Beer Festival

2023 Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer Winners Announced

November 6, 2023 by Spencer Mapes

CHICAGO, Illinois: The Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer (FoBAB), North America’s premier and largest barrel-aged beer festival and competition, is organized by the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild. Showcasing hundreds of craft breweries, FoBAB offers extensive sampling opportunities and a highly competitive awards segment for top honors. The 20th annual event, held on November 3-4, 2023, featured breweries vying for accolades across 12 categories. Below are the 2023 FoBAB winners, celebrated for their exceptional wood and barrel-aged creations.

Cider/Perry/Mead
Gold: Final Act – Garagiste Meadery
Silver: Rye Barrel Aged Marion – Superstition Meadery
Bronze: Wealthy Financier – Listermann Fermatorium

Wild Beer Mixed Culture/Acidic W/Fruit
Gold: Peach Horizon – 10 Barrel West Side
Silver: Routes Du Cidre – Idyll Forest Artisan Ales
Bronze: Soiree – Idyll Forest Artisan Ales

Wild Beer Mixed Culture/Acidic
Gold: Oblivion – Wicked Weed Brewing
Silver: Cuvee De Josh – Pretentious Barrel House
Bronze: Polyflora – Brewery Bhavana

Wild Brett Beer
Gold: Oaked Val D’Or – Hidden Hand Brewery
Silver: Palace of Gold – Full Mile Beer Co. & Kitchen
Bronze: Oak Rado – Penrose Brewing Company

Specialty & Experimental Beer
Gold: Mezcal Barrel Aged Beer For Tacos – Off Color Brewing – Production
Silver: Astral Predator – Cerebral Brewing – Congress Park
Bronze: All That Was Promised – Magnanimous Brewing

Fruit Beer
Gold: Icky Bob Thornton – Haymarket Pub and Brewery
Silver: Tako Michu – 10 Barrel West Side
Bronze: Polynesian Passion – Sun King Brewery-Fishers

Other Dark Beer
Gold: Bravissimo – Firestone Walker Propagator
Silver: Orin – Half Acre
Bronze Skateboard Jesus – 10 Barrel East Side

Lagers
Gold: Dark Crator – Boulevard Brewing Company
Silver: Brewers’ Reserve Bourbon Barrel-Aged Honey Bock – Lakefront Brewery
Bronze: Barrel-Aged Generator Doppelbock – Metropolitan Brewing

Other Pale Beer
Gold: Tripel G – Belgian Style Tripel – Sketchbook Brewing Co. Skokie
Silver: Boost – HighGrain Brewing Company
Bronze: Muon – Loose Ends Brewing

Barley Wine/Wheat Wine
Gold: Moments of Silent Banter – Taproom Beer Co.
Silver: Owl of Athena – Solemn Oath Brewery
Bronze: Two Faced Terror – False Idol Brewing

Specialty Strong Porter & Stout
Gold: BBA Ego Death W Vanilla – Resident Culture Brewing
Silver: Veneration of the Dead – Ever Grain Brewing
Bronze: BA Cuppa Stuffff – Maplewood Brewery & Distillery

Strong Porter & Stout
Gold: Mehndi 2023 – More Brewing Company
Silver: Slappa Da Base – Mikerphone Brewing
Bronze: Double BA Temple of Minerva – Jackie O’s Brewery

Best of Show
Runner Up: Mehndi 2023 – More Brewing Company
Winner: Oaked Val D’Or – Hidden Hand Brewery

For more information on the 2023 Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer, Click Here.

For Brewing fun facts, trivia, movies and more, Click Here.

Bell’s Brewery to Celebrate Historic Event With 5 Great Lakes Breweries

November 2, 2023 by Spencer Mapes

Kalamazoo, Michigan — November 2025 Bell’s Brewery is thrilled to announce the 32nd annual Eccentric Day, returning on December 1, 2025, at the Eccentric Café in downtown Kalamazoo. This beloved “Bell’s Holiday” will feature exciting new elements, including five unique collaboration beers crafted with regional breweries, live music, a costume contest, and a vibrant array of food and drinks. What began as a humble coworker holiday party over 30 years ago has grown into a cornerstone event for Southwest Michigan’s craft beer community. “Eccentric Day is about celebrating our community and the creativity that defines craft beer,” said Carrie Yunker, Bell’s Executive Vice President. “This year, we’re returning to our roots while infusing fresh energy into the festivities.”

A highlight of Eccentric Day is its specialty beer releases, with 2025 showcasing collaborations with 3 Floyds Brewing, Upper Hand Brewery, Brewery Vivant with Broad Leaf Brewery & Spirits, One Well Brewing, and Wax Wings Brewing Co. “These collaborations make the beer the star of the show,” said Brewmaster Andy Farrell. The lineup includes:

3 Floyds Brewing’s Ale (7.0% ABV, draft & 6-pk 12oz bottles)
Brewery Vivant & Broad Leaf’s Pineapple Kiwi Saison (5% ABV, draft)
One Well Brewing’s Blueberry Thai Basil Porter (6.66% ABV, draft)
Wax Wings Brewing Co.’s New England Double IPA (10% ABV, draft)
Upper Hand Brewery’s Barrel Aged Sour (12.7% ABV, draft & 750ml bottles) “Collaborating with these talented brewers to create beers our community loves is a highlight of Eccentric Day,” Farrell added.

Beyond the brews, Bell’s is deepening its community commitment with a $15,000 donation to local nonprofits, including $5,000 to Communities in Schools of Kalamazoo for children’s winter apparel and additional funds to organizations chosen by the collaborating breweries. “Our community’s support has fueled Eccentric Day’s growth, and giving back through our partners’ chosen causes strengthens that bond,” said Yunker.

The free event is open to those 21+ with valid ID. Attendees are encouraged to don costumes for a contest offering prizes like a tour of Bell’s Comstock brewery and a beer-paired dinner by Executive Chef Kristofer McDonough. Live entertainment will feature the Andrew Rathbun Jazz Band, Run 4 Cover, and a Kalamazoo DJ.

About Bell’s Brewery Founded in 1985 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Bell’s Brewery has grown from a 15-gallon soup kettle into one of America’s leading craft breweries. Known for iconic beers like Two Hearted IPA, Oberon Ale, and Hopslam Ale, Bell’s embraces its “Inspired Brewing” philosophy to foster creativity, sustainability, and community. Distributing over 20 beers nationwide and to Puerto Rico from its Comstock brewery, Bell’s also crafts small-batch brews for the Eccentric Café, continuing to unite people through exceptional beer and shared values.

For Brewing fun facts, trivia, movies and more, Click Here.

