Rick Roberts

TORONTO, Ontario – The 2019 Canadian Brewing Awards, in its 17th year, was a nationwide toast to the country’s exploding craft beer scene, held in Toronto on May 4 with over 800 entries from breweries coast-to-coast judged blindly by BJCP-certified pros across 50 categories—from crisp European lagers and juicy IPAs to barrel-aged sours and experimental wilds. Ontario breweries dominated the medal count with 57 golds, silvers, and bronzes, but British Columbia stole the spotlight as a powerhouse, snagging 49 medals (nearly a third of the 164 total) and proving the West Coast’s hazy, hop-forward mastery. Clifford Brewing Company from Hamilton, Ontario, was crowned Brewery of the Year for its killer lineup, including the silver-winning East Hamilton Lager, while the ultimate prize—Beer of the Year—went to Central City Brewers + Distillers’ Red Racer After Hours Pale Ale (BC), a bold, experimental pale that doubled as gold in its category and had hopheads buzzing for months. Other BC standouts included Steel & Oak’s gold-medal Dark Lager (a malty European-style beauty), Fernie Brewing’s Campout West Coast Pale (gold for its piney, citrus punch), and Strange Fellows’ Mistral (gold in wood- and barrel-aged beers for its funky, oaky depth). Standout category winners like Stray Dog’s Jagged Little Pilsner (gold in European Pilsner, a snappy noble-hop gem) and Henderson’s Ides of February (gold Bock, rich and toasty) highlighted the diversity, from Manitoba’s Torque Witty Belgian to Alberta’s Hell’s Basement Elevator HBB. Amid the cheers, the gala also announced the launch of the Canadian Craft Brewers Association, uniting 700+ independents to champion small-batch innovation. If you’re plotting a cross-Canada beer crawl, hunt down these 2019 medalists—they’re timeless pours that capture the moment Canada’s craft scene went supernova. Prost to a golden year!

The winning beers in all categories as selected in a series of blind tastings by a panel of BJCP-certified judges are listed below.

2019 Canadian Brewing Medal Winners
European Style Lager (Pilsner)
Gold: Jagged Little Pilsner – Stray Dog Brewing Company – Ontario
Silver: East Hamilton Lager – Clifford Brewing Company – Ontario
Bronze: Red Racer Pils – Central City Brewers and Distillers – British Columbia

European Style Amber to Dark Lager
Gold: Dark Lager – Steel & Oak Brewing Co. – British Columbia
Silver: Raven – Old Flame Brewing Company – Ontario
Bronze: Dingman Dark Lager – Herald Haus Brewing Co. – Ontario

Bock – Traditional German Style
Gold: Ides of February – Henderson Brewing Co. – Ontario
Silver: Grumpiest Of All Time – Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co. – Ontario
Bronze: Elevator HBB Seasonal Strong Ale – Hell’s Basement Brewery Inc. – Alberta

Kellerbier/Zwickelbier
Gold: Schwartz – Pump House Brewery Ltd – New Brunswick
Silver: Simple Things – Steel & Oak Brewing Co. – British Columbia
Bronze : POTTS PILSNER – Moon Under Water Brewery – British Columbia

German Style Kölsch
Gold: King Kolsch – Axe & Barrel Brewing Co. – British Columbia
Silver: 1857 – Abe Erb Brewing Company – Ontario
Bronze: 78 Kolsch – Phillips Brewing & Malting Co. – British Columbia

Wheat Beer – Belgian Style (Wit)
Gold: Witty Belgian – Torque Brewing Inc. – Manitoba
Silver: Waterfront Wit – Walkerville Brewery – Ontario
Bronze: Barbe Blanche – Brasserie Tuque de Broue Brewery Inc. – Ontario

Wheat Beer – German Style (Weiss)
Gold: Sundown Hefeweizen – Sundown Brewing Company LTD – British Columbia
Silver: Idyllique – Microbrasserie le bockale inc – Quebec
Bronze: Fahr Hefe – Brauerei Fahr – Alberta

Baltic Porter
Gold: Baltistar Galactiporter – Bent Stick Brewing Co. – Alberta
Silver: Black Mountain Side Baltic Porter – Thornbury Village Craft Brewery – Ontario
Bronze: Fireside Porter – Yaletown Brewing Company – British Columbia

Belgian-Style Dubbel or Quadrupel
Gold: Assoiffé 8 – Brasseurs du Monde – Quebec
Silver: Quadrupel – New Limburg Brewing Company – Ontario
Bronze: Dubbel – New Limburg Brewing Company – Ontario

