The Ontario Brewing Awards (OBA) is a cornerstone of Ontario’s vibrant craft beer scene, celebrating the creativity, skill, and passion of the province’s brewers. As a prestigious, Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP)-sanctioned competition, the OBA recognizes excellence in craft beer across a diverse range of styles, offering breweries a platform to showcase their finest creations while fostering growth and innovation in the industry.
A Platform for Ontario’s Craft Brewers
Launched to honor the best in Ontario’s craft beer, the OBA is open to all Canadian-owned commercial brewers and beer brands whose products are produced and packaged in the province. Beers submitted must be available for legal sale and consumption by the public, ensuring that entries reflect what consumers can enjoy at local taprooms, restaurants, or retail stores. The competition spans 38 distinct style categories, from Standard American Beer to innovative styles like Catharina Sours and Trappist Ales, allowing brewers to demonstrate their versatility and expertise.
What sets the Ontario Brewing Awards apart is its commitment to fairness and expertise. Entries are evaluated through a double-blind judging process by a panel of certified BJCP judges, who bring extensive knowledge of beer styles and brewing techniques. Each beer is assessed based on the 2021 BJCP Style Guidelines, with judges scoring entries on appearance, aroma, mouthfeel, flavor, and overall drinkability. This rigorous process ensures impartiality and provides brewers with detailed, actionable feedback to refine their craft.
Impact on Breweries and the Industry
For participating breweries, the OBA offers more than just accolades. Winning an award can boost a brewery’s reputation, increase brand visibility, and drive sales, particularly in competitive markets like the LCBO or local grocery stores. However, some industry voices note that the impact on sales can vary, with awards often serving as a marketing tool rather than a guaranteed sales driver. Social media promotion and taproom buzz tend to amplify the recognition more than packaging labels.
The feedback provided by OBA judges is another key benefit. Detailed tasting notes help brewers understand their beer’s strengths and areas for improvement, fostering continuous growth. This is particularly valuable for smaller or newer breweries looking to establish themselves in a crowded market. The competition also encourages innovation, as brewers experiment with unique ingredients, historical recipes, or modern styles to stand out.
Complete list of winners for the Ontario Brewing Awards 2024:
Best of Show: Clouland – Spark Beer
Standard American Beer
Gold: Mile Hill – OutSpoken Brewing
Silver: Shindig – Cowbell Brewing Co.
Bronze: Yellow Lab Lager – Old Dog Brewing Company
International Lager
Gold: Oktoberfest Festbier – Brauwerk Hoffman
Silver: Blonde – Old Flame Brewing Company
Bronze: Bock Buster – Broken Rail Brewing
Pale Bitter European Beer
Gold: Jupiter Pilsner – Paniza Brewing
Silver: Rock Lite – Brauwerk Hoffman
Bronze: Ridges Pilsner – Rouge River Brewing Company
Amber Malty European Lager
Gold: Mariposa Marzen – Couchiching Craft Brewing Co
Silver: ES Marzen – Gillingham Brewing Company
Bronze: Journey To Mars – Paniza Brewing
Amber Bitter European Beer
Gold: Vienna Lager – Gillingham Brewing Company
Silver: Red – Old Flame Brewing Company
Bronze: The Big One – Test Batches Brewery Inc
Dark European Lager
Gold: Brunette – Old Flame Brewing Company
Silver: Beige Panther – Mascot Brewery
Bronze: Dam Dark Lager – Thornbury Craft Co.
Strong European Beer
Gold: Classic Black – Rainhard Brewing
Silver: Perpetuator – Steadfast Brewing Co
Bronze: Baltic Porter – Goldenfield Brewery
German Wheat Beer
Gold: Die Bierleichen – Cured Craft Brewing Co.
Silver: Hefeweizen – Brauwerk Hoffman
British Bitter
Gold: Thirsty Soldier – Lot 10 Brewing Company
Silver: Jim’s Brown Ale – Lost Villages Brewery
Bronze: BEER 101 Bitter – Niagara College Teaching Brewery
Pale Commonwealth Beer
Gold: Industrial Pale Ale – Lock Street Brewing Company
Silver: Kungaroo IPA – Boshkung Brewing Co.
Bronze: Bloody ‘ELL and back – Saulter Street Brewery
Brown British Beer
Gold: Red Devil – The Blue Elephant
Silver: Cheeky Lass – Sassy Britches Brewing Co Ltd
Bronze: Beez Nutz – Brew Revolution
Irish Beer
Gold: Keefe’s Irish Stout – Granite Brewery
Silver: Fur Coat No Knickers – Charlotteville Brewing Company
Bronze: Red Star – Oranje Son Brewing
Dark British Beer
Gold: Oatmeal Stout – Flora Hall Brewing
Silver: Creme Brew-lee Stout – Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co.