Firestone Walker’s Oaktoberfest Is Back

August 15, 2023 by Spencer Mapes

Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest — Photo Credit: Firestone Walker Brewing

PASO ROBLES, California— Firestone Walker’s fall classic is back with the 2023 edition of Oaktoberfest, an oak-inspired homage to the iconic “festbiers” that are synonymous with Munich’s legendary Oktoberfest celebration.

The 2023 Oaktoberfest Oak Aged Lager (5.2% ABV) begins rolling out to all Firestone Walker markets this week in 6-pack (12-oz cans) and draft formats. The name “Oaktoberfest” is a riff on Firestone Walker’s longtime commitment to brewing beer in oak barrels.

“Oaktoberfest is a beer that has stood the test of time,” said Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “In fact, I believe that more and more craft drinkers are yearning for beers like Oaktoberfest. There’s a certain nostalgia to the style—smooth, sessionable, flavorful and malt-forward. It’s the kind of beer that you naturally crave as summer turns to fall.”

Oaktoberfest has been a seasonal staple at Firestone Walker dating back to the inaugural release in 2006. The recipe has evolved over the years, but recent tweaks have taken the beer to new heights.

A portion of the beer is lagered in French oak barrels inherited from one of Napa Valley’s top cult wineries. The barrels are stored at a temperature of 3°C for optimal lagering conditions. Meanwhile, the ingredients are decidedly German: Weyermann Vienna malt, Weyermann pilsner malt, noble German hops (Tradition and Spalter Select) and classic 34/70 Weihenstephan lager yeast.

Oaktoberfest’s light amber color foreshadows its toasty, biscuity flavor. The oak-barrel lagering allows for an even smoother texture, all while remaining true to the beer’s crisp malt profile and hints of noble hops.

“Oaktoberfest is rich in flavor but also light-bodied and easy to drink,” Brynildson said. “Which makes it enjoyable on warm and cool days alike.”

About Firestone Walker

Founded by brothers-in-law Adam Firestone and David Walker in 1996, Firestone Walker Brewing Company is a California beer company with three innovative brewing facilities. Firestone Walker’s main brewery in Paso Robles produces a diverse portfolio ranging from iconic pale ales to vintage barrel-aged beers. The Barrelworks facility in Buellton makes eccentric wild ales, while the Propagator pilot brewhouse in Venice specializes in R&D beers and limited local offerings. Firestone Walker is also the brewery behind 805, one of the nation’s fastest-growing beers. Firestone Walker was recently named “Best American Brewery of the Decade” by Paste Magazine.

For Brewing fun facts, trivia, movies and more, Click Here.

2023 Great American Beer Festival

August 14, 2023 by Dow Scoggins

Tickets for the Great American Beer Festival® (GABF) are on sale now for the 2023 event. GABF, hosted by the Brewers Association, the trade organization representing small and independent craft brewers, will return to the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado, on Sept. 21-23.

With a legacy of bringing the community together, dazzling tastebuds, and celebrating those who pour their hearts into every pint, the 2023 Great American Beer Festival is an event not to be missed. Over four (4) sessions, attendees will:

Taste a kaleidoscope of flavors, styles, and innovative beverages from hundreds of breweries across the nation
Receive a commemorative, collectible, tasting glass
Enjoy tons of entertainment, including live music, games, silent disco, karaoke, live music, and more
Partake in GABF traditions, such as the bagpiper event kick-off, giveaways, and daily costume contests
Speak to and learn from industry experts and brewers via seminars and other educational opportunities

Every year, GABF boasts the highest concentration of American beer on the planet. This year, beer lovers will enjoy beverages poured by the likes of Allagash Brewing Company, Breakside Brewery, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Russian River Brewing Co, The Lost Abbey, WeldWerks Brewing Co., and hundreds more. While the star of GABF is beer, attendees will be excited to know that this year, select breweries will also pour the nation’s finest “beyond beer” beverages: hard seltzer, kombucha, mead, and cider. If there’s a specific brewery you’d like to see at GABF, you can nominate them here.

For foodies attending GABF and those looking for a truly special experience, the VIP Experience ticket includes access to PAIRED®, which unites independent craft breweries with acclaimed chefs from across the country, resulting in uniquely designed small bites perfectly paired with craft beer found nowhere else at the festival.

Don’t miss this celebration of beer! Tickets are available for anyone of legal drinking age (21+) at www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com.

About the Brewers Association
The Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers, and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The BA represents 5,600-plus U.S. breweries. The BA’s independent craft brewer seal is a widely adopted symbol that differentiates beers by small and independent craft brewers. The BA organizes events including the World Beer Cup^®, Great American Beer Festival^®, Craft Brewers Conference^® & BrewExpo America^®, National Homebrew Competition, and American Craft Beer Week^®. The BA publishes The New Brewer^® magazine, and Brewers Publications^® is the leading publisher of brewing literature in the U.S. Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com^® and about homebrewing via the American Homebrewers Association^®. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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 13672 and the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.

2023 National Homebrew Competition Medal Winners

June 26, 2023 by Dow Scoggins

Photo credit of PHOTO © BREWERS ASSOCIATION

San Diego — The American Homebrewers Association® (AHA)—the national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the hobby of homebrewing—announced the winners of the 2023 National Homebrew Competition (NHC) during its annual Homebrew Con™ conference in San Diego. 120 medals in 40 categories were awarded for the most outstanding homemade beer, mead, and cider. Six major awards recognizing overall brewing excellence were also presented.

The NHC has long been recognized as the world’s largest stage for amateur homebrewers to showcase their skills, creativity, and passion for the craft of fermentation. The 2023 competition received 4,335 entries from 1,708 homebrewers across 50 states, Washington, D.C., and 13 countries. 164,105 entries have been evaluated since the inaugural AHA National Homebrew Competition in 1979 in Boulder, Colo.

MOST-ENTERED STYLE CATEGORIES
The winners of the most-entered categories were:

MAJOR AWARDS
In addition to category style awards, six major awards recognizing overall brewing excellence were presented.

