ecliptic Brewing will debut their Third Orbit Anniversary Ale, an Imperial Porter with cherries, at the party. 

Details about the beer:

Third Orbit Anniversary Ale: Imperial Porter w/ Cherries

Ecliptic’s third orbit around the sun is on October 20th. To celebrate they brewed an Imperial Porter with a gravity warping amount of cherries. A blend of seven malts along with Columbus, Amarillo, Chinook, and Cascade hops complement the chocolatey cherry flavors.  ABV 9% IBU 50

 

About the Rare Beer Tapping

During the Third Orbit celebration, Ecliptic will tap rare beers from their cellar on the hour from 11am to 5pm.  Below are some of the beers that will be tapped at the party.

Gin Barrel-Aged Orbiter IPA

Rye Barrel-Aged UltraViolet Blackberry Sour Ale

2015 Barrel-Aged Orange Giant Barleywine

Barrel-Aged Spock Saison with Brettanomyces

About The Music

Free live music, benefiting The Jeremy Wilson Foundation, will also be included in the celebration.  Attendees will have the chance to donate to the foundation upon entry into the show.  All proceeds will go to the foundation.

The music will start at 5:30pm and will be open to all ages.  Fernando, a locally and nationally acclaimed artist will perform as the headliner for the event. 

Below are details about the lineup:

5:30pm: Ed and the Boats

6:30pm: Jeremy Wilson

7:30pm: Kory Quinn

8:30pm: Fernando

And There is More

Brewery tours will be offered throughout the day from 11:00am to 3:00pm.

Attendees will receive an Amuse Bouche from Ecliptic’s Chef, Michael Molitor.

There will be a limited amount of Third Orbit Anniversary t-shirts in both men’s and women’s sizes available.

For more up to date details and announcements, visit the Facebook event page here.

Courtesy of Ecliptic Brewing Co

About Ecliptic Brewing

Ecliptic Brewing is a venture from John Harris, an Oregon beer icon whose background is steeped in the state’s rich craft brewing history. The name Ecliptic unites Harris’ two passions: brewing and astronomy, and as such, the brewery celebrates the Earth’s yearly journey around the sun through both its beer and restaurant menus. Executive chef Michael Molitor rotates his seasonally inspired menu every six weeks in accordance with the old world calendar. Harris’ signature beers include Spica Pilsner, Orbiter IPA, Phobos Single Hop Red Ale, and Capella Porter. For more information, visit: www.eclipticbrewing.com.

Ecliptic beers are available at the brewery (825 North Cook St), in bottle and on-tap throughout the area, and distributed by: Maletis Beverage (Portland, Salem, Vancouver WA), Bigfoot Beverage (Eugene, Bend, Coast), Fort George Distributing (Northern Oregon Coast), Summit Distribution (Southern Oregon), Click Distributing (Seattle, Tacoma, Spokane, Northern Idaho), Dickerson Distributing (Bellingham), Crooked Stave Artisans (Colorado), Freedom Distributors (North Carolina), BeerThirst (Canada), and Graybeal (Eastern Oregon).

Great Beers Awarded Great Honors at the 2016 Great American Beer Festival®

Courtesy of Brewers Association

Boulder, CO • October 8, 2016—In its 30th year, the 2016 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) competition awarded 286 medals to some of the best commercial breweries in the United States, plus three GABF Pro-Am medals to teams of amateur homebrewers paired with professionals. Presented by the Brewers Association, GABF is the largest commercial beer competition in the world and a symbol of brewing excellence.

 

View the 2016 winners or download a PDF list of the winners.

 

Overview: Great American Beer Festival Competition

 

In a ceremony at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, prestigious gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded to winning breweries in 96 beer categories covering 161 different beer styles (including all subcategories), establishing the best examples of each style in the country. Neither a gold nor a silver medal were awarded in the Pumpkin/Squash Beer category.