Belgian-Style Tripel
Silver: Tante tricotante – Microbrasserie du Lac-Saint-Jean – Quebec
Bronze: Red Racer Ocean Playground Belgian Tripel – Central City Brewers and Distillers – British Columbia

Belgian-Style Abbey Ale / Pale Ale
Gold: Mons Abbey Blonde – Belgh Brasse – Quebec
Silver: Grimdonk – Grimross Brewing Corp. – New Brunswick
Bronze: Marigold – Belgian Golden Ale – Clifford Brewing Company – Ontario

Belgian-Style Strong Ale(Pale / Dark / Specialty)
Gold: Dark Strong V.1 – Big Rig Brewery – Ontario
Silver: 350 Orange Chocolate Belgian Rye Ale – Nonsuch Brewing Co – Manitoba
Bronze: Forty Nine Karat (Juicy Golden Strong Ale) – Collaboration brew with Parallel 49. Mount Arrowsmith Brewing Company – British Columbia

French and Belgian Style Saison
Gold: Clean Slate – Bench Brewing Company – Ontario
Silver: Boulet Funky – A la Fut – Quebec
Bronze: 3-Point Saison – The Collingwood Brewery – Ontario

Belgian-Style Brett Beer
Gold: Mélange À Trois – Strange Fellows Brewing – British Columbia
Silver: Boulet Funky – A la Fut – Quebec
Bronze: Brett Quad – Royal City Brewing Co. – Ontario

German-Style Sour Ale (Berliner-Style Weisse or Gose)
Gold: Gosé Cuervo Tequila Lime Sour – People’s Pint Brewing Company – Ontario
Silver: Tourbiere – Brasserie Artisanale La Souche – Quebec
Bronze: Limoilou Beach – Brasserie Artisanale La Souche – Quebec

Belgian-Style Sour Ale(Flanders Red Ale , Oud Bruin , Lambic / Gueuze , Fruit Lambic)
Gold: Cuvée Western – A la Fut – Quebec
Silver: QV10 – A la Fut – Quebec
Bronze: Cherry Barn – Half Pints Brewing Co. – Manitoba

Porter
Gold: Clifford Porter – Clifford Brewing Company – Ontario
Silver: Final Bow – Overflow Brewing Company – Ontario
Bronze: The Darkness Porter – Origin Malting & Brewing Co. – Alberta

Brown Ale
Gold: Bear’s Hump Nut Brown Ale – Coulee Brew Co. – Alberta
Silver: Rail Ale – Howe Sound Brewing – British Columbia
Bronze: British – A la Fut – Quebec

Scotch Ale
Gold: Andys Wee Heavy – Common Crown Brewing Company – Alberta
Silver: Wee Angry Scotch Ale – Russell Brewing Company – British Columbia
Bronze: BEER 101 Strong – Niagara College Teaching Brewery – Ontario

English Style Pale Ale
Gold: 9 Mile Ale – 9 Mile Legacy Brewing Co. – Saskatchewan
Silver: Moosehead Small Batch Ten Penny Stock Ale – Moosehead Breweries – New Brunswick
Bronze: Golden Grover – Foghorn Brewing Company – New Brunswick

English Bitters(Ordinary or Special Bitters / Best Bitter or ESB)
Gold: Warthog (English Style Mild Ale) – Big Rock Brewery – Alberta
Silver: Arkell Best Bitter – Wellington Brewery – Ontario
Bronze: BEER 101Bitter – Niagara College Teaching Brewery – Ontario

Sweet Stout or Cream Stout
Gold: Vox Stout Chocolat – Vox Populi brewery – Quebec
Silver: Midnight Kissed My Cow – Big Rig Brewery – Ontario
Bronze: Darkside Chocolate Stout – Upper Thames Brewing Company – Ontario

Oatmeal Stout
Gold: St. Ambroise Oatmeal Stout – McAuslan Brewing – Quebec
Silver: Stout à l’avoine – Brasserie Mille-Îles – Quebec
Bronze: Darkling Oatmeal Stout – The Cannery Brewing Co. – British Columbia

Dry Stout
Gold: Black Donald – Calabogie Brewing Company – Ontario
Silver: Stout – Anderson Craft Ales – Ontario
Bronze: Dry Irish Stout – Persephone Brewing Company – British Columbia