Homebrewer of the Year Award – Sponsored by Muntons
Recognizes the best-of-show beer judged from all gold medal winners in all beer categories.
John Heasley | Portland, OR | The Brewing Network

Cidermaker of the Year Award – Sponsored by Woodchuck Hard Cider
Recognizes the best-of-show cider judged from all gold medal winners in the cider categories.
James Werner | New Berlin, WI | Beer Barons of Milwaukee

Meadmaker of the Year Award – Sponsored by Redstone Meadery
Recognizes the best-of-show mead judged from all gold medal winners in the mead categories.
Shane Kammerer | Shawnee, KS | Kansas City Bier Meisters

Samuel Adams Ninkasi Award – Sponsored by Samuel Adams
Recognizes the entrant who accumulates the most points in the final round of competition.
Richard Shoff | Baldwinsville, NY

Gambrinus Club Award – Sponsored by Fermentis
Recognizes the club garnering the most final round points per total club entries.
New York City Homebrewers Guild | New York, NY

Homebrew Club of the Year Award – Sponsored by Briess Malt & Ingredients Co.
Awarded to the club accumulating the most total points in all categories of beer, mead, and cider in the final round of competition.
Kansas City Bier Meisters | Kansas City, KS

“The impressive quality of entries from this year’s winners demonstrated immense dedication, innovation, and skill in the art of homebrewing. These creations captivated the taste buds of the judges, showcased a diverse range of flavors, and set the standard for excellence in fermentation,” said Chris Williams, competition director. “Congratulations to the 2023 National Homebrew Competition winners!”

A complete list of winners of the 2023 National Homebrew Competition can be found here.

HOMEBREW CON
Homebrew Con, the nation’s largest annual gathering of brewing and fermentation enthusiasts, returned sunny San Diego, where more than 1,300 American Homebrewers Association members attended the three-day conference for good brews, good vibes, and brew-IQ-boosting sessions. The AHA awarded the following for outstanding contributions to the homebrewing community.

ANNUAL RECOGNITION AWARDS

Radegast Club of the Year Award – Sponsored by Yakima Chief Hops
Awarded to a homebrew club for its efforts with community outreach and spreading the joys of homebrewing.
Horsemen of the Hopocalypse |Fort Worth, Texas

Homebrew Shop of the Year Award – Sponsored by BSG HandCraft
Awarded to homebrew supply shops on the merits of community support, education, customer service and engagement, promotion of homebrewing, and responsible business practices.
Patriot Brewery & Homebrew Supply | Elkhorn, Neb.

American Homebrewers Association Governing Committee Award
Awarded for outstanding service to the community of homebrewers.
Drew Beechum | Pasadena, Calif.

“To the participants, judges, sponsors, competition organizers, and volunteers who made this year’s Homebrew Con a resounding success, we say thank you. Cheers and congratulations to all the winners for making some of the world’s best homebrew,” said Julia Herz, AHA executive director.

Here are all the medal Winners:

Category 1: Pale American Beer
Gold: Mike Gallagher of Charleston, SC Lowcountry Libations
Silver: Caleb Meinke of Cambridge, WI Madison Homebrewers & Tasters
Bronze: Evan Brill of Louisville, KY Louisville Area Grain and Extract Research Society (LAGERS)

Category 2: Pale European Beer
Gold: Metts Potter of Morrow, OH Bloatarian Brewing League
Silver: Wayne Doucette of Big Lake, MN River City Brewers
Bronze: Jason Lorenz of Taylor, MI Motor City Mashers

Category 3: Pilsner
Gold: Jared Aumen of Ann Arbor, MI Ann Arbor Brewers Guild
Silver: Robby Narquis of Richland, WA
Bronze: Gregory Rinehardt of Abingdon, VA Stooges Brew Club

Category 4: Pale Malty European Beer
Gold: Alex Rezmerski of Louisville, KY Louisville Area Grain and Extract Research Society (LAGERS)
Silver: Chad Medford of Moore, OK Red Earth Brewers
Bronze: Jonathan Hughes of Moses Lake, WA

Category 5: Amber European Beer
Gold: Shane Sprague of Irvine, CA with Chris Kohl OC Mashups
Silver: Andy Cox of Wilton, CT Underground Brewers of Connecticut
Bronze: Nicholas LaFond of Saint Anne, IL

Category 6: Dark European Lager
Gold: Jason Dunn of Corona, CA Inland Empire Brewers
Silver: Robert Abbott of Chester, NH Brewtubers Online Brew Club
Bronze: Jason Slaasted of Caledonia, WI with Eric Lewis

Category 7: American Wheat & Blonde
Gold: Bryce Hunter of Grand Rapids, MI QUAFF
Silver: Rodolfo Valladares of Kansas City, KS Kansas City Bier Meisters
Bronze: Zach Kosslow of Pittsburgh, PA Three Rivers Alliance of Serious Homebrewers

Category 8: German Wheat & Rye Beer
Gold: Joseph Hirtz of Valrico, FL Brandon Bootleggers Homebrew Club
Silver: Dustin Striplin of Tacoma, WA with Jamie Striplin Browns Point Homebrew Club
Bronze: Paul Brown of Pinole, CA Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE)

Category 9: Pale British Ale
Gold: Mark Kunzelmann of Saint Louis, MO St. Louis Brews
Silver: 12A Alex Cigan of Brooklyn, NY New York City Homebrewers Guild
Bronze: 11C Dann Searcy of Kansas City, MO with Sally Crosson Kansas City Bier Meisters

Category 10: Scottish & Irish Ale
Gold: Richard Shoff of Baldwinsville, NY
Silver: James Matthews of Arnold, MO
Bronze: John Huhn of Springfield, MO Zymurgists of the Ozarks

Category 11: American Pale Ale
Gold: Brandon Holt of San Diego, CA with Kevin Holt QUAFF
Silver: Russell Berger of Portland, OR Portland Brewers Collective
Bronze: Steve Gardner of Greenville, SC

Category 12: Amber & Brown American Ale
Gold: Mike Butler of Olathe, KS with Stephanie Butler Kansas City Bier Meisters
Silver: Keith Wright of Mustang, OK Red Earth Brewers
Bronze: Bob Rouse of College Park, MD

Category 13: Brown British Beer
Gold: Stephen Schmitt of Evanston, IL Evanston Homebrew Club
Silver: Mike Gallagher of Charleston, SC Lowcountry Libations
Bronze: Dann Searcy of Kansas City, MO with Sally Crosson Kansas City Bier Meisters

Category 14: Irish & British Stout
Gold: Chris Hunter of Martinsville, IN Artesian Homebrewers
Silver: Richard Shoff of Baldwinsville, NY with Richard Shoff
Bronze: Christopher Johnson of San Diego, CA QUAFF

Category 15: American Porter & Stout
Gold: Christian Chandler of Chandler, AZ Arizona Society of Homebrewers
Silver: Mike Rousseau of Charleston, SC
Bronze: Brian Smith of Pottstown, PA Bruclear Homebrew Club

Category 16: American IPA
Gold: Christopher Burgess of Castle Rock, CO 39N Homebrewers
Silver: Nicholas McCoy of Sachse, TX Draft Punk
Bronze: John & Stephanie Meerse of Simsbury, CT