Bronze: Thrift Shop Stout – Lot 10 Brewing Company
Strong British Ale
Gold: 500 Miles – Brew Revolution
Silver: BEER 101 Strong – Niagara College Teaching Brewery
Bronze: Peculiar – Granite Brewery
Pale American Ale
Gold: Hidden Rivers Pale Ale – Steadfast Brewing Co
Silver: Square Nail Pale Ale – The Publican House Brewery
Bronze: Pigasus Blonde Ale – Rouge River Brewing Company
Amber and Brown American Beer
Gold: Triple A – Gillingham Brewing Company
Silver: On The BANKS of The Mattagami – FULL BEARD BREWING CO
Bronze: Black Rock – Boshkung Brewing Co.
American Porter and Stout
Gold: Bandits Fly Trap – Oranje Son Brewing
Silver: Precambrian Porter – OutSpoken Brewing
Bronze: Imperial Stout – Wellington BreweryStrong American Ale
IPA
Gold: Darkside Black IPA – Granite Brewery
Silver: Angry Chipmunk – Boshkung Brewing Co.
Bronze: JUNCTION HAZY IPA – Junction Craft Brewery
Gold: Fruit Engine – Wellington Brewery
Silver: Double Head Stock – Nickel Brook Brewing Co.
Bronze: Sundog – Canvas Brewing Company
Belgian Ale
Gold: Granny’s Ghost – Lost Villages Brewery
Silver: White Birch – Canvas Brewing Company
Bronze: Ultra Summer – MERIT Brewery
Strong Belgian Ale
Gold: Saison de la Meuse – Meuse Brewing Company Inc
Silver: Babe Brew Grisette – Granite Brewery
Bronze: The Longest Day – Broken Stick Brewing Company
Monastic Ale
Gold: Ace of Spades – Quayle’s Brewery
Silver: Provocateur – Quayle’s Brewery
Bronze: Mea Culpa – Brauwerk Hoffman
Historical Beer
Gold: Hazy Blonde – Old Flame Brewing Company
Silver: Madder Than A Wet Hen – FULL BEARD BREWING CO INC.
Bronze: Bearded Prospector – FULL BEARD BREWING CO INC.
American Wild Ale
Gold: Sunset Glow – The Merchant Ale House
Silver: Foeder Aged Margarita Gose – Flora Hall Brewing
Bronze: Fête – Spark Beer
Fruit Beer
Gold: Jam Band Raspberry Lavender Vanilla – Wishbone Brewing
Silver: Scrumdidlyumptious – FULL BEARD BREWING CO INC.
Bronze: Jam Stand – Nickel Brook Brewing Co.
Spiced Beer
Gold: Forsaken Ale – Lost Villages Brewery
Silver: Foeder Aged Chocolate Stout – Flora Hall Brewing
Bronze: Daft Pumpk – Lot 10 Brewing Company
Smoked Beer
Gold: Black Gold – Black Gold Brewery
Silver: Knock On Wood – Steadfast Brewing Co
Bronze: Logger – Natterjack Brewing Company ltd
Wood Beer
Gold: Cloudland – Spark Beer
Silver: Skullkrusher – The Merchant Ale House
Bronze: Kentucky Imperial Stout – Nickel Brook Brewing Co.
Specialty Beer
Gold: How About Italy? – Spark Beer
Silver: Paulie’s – Mascot Brewery
Bronze: Cabin Fever – Blueberry Balsamic – Quayle’s Brewery
Catharina Sour
Gold: Island Breeze – Concession Road Brewing Company Ltd.
Silver: Manhire – Spark Beer
Bronze: Jarvis Jackass – Mule Sour – Concession Road Brewing Company Ltd.
New England IPA
Gold: Juicy McHazy – Orleans Brewing Co
Silver: Wicked Awesome – Nickel Brook Brewing Co.
Bronze: DRIFT – Sons of Kent Brewing Co
No to Low-Alcohol Beer
Gold: Breakfast Beer – Rainhard Brewing
Silver: Veer Lager with Lime – Muskoka Brewery
Bronze: Veer Hazy IPA – Muskoka Brewery
Low-Alcohol Beer
Gold: Sunchaser Extra Light Lime – Lake Of Bays Brewing Company
Silver: Sparklight Extra Light Red Ale – Lake Of Bays Brewing Company
Bronze: Low Tide IPA – Lake Of Bays Brewing Company
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