 

Winners were chosen from 7,227 competition entries (nearly 9 percent more than the 6,647 entries in 2015 and surpassing all previous participation records) from 1,752 breweries hailing from 50 states plus Washington, D.C.

 

The competition also saw its biggest-ever panel of judges, with 264 beer experts from 12 countries, including the U.S., and 170 competition volunteers. The panel also evaluated 88 Pro-Am entries, which were judged in three rounds over four days.

 

2016 Brewery and Brewer of the Year Awards

Very Small Brewing Company and Very Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year

Sponsored by Brewers Supply Group (BSG)

Brown Truck Brewery, High Point, N.C.

Team Brown Truck

 

Small Brewing Company and Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year
Sponsored by O-I

Überbrew, Billings, Mont.

Über Cru        

 

***Mid-Size Brewing Company and Mid-Size Brewing Company Brewer of the Year

Sponsored by MicroStar Logistics

Karl Strauss Brewing Co. – San Diego, San Diego, CA

Team Karl

 

Large Brewing Company and Large Brewing Company Brewer of the Year
Sponsored by Beer Institute

Pabst Brewing Co., Los Angeles, Calif.

Gregory Deuhs           

 

Small Brewpub and Small Brewpub Brewer of the Year
Sponsored by Briess Malt & Ingredients Co.

ZwanzigZ Brewing, Columbus, Ind.

Mike Rybinski and Trent Fleener      

 

***Mid-Size Brewpub of the Year

Sponsored by Brewers Supply Group (BSG)

Boxing Bear Brewing Co., Albuquerque, NM

Justin Hamilton and Dylan Davis        

Large Brewpub and Large Brewpub Brewer of the Year
Sponsored by Country Malt Group

The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co., Austin, Texas

Amos Swifty Kim

 

Overall Competition Highlights

·         Most medals won:

·         Four (4) medals were won by Überbrew, Billings, Mont. (2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze)

·         Three (3) medals were won by each of the following breweries:

o   Karl Strauss Brewing Co. – San Diego, San Diego, Calif. (2 golds, 1 bronze)

o   Brown Truck Brewery, High Point, N.C. (1 gold, 2 silver)

o   Fat Head’s Brewery & Saloon, North Olmsted, Ohio (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze)

·         Top three states by ratio of medals to entries by state:

·         Wyoming (.111) with 45 entries and 5 medals

·         Hawaii (.107) with 28 entries and 3 medals

·         Virginia (.07) with 200 entries and 14 medals

·         First-time GABF competition entrants (self-identified during the registration process) numbered 464. Of those first-time entering breweries, 41 won medals.

Style Categories

 

Since 2002, the most-entered category has been American-Style India Pale Ale (IPA), which saw 312 entries in 2016 compared to 336 entries in 2015.The top five entered categories were:

·         American-Style India Pale Ale (312 entries)

·         Imperial India Pale Ale (211 entries)

·         American-Style Strong Pale Ale (169 entries)

·         Coffee Beer (168 entries)

·         Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer (159 entries)

 

In 2015, the top-five entered style categories included Session India Pale Ale and American-Style Pale Ale, which did not make the top five this year. New in the top five in 2016 compared to last year are American-Style Strong Pale Ale and Coffee Beer.

 

The average number of competition beers entered in each category was 75—up from 72 in 2015— making the 2016 Great American Beer Festival competition the most competitive ever.

 

The winners in the most-entered (that is, the most competitive) categories were:

American-Style India Pale Ale (312 entries)

Gold: Bodhizafa IPA, Georgetown Brewing Co., Seattle, Wash.

Silver:  Super Cali IPA, Riip Beer Co., Huntington Beach, Calif.

Bronze:  Breaking Bud, Knee Deep Brewing Co., Auburn, Calif.

Imperial India Pale Ale (211 entries)

Gold: Humulus Insani, Überbrew, Billings, Mont.

Silver: Nobility, Noble Ale Works, Anaheim, Calif.