Category 17: Specialty IPA
Gold: Robert Knipper of San Marcos, CA Society of Barley Engineers
Silver: Kevin & Kazuko Masaryk of San Diego, CA QUAFF
Bronze: Kevin Kiernan of Washington, DC DC Homebrewers

Category 18: Hazy IPA
Gold: Jon Dieter of Concord, OH Brewly Homebrew Club
Silver: Peter Cooke of Bridgewater, NJ Garden State Homebrewers (GSHomebrewers)
Bronze: David Howell of Springfield, MO Them Beer Knobbers

Category 19: Strong American Ale
Gold: Larry & Donna Reuter of Akron, OH Society of Akron Area Zymurgists (SAAZ)
Silver: Michael Moody of Jacksonville, OR
Bronze: Simon Svensson of Molnlycke, Sweden

Category 20: Strong European Lager
Gold: Kevin Olson of Raymore, MO ZZHops Homebrewing Club
Silver: Stephanie Butler of Olathe, KS with Mike Butler Kansas City Bier Meisters
Bronze: Andy Cox of Wilton, CT Underground Brewers of Connecticut

Category 21: Strong British Ale
Gold: Lucas Orr of San Diego, CA QUAFF
Silver: Jim Satin of Brooklyn, MI Ann Arbor Brewers Guild
Bronze: Kenneth Berry of McKinleyville, CA Humboldt Homebrewers

Category 22: Imperial Porter & Stout
Gold: John Heasley of Portland, OR The Brewing Network
Silver: Frank Wilkinson of Ambler, PA
Bronze: Tim Bickel of Oklahoma City, OK Red Earth Brewers

Category 23: Saison
Gold: Keith Blanchard of Chatham Township, NJ Morris Area Society of Homebrewers
Silver: Daniel Kukuk of Detroit, MI Motor City Mashers
Bronze: Jon Weaver of Naples, FL

Category 24: Belgian Ale
Gold: Phil LaFleur of Loveland, CO Weizguys Homebrew Club
Silver: Duane Jenness of Worcester, MA WIZARDS
Bronze: Matt & Courtney Castellino of Thousand Oaks, CA with Todd Slater Thousand Oaks Homebrewers

Category 25: Strong Belgian Ale
Gold: Duke Austerberry of Ferndale, MI
Silver: Jose Gutierrez of Edwards, CA Brewing Enthusiasts of the Antelope Valley Region (BEAVR)
Bronze: Mike Johnson of Salt Lake City, UT Zion Zymurgist Homebrew OPerative Society

Category 26: European Sour Ale
Gold: Jeff Bair of Kansas City, MO with Jeff Bair
Silver: Joshua Cotton of Brooklyn, NY New York City Homebrewers Guild
Bronze: Kevin Wojdak of Elk Grove Village, IL Urban Knaves of Grain

Category 27: Fruit Beer
Gold: Jamye & Cody Naramore of Quenemo, KS Kansas City Bier Meisters
Silver: Will Dull of Apopka, FL Brew Club of Seminole County
Bronze: Jose Gomera of East Patchogue, NY with Albania Morales

Category 28: Spiced Beer
Gold: Jonathan Eckles of Savannah, GA Savannah Brewers League
Silver: James Brameyer of Mount Airy, MD
Bronze: Rob Hardisty of Fort Collins, CO Liquid Poets

Category 29: Seasonal Spiced Beer
Gold: Jason Bryant of Herndon, VA Wort Hogs
Silver: Scott Rauvola of San Diego, CA QUAFF
Bronze: Joel McGormley of Zionsville, IN

Category 30: Smoke-Flavored Beer
Gold: Randy Daniels of Des Moines, IA with KC McKinney Iowa Brewers Union
Silver: Keith Loats of Seven Hills, OH
Bronze: Michael Beck of Griffith, IN Illiana Beer Rackers Union (IBRU)

Category 31: Wood-Aged Beer
Gold: David Moore of Carlsbad, CA with David Harbick QUAFF
Silver: Joel McGormley of Zionsville, IN
Bronze: Mark DeBreaux of Wimberley, TX

Category 32: American Wild Ale
Gold: Sean Thomson of Denver, CO The Brew Crew
Silver: Billy & Theresa Wilks of San Diego, CA
Bronze: Dwayne Haynes of APO, AE

Category 33: Specialty Beer
Gold: Mike Butler of Olathe, KS with Stephanie Butler Kansas City Bier Meisters
Silver: Brian Stulak of Palm Harbor, FL Pinellas Urban Brewers (PUB) Guild
Bronze: Peter Graham of Fishers, IN

Category 34: Traditional Mead
Gold: Steve Fletty of Falcon Heights, MN Saint Paul Homebrewers Club
Silver: Michael Wilcox of Wichita, KS Kansas City Bier Meisters
Bronze: Shane & Susan Kammerer of Shawnee, KS Kansas City Bier Meisters

Category 35: Cyser & Pyment
Gold: John Pagano of Carpinteria, CA
Silver: M2A Ashley Earle of Concord, CA Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE)
Bronze: M2B Stephen Wilson of Syracuse, NY

Category 36: Fruit Mead
GoldM: Shane & Susan Kammerer of Shawnee, KS Kansas City Bier Meisters
Silver: Steve Fletty of Falcon Heights, MN Saint Paul Homebrewers Club
Bronze: Bill Boyer of Kennesaw, GA North Georgia Malt Monkeys

Category 37: Spice Mead
Gold: Travis Hammond of Santee, CA QUAFF
Silver: Matthew Mead of Grand Rapids, MI Michigan Mead Coalition
Bronze: John Aitchison of Northridge, CA Maltose Falcons

Category 38: Specialty Mead
Gold: Todd Donnelly of Chardon, OH Society of Northeast Ohio Brewers
Silver: Steve Fletty of Falcon Heights, MN Saint Paul Homebrewers Club
Bronze: LaVaughn & Yakima Barker of Brookfield, WI

Category 39: Standard Cider & Perry
Gold: Annie Johnson of Seattle, WA North Seattle Homebrewers
Silver: Richard Shoff of Baldwinsville, NY
Bronze: Jeff Carlson of Grand Rapids, MI PrimeTime Brewers

Category 40: Specialty Cider & Perry
Gold: James Werner of New Berlin, WI Beer Barons of Milwaukee
Silver: Jeff Carlson of Grand Rapids, MI PrimeTime Brewers
Bronze: Jeff Carlson of Grand Rapids, MI PrimeTime Brewers

The 2023 National Homebrew Competition and Homebrew Con were made possible in part by the generous support of sponsors.