Imperial Stout
Gold: Str8 Flexin – Twin Sails Brewing – British Columbia
Silver: Tempest – Amsterdam Brewing Company – Ontario
Bronze: Nokomis Imperial Stout – Nokomis Craft Ales – Saskatchewan

English Style India Pale Ale
Gold: White’s Bay IPA – The Collingwood Brewery – Ontario
Silver: Tin Hat Dry-Hopped – Townsite Brewing Inc. – British Columbia
Bronze: Geronimo IPA – Walkerville Brewery – Ontario

North American Style Lager
Gold: Ides of January – O-PEE-CHEE Lager – Henderson Brewing Co. – Ontario
Silver: 3 Speed – Amsterdam Brewing Company – Ontario
Bronze: Mucho Oro Lager – Barkerville Brewing Co. – British Columbia

North American Style Premium Lager
Gold: Road Trip Classic Lager – Red Truck Beer Company – British Columbia
Silver: Helles Lager – Wellington Brewery – Ontario
Bronze: Paradise Lager – The Grove Brew House – Ontario

North American Style Amber Lager
Gold: Brunette – Old Flame Brewing Company – Ontario
Silver: Millennium Buzz Hemp Beer – Cool Beer Brewing Co. – Ontario
Bronze: Pond Surfer California Common – Town Square Brewing – Alberta

Light (Calorie-Reduced) Lager
Gold: First Light Session Lager – Cameron’s Brewing Co. – Ontario
Silver: Stonewall Light – Cool Beer Brewing Co. – Ontario
Bronze: Jackrabbit (Light Lager) – Big Rock Brewery – Alberta

Cream Ale
Gold: Gold – Big Rig Brewery – Ontario
Silver: Okanagan Lake Cream Ale – A-FRAME Brewing Company – British Columbia
Bronze: Roger That – Overflow Brewing Company – Ontario

North American Style Amber/Red Ale
Gold: Red Line IPA – Torque Brewing Inc. – Manitoba
Silver: Doc Perdue’s Bobcat, West Coast Red Ale – Cowbell Brewing Co – Ontario
Bronze: 18 Karat Ale – Barkerville Brewing Co. – British Columbia

North American Style Blonde or Golden Ale
Gold: La Blonde de L’Anse – Pit Caribou – Quebec
Silver: Bastion Blonde Ale – White Sails Brewing Ltd. – British Columbia
Bronze: Brewmaster Blonde Ale – Common Crown Brewing Company – Alberta

American-Style Black Ale
Gold: DarkHop – OverHop Brewing – Quebec
Silver: Snake Island CDA – White Sails Brewing Ltd. – British Columbia
Bronze: Mhmm, Okay. – Four Father’s Brewing Company – Ontario

North American Style Pale Ale
Gold: Campout West Coast Pale – Fernie Brewing Company – British Columbia
Silver: Forward Progress Pale Ale – Annex Ale Project – Alberta
Bronze: Ten Times Ten – Brassneck Brewery – British Columbia

Wheat Beer – North American Style
Gold: Jerkface 9000 – Parallel 49 – British Columbia
Silver: Rabbit of Caerbannog – Indie Alehouse – Ontario
Bronze: Nine Locks Dirty Blonde – Nine Locks Brewing Co – Nova Scotia

American Style India Pale Ale
Gold: This Must Be The IPA – Cold Garden Beverage Company Ltd – Alberta
Silver: IV010 – Four Father’s Brewing Company – Ontario
Bronze : Iron Horse Trail IPA – Red Circle Brewing Co. – Ontario

New England Style India Pale Ale
Gold: Life In The Clouds – Collective Arts Brewing – Ontario
Silver: Humans an IPA for the People – The Parkside Brewery – British Columbia
Bronze: Freestyle Milkshake IPA – The Collingwood Brewery – Ontario

Session India Pale Ale
Gold: Exhibition – Royal City Brewing Co. – Ontario
Silver: Sidekick ISA – Bridge Brewing – British Columbia
Bronze: Featherweight IPA – Four Winds Brewing Co. – British Columbia

American Style Imperial India Pale Ale
Gold: The Forgetful Brewer – Outcast Brewing – Alberta
Silver: Faces Double IPA – Wellington Brewery – Ontario
Bronze: OneLove – OverHop Brewing – Quebec

American Belgo-Style Ale
Gold: Saison houblonnée – Bièrerie Shelton – Quebec
Silver: Grain Bin Landlocked IPA – Grain Bin Brewing Company – Alberta
Bronze: Sextuple – Dageraad Brewing in collaboration with Sooke Brewing Co – British Columbia