Bronze: Hop JuJu Imperial IPA, Fat Head’s Brewery, Middleburg Heights, Ohio

American-Style Strong Pale Ale (169 entries)

Gold: Good Green, Highland Park Brewery, Los Angeles, Calif.

Silver: Rippin, Sunriver Brewing, Sunriver, Ore.

Bronze: HFS, Alpine Beer Co., San Diego, Calif.

Coffee Beer (168 entries)

Gold: Gusto Crema, Georgetown Brewing Co., Seattle Wash.

Silver: Dusk ‘til Dawn – SC, Pizza Port San Clemente, San Clemente, Calif.

Bronze: Zumbar Chocolate Coffee Imperial Stout, New English Brewing Co., San Diego, Calif.

Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer (159 entries)

Gold: Silent Warrior, TAPS Fish House and Brewery – Corona, Corona, Calif.

Silver: Mélange À Trois, Nebraska Brewing Co. – Papillion, Papillion, Neb.

Bronze: 15^th Anniversary Ale, Island Brewing Co., Carpinteria, Calif.

·         This year’s GABF competition saw seven new style categories:

o   Pumpkin /Squash Beer (category 6)

o   Four new historical beer categories were added: Finnish Sahti, Swedish Gotlandsricke, and Pale and Dark Breslau Schoeps (categories 21e, 21f, 21g, 21h)

o   German Leichtbier (category 36c)

o   Specialty Saison (category 79)

2016 Great American Beer Festival Pro-Am Competition

Sponsored by Briess Malt & Ingredients Co., The Country Malt Group, Yakima Chief-Hopunion and White Labs

Gold, silver and bronze medals were also awarded in the GABF Pro-Am competition, which pairs amateur brewers with professional brewers, who scale up the award-winning homebrew recipes. The medal winners, including the winning professional brewers and American Homebrewers Association (AHA) member homebrewers are:

 

Gold: Just Rye’te, Panther Island Brewing Co., Fort Worth, Texas

Panther Island Brewing and AHA member Clifton Ellis

Silver: Vernal Equinox, Starr Hill Brewery, Crozet, Va.

Starr Hill Brewing Team and AHA member Gary Layton

Bronze: The Kolsch Experiment, Altitude Chophouse and Brewery, Laramie, Wyo.

Jesse Brown and AHA member Shawn Miller

Summary: 2016 Great American Beer Festival Statistics

·         35th anniversary of the festival; 30th edition of the GABF competition

·         780 breweries in the festival hall

·         3,800+ beers served at the festival

·         60,000 attendees

·         3,600 volunteers (festival and competition combined)

·         1,752 breweries in the competition from 50 states plus Washington, D.C.

·         254 medal-winning breweries

·         286 total medals awarded

·         7,227 beers judged (not including 88 Pro-Am competition entries), a nearly 9 percent increase over 2015

·         96 style categories judged, plus the Pro-Am competition

·         264 judges from 12 different countries

·         Average number of competition beers entered in each category: 75 (excludes Pro-Am beers)

·         Category with highest number of entries: American-Style India Pale Ale: 312

 

2016 Great American Beer Festival Official Sponsors

Carhartt

DRAFT Magazine
MicroStar Logistics
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews
CraftBeer.com

Additional GABF sponsors are recognized on the festival website.

Courtesy of Brewers Association

About the Brewers Association

The Brewers Association is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The Brewers Association (BA) represents more than 70 percent of the brewing industry, and its members make more than 99 percent of the beer brewed in the U.S. The BA organizes events including the World Beer Cup^SM, Great American Beer Festival^®, Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America^®, SAVOR℠: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience, Homebrew Con, National Homebrew Competition and American Craft Beer Week^®. The BA publishes The New Brewer magazine and its Brewers Publications division is the largest publisher of contemporary and relevant brewing literature for today’s craft brewers and homebrewers.

Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com and about homebrewing via the BA’s American Homebrewers Association and the free Brew Guru™ mobile app. Follow us on Twitter.

The Brewers Association is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital/familial status. The BA complies with provisions of Executive Order 11246 and the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.