About the American Homebrewers Association:
The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) has worked on behalf of the homebrewing community since 1978 and celebrates a membership of more than 36,000 homebrewers. The AHA organizes events including the Homebrew Con™, National Homebrew Competition, Big Brew for National Homebrew Day, and Learn to Homebrew Day. The AHA also publishes Zymurgy®, the longest-running magazine for homebrewers. The AHA is part of the Brewers Association®, whose Brewers Publications® division is the leading publisher of contemporary and relevant brewing literature for today’s craft brewers and homebrewers. Beer lovers, fermentation fans, and anyone interested in making their own homemade beer are invited to learn more at HomebrewersAssociation.org. Follow the AHA on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

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.

2023 World Beer Cup Medal Winners

May 11, 2023 by Dow Scoggins

Nashville, Tennessee(2023)—The Brewers Association (BA)—the not-for-profit trade group dedicated to promoting and protecting America’s small and independent craft brewers—recognized 307 winners during the 2023 World Beer Cup (WBC) awards ceremony on May 10, 2023.

The best beers in 103 beer categories covering 176 different beer styles (including all subcategories) received gold, silver, and bronze awards, setting new standards for craft beer globally. Judging for the World Beer Cup took place over 18 sessions and 9 days. A panel of 272 judges from 26 countries evaluated 10,213 entries from 2,376 breweries representing 51 countries.

“The World Beer Cup brings together the finest brewers and beers from around the globe and celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and passion for great beer,” said Chris Williams, World Beer Cup competition director. “Receiving a World Beer Cup award is a testament to quality and innovation, and we commend this year’s winners for setting the bar higher than ever.”

2023 World Beer Cup Medal Winners

Category 1: American Wheat Beer – 63 Entries
Gold: Taildragger 5G, Saddle Mountain Brewing Co., Goodyear, AZ
Silver: Meister, Eppig Brewing, Vista, CA
Bronze: Miner’s Gold, Lewis & Clark Brewing Co., Helena, MT

Category 2: Fruit Beer – 77 Entries
Gold: Yuzu KSA, Fort Point Beer Co., San Francisco, CA
Silver: Limelight, Epidemic Ales, Concord, CA
Bronze: Norma Jeane, Five Stones Artisan Brewery, New Braunfels, TX

Category 3: Fruit Wheat Beer – 96 Entries
Gold: Slice of Paradise Yuzu Wheat, BREWHALL, Vancouver, Canada
Silver: Sunny Little Thing, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. – Mills River, NC
Bronze: Spring Valley Jazzberry, Spring Valley Brewery,
Kyoto, Japan

Category 4: Field Beer – 78 Entries
Gold: Cucumber Crush, 10 Barrel Brewing Co. – Bend Pub, Bend, OR
Silver: Beets, Town Square Brewing Co., Edmonton, Canada
Bronze: Imperial Peanuts & Crackerjack, The Mitten Brewing Co.,
Grand Rapids, MI

Category 5: Pumpkin Beer – 37 Entries
Gold: Pumpkin Ale, Backpocket Brewing, Coralville, IA
Silver: Pumpkinator, Saint Arnold Brewing Co., Houston, TX
Bronze: Jack O’Lantern Ale, Bond’s Brewing Co., Laramie, WY

Category 6: Chili Beer – 66 Entries
Gold: Yellow Fever, Comrade Brewing Co., Denver, CO
Silver: Kimchi Sour, Dokkaebier, Oakland, CA
Bronze: Oaxaca Choca Mexican Chocolate Stout, New Realm Brewing
Co. – Charleston, SC

Category 7: Herb and Spice Beer – 103 Entries
Gold: Pumpernickel Porter, Vintage Brewing Co., Sauk City, WI
Silver: Fore!, Meanwhile Brewing Co., Austin, TX
Bronze: Shaketown Grisette W/ Szechuan Peppercorns, Shaketown
Brewing, North Vancouver, Canada

Category 8: Chocolate Beer – 68 Entries
Gold: Midnight Hike, River North Brewery – RiNo, Denver, CO
Silver: Chocolate Stout, Fort Myers Brewing Co., Fort Myers, FL
Bronze: German Chocolate Cake, D9 Brewing Co., Huntersville, NC

Category 9: Coffee Beer – 74 Entries
Gold: Daybreak, Wolf’s Ridge Brewing – Production Operations,
Columbus, OH
Silver: Neckar Coffee Oatmeal Brown, Sockeye Brewing, Boise, ID
Bronze: Alchemist Breakfast, Flying Basset Brewing, Gilbert, AZ

Category 10: Coffee Stout or Porter – 110 Entries
Gold: Brunch Stout, Beale’s Beer, Bedford, VA
Silver: Mocha Cow, Sunriver Brewing Co., Sunriver, OR
Bronze: Coffee Roasters, Uhl’s Brewing Co., Boulder, CO
Winners List

Category 11: Specialty Beer – 41 Entries
Gold: Imperial Maple Sunday, Lone Pine Brewing Co. – Portland
Taproom, Portland, ME
Silver: Mad River Maple, Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield, VT
Bronze: Coco Burrito Supreme, Shoe Tree Brewing Co. – Minden,
Minden, NV

Category 12: Rye Beer – 58 Entries
Gold: The Hills Have Ryes, Spearfish Brewing Co., Spearfish, SD
Silver: Philly Special, Clandestine Brewing, San Jose, CA
Bronze: Pecan Street Rye Lager, Pecan Street Brewing, Johnson City, TX

Category 13: Honey Beer – 60 Entries
Gold: BeeLoved, 10 Barrel Brewing Co. – Bend Pub, Bend, OR
Silver: Smashing Honey Blonde, Hoppin’ Frog Brewery, Akron, OH
Bronze: Basic B@tch, My Yard Live Beer Co., San Marcos, CA

Category 14: Non-Alcohol Beer – 146 Entries
Gold: Superb-Owl, Uiltje Brewing Co., Haarlem, Netherlands
Silver: Just the Haze, Boston Beer Co.–Samuel Adams Brewing Co.,
Boston, MA
Bronze: Galactic Extra Dark, Big Drop Brewing Co., Wilmington, DE

Category 15: Session Beer or Belgian-Style Table Beer – 60 Entries
Gold: First To Fall, The Good Society Brewery & Public House, Seattle, WA
Silver: OG Kush, Roadhouse Brewing Co. – The Pub and Eatery,
Jackson, WY
Bronze: Oblique & Bent, The Big Friendly, Oklahoma City, OK