American-style Brett Beer
Gold: Wild American Brett IPA – Field House Brewing Co. – British Columbia
Silver: Dry Hopped Brett Saison – The Establishment Brewing Company – Alberta
Bronze: Mr Natural – Brassneck Brewery – British Columbia

American-style Sour Ale
Gold: Nectarous Dry-Hopped Sour – Four Winds Brewing Co. – British Columbia
Silver: ZAP! Sour IPA – Nickel Brook Brewing Co – Ontario
Bronze: New World Sour – Luppolo Brewing Company – British Columbia

Special Honey/Maple Lager or Ale
Gold: Moosehead Small Batch Sugar Bush – Moosehead Breweries – New Brunswick
Silver: Heist Maple Stout – The Cannery Brewing Co. – British Columbia
Bronze: Moosehead Small Batch Honey Wheat Ale – Moosehead Breweries – New Brunswick

Fruit Beer / Fruit Wheat Beer / Pumpkin Beer
Gold: Anchor Shoes – Short Finger Brewing Co. – Ontario
Silver: Cup Lake Lemon & Earl Grey Sour – A-FRAME Brewing Company – British Columbia
Bronze: After Hours Raspberry Sour – PEI Brewing Company – Prince Edward Island

Gluten Free Beer
Gold: Glutenberg Stout – Glutenberg Craft Brewery – Quebec
Silver: Glutenberg India Pale Ale – Glutenberg Craft Brewery – Quebec
Bronze: Glutenberg Gose – Glutenberg Craft Brewery – Quebec

Session Ale
Gold: Throwback: Belgian Table Beer – The Exchange Brewery – Ontario
Silver: Abbey Lane English Mild – Ribstone Creek Brewery – Alberta
Bronze: Squirrel Chaser Hazy Pale Ale – Yellow Dog Brewing – British Columbia

Experimental Beer
Gold: Red Racer After Hours Pale Ale – Central City Brewers and Distillers – British Columbia
Silver: Fargo – Short Finger Brewing Co. – Ontario
Bronze: BXL FNK – Brasserie Dunham – Quebec

Herb and Spice Beer
Gold: Whistler Winter Dunkel – Whistler Brewing Company – British Columbia
Silver: Stoked Winter Ale – Mt Begbie Brewing Company – British Columbia
Bronze: Coffee Lager – Coal harbour brewing – British Columbia

Smoked Beer
Gold: Prairie Fire Rauchbier – Town Square Brewing – Alberta
Silver: Smoke & Mirrors Imperial Smoked Ale – Coal harbour brewing – British Columbia
Bronze: Gratzer – Bièrerie Shelton – Quebec

Barley Wine-Style Ale(English Style / American Style)
Gold: Gros Torrieu – Ras L’Bock – Quebec
Silver: Bjorninn Barleywine – Brazen Hall – Manitoba
Bronze: Wooly Bugger – Howe Sound Brewing – British Columbia

Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer(Pale to Amber / Dark)
Gold: Mistral Saison – Strange Fellows Brewing – British Columbia
Silver: Clifford Barrel Aged Porter – Clifford Brewing Company – Ontario
Bronze: Beau Bouquet – Matera Brasseurs Tonneliers – Quebec

Wood and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer
Gold: Double Tempest – Amsterdam Brewing Company – Ontario
Silver: Doan’s Brewing Collaboration Barrel Aged Rye Wheat Wine – Russell Brewing Company – British Columbia
Bronze: Nine Locks Barrel Aged Barley Wine – Nine Locks Brewing Co – Nova Scotia

Wood and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer
Gold: Boxcar Tourist – Iron Road Brewing – British Columbia
Silver: They Go Up – Small Pony Barrel Works – Ontario
Bronze: As You Wish – Small Pony Barrel Works – Ontario

Flavored Stout/Porter
Gold: Nutty Uncle Peanut Butter Stout – Dead Frog Brewery – British Columbia
Silver: Bean Me Up Espresso Milk Stout – Fuggles & Warlock Craftworks – British Columbia
Bronze: Everything is Awesome – Backcountry Brewing – British Columbia

Best of Show(Beer of the Year)
Red Racer After Hours Pale Ale – Central City Brewers and Distillers – British Columbia

Brewery Of the Year
Clifford Brewing Company – Ontario