Category 16: Session India Pale Ale – 116 Entries
Gold: Wild Gravity, Bend Brewing Co., Bend, OR
Silver: Trump Hands, Cannonball Creek Brewing Co., Golden, CO
Bronze: Summatime, 603 Brewery, Londonderry, NH

Category 17: Strong Porter – 66 Entries
Gold: Baltic Porter, State 48 Brewery, Phoenix, AZ
Silver: Lampshade Porter, Starr Brothers Brewing Co., Albuquerque, NM
Bronze: Prussian River – Baltic Porter, 14 Cannons Brewing Co., Westlake
Village, CA

Category 18: Other Strong Beer – 35 Entries
Gold: Superswell, Pelican Brewing Co. – Tillamook, Tillamook, OR
Silver: Deluxe, Silver City Brewery, Bremerton, WA
Bronze: Snowburn, River North Brewery – RiNo, Denver, CO

Category 19: Experimental Beer – 104 Entries
Gold: Abrette Sésamo #1, Juguetes Perdidos, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Silver: Japanese Rice Lager, Hi-Wire Brewing – South Slope Specialty
Brewery, Asheville, NC
Bronze: Hop Stalker, Fat Head’s Brewery & Saloon, North Olmsted, OH

Category 20: Experimental India Pale Ale – 116 Entries
Silver: Sky Flowers IPA, Mountains Walking Brewery, Bozeman, MT
Bronze: Voodoo Ranger Juice Force IPA, New Belgium Brewing Co.
– Asheville, Asheville, NC

Category 21: Experimental Wood-Aged Beer – 50 Entries
Gold: Golden Fungi, IMBIB Custom Brews, Reno, NV
Silver: Apple Pomace Puncheon, Angel City Brewery, Los Angeles, CA
Bronze: Soul Shakedown Party, Sun King Brewery- Indianapolis,
Indianapolis, IN

Category 22: Historical Beer – 52 Entries
Gold: Decorah Nordic Gruit, PIVO Brewery, Calmar, IA
Silver: Two Teef, Guanella Pass Brewing Co., Georgetown, CO
Bronze: Katie’s Love Poem, Switchback Brewing Co., Burlington, VT

Category 23: Gluten-Free Beer – 56 Entries
Gold: Ghostfish 8th Anniversary Beer, Ghostfish Brewing Co., Seattle, WA
Silver: Seven Spice Anniversary Saison, Holidaily Brewing Co., Golden, CO
Bronze: Ripped Jeans and Wolf Shirts, ALT Brew, Madison, WI

Category 24: American-Belgo-Style Ale – 44 Entries
Gold: Doris’ Jaguar, BREW CLASSIC, Kanazawa City, Japan
Silver: Trappist in Paradise, 49th State Brewing, Anchorage, AK
Bronze: Beer for the Soul, Sketchbook Brewing Co., Evanston, IL

Category 25: American-Style Sour Ale – 167 Entries
Gold: Poolside Chill, Escape Brewing Co., Trinity, FL
Silver: Midnight Jam, Golden Road Brewery, Los Angeles, CA
Bronze: Deck Jockey, Bauhaus Brew Labs, Minneapolis, MN

Category 26: Brett Beer – 62 Entries
Gold: Four Threads, Cinderlands Beer Co. – Foederhouse, Pittsburgh, PA
Silver: Templin Family Tripple Brett, Templin Family Brewing,
Salt Lake City, UT
Bronze: Saison 750.3, Kros Strain Brewing Co., La Vista, NE

Category 27: Mixed-Culture Brett Beer – 65 Entries
Gold: Knitting Circle S3 Batch C, Fair Isle Brewing, Seattle, WA
Silver: Barrel Farm, Monday Night Brewing – Garage, Atlanta, GA
Bronze: Tove, Fair Isle Brewing, Seattle, WA

Category 28: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer – 58 Entries
Gold: Ginette, Jessup Farm Barrel House, Fort Collins, CO
Silver: Temporary Paradise, Bull & Bush Brewery, Denver, CO
Bronze: Sensationator, Deschutes Brewery & Public House –
Portland, OR

Category 29: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer – 168 Entries
Gold: Old Chungus, Confluence Brewing Co., Des Moines, IA
Silver: Bass Clef, HiDef Brewing, Los Angeles, CA
Bronze: Old E, But a Good E, Big Dog’s Brewing Co., Las Vegas, NV

Category 30: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout – 202 Entries
Gold: Big Mistake, 11 Below Brewing Co., Houston, TX
Silver: BA Sexual Chocolate, Foothills Brewing, Winston-Salem, NC
Bronze: Vladislav, Diebolt Brewing Co., Denver, CO
Winners List

Category 31: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer – 39 Entries
Gold: Scots Gone Wild, Real Ale Brewing Co., Blanco, TX
Silver: Golden Sour, Austin Beerworks, Austin, TX
Bronze: Dark Daze, Lovibonds Brewery, Henley-on-Thames, United
Kingdom

Category 32: Fruited Wood- and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer – 60 Entries
Gold: Margot, Lamplighter Brewing Co., Cambridge, MA
Silver: Something Something Something Dark Sour, Prison City
Brewing, Auburn, NY
Bronze: Golden Girls, Sun King Brewery – Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN

Category 33: Kellerbier or Zwickelbier – 88 Entries
Gold: Keller Pils, Lost and Grounded Brewers, Bristol, United Kingdom
Silver: Taiyo no Lager, Miyazaki Hideji Beer Co., Nobeoka, Japan
Bronze: Schlappeseppel Kellerbier, Eder & Heylands Brauerei,
Großostheim, Germany

Category 34: Smoke Beer – 98 Entries
Gold: Unearthing the Orb, Resolute Brewing Co., Centennial, CO
Silver: Smokehaus Bock, Devils Backbone Basecamp Brewpub &
Meadows, Roseland, VA
Bronze: Colossal 2, Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA

Category 35: International Light Lager – 220 Entries
Gold: Anne Bonny, Corsaire – Microbrasserie Pirate, Lévis, Canada
Silver: 3Speed, Amsterdam Brewing Co., Toronto, Canada
Bronze: Ultra Secret Enigma, Liability Brewing Co., Greenville, SC

Category 36: International Pilsener – 129 Entries
Gold: Little Wing, Horse Thief Hollow Brewing Co., Chicago, IL
Silver: Mexican Lager, Silver Bluff Brewing Co., Brunswick, GA
Bronze: Icicle Premium Pilsner, Icicle Brewing Co., Leavenworth, WA

Category 37: International Lager – 97 Entries
Gold: Japanese Lager, pFriem Family Brewers, Hood River, OR
Silver: KQ Express, Topa Topa Brewing Co. – HQ, Ventura, CA
Bronze: You’re a Funny Guy, The Empourium Brewing Co., Denver, CO

Category 38: Hoppy Lager – 168 Entries
Gold: Imagine 14 Years, Freetail Brewing Co., San Antonio, TX
Silver: Lasso Pils, Pinthouse Brewing, Austin, TX
Bronze: Spaghetti Handshake, Lenny Boy Brewing Co., Charlotte, NC

Category 39: International Dark Lager – 154 Entries
Gold: Basic Ought, Basic City Beer Co., Waynesboro, VA
Silver: Mother in Lager, Karbach Brewing Co., Houston, TX
Bronze: Tmavé Pivo, Ten Eyck Brewing Co., Queenstown, MD

Category 40: German-Style Pilsener – 233 Entries
Gold: Pils, Von Ebert Brewing – Pearl, Portland, OR
Silver: Dollar Pils Y’all, Holler Brewing Co., Houston, TX
Bronze: Bibo, Creature Comforts Brewing Co. – Southern Mills, Athens, GA

Category 41: Bohemian-Style Pilsener – 160 Entries
Gold: Polaris Pilsner, Chainline Brewing Co., Kirkland, WA
Silver: Bohemian Pilsner, von Trapp Brewing, Stowe, VT
Bronze: Tahoe Pilz, FiftyFifty Brewing Co., Truckee, CA

Category 42: Munich-Style Helles – 178 Entries
Gold: Tates Helles, Oyster City Brewing Co., Apalachicola, FL
Silver: Helles, Utepils Brewing, Minneapolis, MN
Bronze: Chuckanut Helles, Chuckanut Brewery, Burlington, WA

Category 43: Dortmunder/Export or German-Style Oktoberfest – 66
Entries
Gold: Festbier, Brick West Brewing Co., Spokane, WA
Silver: Gatlin Gold, Gatlin Hall Brewing, Orlando, FL
Bronze: Bobber Lager, Logboat Brewing Co., Columbia, MO

Category 44: Vienna-Style Lager – 109 Entries
Gold: Ramstein Northern Hills Amber Lager, High Point Brewing Co.,
Butler, NJ
Silver: Austrian Dreams, Ornery Beer Co., Fairfax, VA
Bronze: V for Vienna, Ex Novo Brewing Co. – Corrales, Corrales, NM

Category 45: German-Style Maerzen or Franconian-Style Rotbier –
83 Entries
Gold: Capri-derhosen, Quarter Celtic Brewpub, Albuquerque, NM
Silver: Strange Fest, Strange Craft Beer Co., Denver, CO
Bronze: Full Quiver Märzen, Black Hoof Brewing Co., Leesburg, VA

Category 46: German-Style Schwarzbier – 115 Entries
Gold: Schwarzbier, Incendiary Brewing Co. – Westbend, Lewisville, NC
Silver: Black Hoodie, Faction Brewing, Alameda, CA
Bronze: Miner, Czig Meister Brewing Co., Hackettstown, NJ

Category 47: German-Style Bock or Maibock – 96 Entries
Gold: ChewBOCKa, Confluence Brewing Co., Des Moines, IA
Silver: Nose Over Tail, Pollyanna Brewing Co. – Lemont, Lemont, IL
Bronze: Redvolution, Birrificio Otus, Bergamo, Italy

Category 48: German-Style Doppelbock or Eisbock – 102 Entries
Gold: Emulator, 3rd Planet Brewing, Niceville, FL
Silver: Execrator, Resolute Brewing Co., Centennial, CO
Bronze: Lucubrator Dopplebock, Occidental Brewing Co., Portland, OR

Category 49: American-Style Lager – 105 Entries
Gold: Tahoe American Lager, FiftyFifty Brewing Co., Truckee, CA
Silver: Down South, Appalachian Mountain Brewery – Boone,
Boone, NC
Bronze: Cole’s Lager, Wild Ride Brewing, Redmond, OR

Category 50: Contemporary American-Style Lager – 97 Entries
Gold: Macroeconomics, Columbia Craft Brewing Co., Columbia, SC
Silver: Base Camp LagerBier, Upward Brewing Co., Livingston Manor, NY
Bronze: Blackberry Smoke American Lager, New Realm Brewing Co. –
Atlanta, Atlanta, GA

Category 51: American-Style Pilsener – 104 Entries
Gold: O.G Pils, von C Brewing, Norristown, PA
Silver: Party Pils, Boomtown Brewery, Los Angeles, CA
Bronze: Happy Little Clouds, Cloudburst Brewing, Seattle, WA

Category 52: American-Style Cream Ale – 121 Entries
Gold: Cheetah, Rhinegeist Brewery, Cincinnati, OH
Silver: Was Angeles Craft Lager, Uinta Brewing, Salt Lake City, UT
Bronze: El Sully, 21st Amendment Brewery, San Leandro, CA

Category 53: American-Style Amber Lager – 87 Entries
Gold: Bruski, Noon Whistle Brewing, Lombard, IL
Silver: Hometown Lager, Second Pitch Beer Co., San Antonio, TX
Bronze: La Original, Cerveceria La Tropical, Miami, FL

Category 54: Australian-Style Pale Ale – 66 Entries
Gold: Feel Good, Blue Point Brewing Co., Patchogue, NY
Silver: Elevated, Arts District Brewing Co., Los Angeles, CA
Bronze: Oceano, Pizza Port Carlsbad, Carlsbad, CA

Category 55: International Pale Ale – 98 Entries
Gold: Pale 586, Faction Brewing, Alameda, CA
Silver: Boo Koo, Mother Earth Brew Co., Vista, CA
Bronze: New Zealand Pale Ale, Station 26 Brewing Co., Denver, CO

Category 56: Extra Special Bitter – 54 Entries
Gold: Old Jalopy Pale Ale, Powell Brewery, Vancouver, Canada
Silver: Pub Ale, Pilot Brewing Co., Charlotte, NC
Bronze: Can of Worms, Necromancer Brewing Co., Pittsburgh, PA

Category 57: International India Pale Ale – 98 Entries
Gold: NZ-Fu!, North Park Beer Co., San Diego, CA
Silver: Spirit of the West, Westbound & Down Brewing Co., Idaho Springs, CO
Bronze: Tight Focus, Burgeon Beer Co., Carlsbad, CA

Category 58: Barley Wine-Style Ale – 71 Entries
Gold: Barleywine, Sooke Brewing Co., Sooke, Canada
Silver: Grow Old With You, Verboten Brewing & Barrel Project, Loveland, CO
Bronze: Three Ryes Men, Reuben’s Brews – Production Brewery, Seattle, WA

Category 59: German-Style Koelsch – 177 Entries
Gold: Voss, Sonder Brewing, Mason, OH
Silver: Kodiak Kolsch, Bear Chase Brewing Co., Bluemont, VA
Bronze: Ice Cutter Kölsch, Joyride Brewing Co., Edgewater, CO

Category 60: German-Style Sour Ale – 45 Entries
Gold: Berlin AlexanderPlatz, Hopfenstark Brewery, Lavaltrie, Canada
Silver: Baywindow, 10 Barrel Brewing Co., Bend, OR
Bronze: Gosé, Ponysaurus Brewing Co., Durham, NC

Category 61: Specialty Berliner-Style Weisse – 53 Entries
Gold: Gindulgence, 10 Barrel Brewing Co., Bend, OR
Silver: Commander Salamander, Spring House Brewing Co., Lancaster, PA
Bronze: Paloma Sour, Pizza Port Ocean Beach, San Diego, CA

Category 62: Contemporary Gose – 63 Entries
Gold: Aloha State of Mind, COVA Brewing Co., Norfolk, VA
Silver: Guava In Berlin!, Green Cheek Beer Co. – Costa Mesa, Costa
Mesa, CA
Bronze: Gose de Sandía & Melón, Jabalina Brewing Co., Buenos Aires,
Argentina

Category 63: South German-Style Hefeweizen – 164 Entries
Gold: Altstadt Hefe, Altstadt Brewery, Fredericksburg, TX
Silver: Flying W Hefeweizen, Little Dry Creek Brewery, Greenwood
Village, CO
Bronze: Fujizakura Kogen Beer Weizen, Fujizakura Heights Beer,
Minamitsuru-gun, Japan

Category 64: German-Style Wheat Ale – 23 Entries
Gold: Kristal Weizen, Bearded Tang Brewery, Stanton, CA
Silver: TAP7 Original, Schneider Weisse G. Schneider & Sohn, Kelheim,
Germany
Bronze: Hirsch Sport Weisse, Hirsch-Brauerei Honer, Wurmlingen,
Germany

Category 65: South German-Style Weizenbock – 27 Entries
Gold: AlpenGlow, Fat Head’s Brewery, Middleburg Heights, OH
Silver: Weihenstephaner Vitus, Bayerische Staatsbrauerei
Weihenstephan, Freising, Germany
Bronze: TAP6 Aventinus, Schneider Weisse G. Schneider & Sohn,
Kelheim, Germany

Category 66: German-Style Altbier – 63 Entries
Gold: Copper Alt., Zipline Brewing Co., Lincoln, NE
Silver: Easy Hour, Roaring Table Brewing Co., Lake Zurich, IL
Bronze: CCB German Alt, Canyon Creek Brewing, Billings, MT

Category 67: Belgian-Style Ale or French-Style Ale – 106 Entries
Gold: Seefbier, Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie, Antwerpen, Belgium
Silver: Trip d’automne, Siboire, Sherbrooke, Canada
Bronze: Gloria, Brix City Brewing, Little Ferry, NJ

Category 68: Belgian-Style Witbier – 109 Entries
Gold: White Rascal, Avery Brewing Co., Boulder, CO
Silver: Hoegaarden White, Hoegaarden, Hoegaarden, Belgium
Bronze: Optimal Wit, Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA

Category 69: Classic Saison – 73 Entries
Gold: Saaz Dryhopped Saison, 33 Brewing Experiment, Vancouver,
Canada
Silver: Juilletistes, Bruery Terreux, Placentia, CA
Bronze: Valor, Tooth and Nail Brewing Co., Ottawa, Canada

Category 70: Specialty Saison – 74 Entries
Gold: Mannenliefde, Oedipus Brewing, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Silver: Chakabuki, Yamori Shuzo, Kyoto, Japan
Bronze: Faithful and True, Sovereign Brewing, Seattle, WA

Category 71: Belgian-Style Sour Ale – 79 Entries
Gold: Vintage 2022, New Glarus Brewing Co., New Glarus, WI
Silver: Chance, Luck and Magic 2020, Garage Project, Wellington,
New Zealand
Bronze: Borealis, Lamplighter Brewing Co., Cambridge, MA

Category 72: Belgian-Style Abbey Ale – 98 Entries
Gold: Quad, Sugar Creek Brewing Co., Charlotte, NC
Silver: La Trappe Dubbel, Bierbrouwerij de Koningshoeven, Berkel-Enschot,
Netherlands
Bronze: Dad Bod Quad, Firestone Walker Barrelworks, Paso Robles, CA

Category 73: Belgian-Style Tripel – 98 Entries
Gold: Nectar Of The Gods, Redwood Brewing Co., Flint, MI
Silver: La Fin du Monde, Unibroue, Chambly, Canada
Bronze: 33 Acres of Euphoria, 33 Acres Brewing Co., Vancouver, Canada

Category 74: Belgian-Style Strong Specialty Ale – 96 Entries
Gold: Lit Out From Reno, Schussboom Brewing Co., Reno, NV
Silver: Gulpener IJsbock, Gulpener Bierbrouwerij, Gulpen, Netherlands
Bronze: Painted Devil, Bartlett Hall, San Francisco, CA

Category 75: Belgian Fruit Beer – 79 Entries
Gold: Central City Brewing Framboise, Central City Brewers and Distillers,
Surrey, Canada
Silver: Vieux Bois Lambic Inspired Ale w/ Cranberry & Raspberry, Bozeman
Brewing Co., Bozeman, MT
Bronze: Turtle Kriek, Peticolas Brewing Co., Dallas, TX

Category 76: English Mild or Bitter – 80 Entries
Gold: Drift, First Magnitude Brewing Co., Gainesville, FL
Silver: Sunday Bitter, Bucketty’s Brewing Co., Brookvale, Australia
Bronze: Amber Ale, Saint Arnold Brewing Co., Houston, TX

Category 77: English Ale – 43 Entries
Silver: Prickly Pear, Lewis & Clark Brewing Co., Helena, MT
Bronze: Sunshine Blonde, LazyG Brewhouse, Prescott, AZ

Category 78: English-Style Brown Ale – 62 Entries
Gold: Shhhhhh…This Is Ryan’s Award Winning Brown Ale, Green Cheek Beer
Co. – Costa Mesa, Costa Mesa, CA
Silver: Black Cats, Streetside Brewery, Cincinnati, OH
Bronze: Brown Ale, Grid City Beer Works, Salt Lake City, UT

Category 79: Brown Porter – 63 Entries
Gold: Brown Porter, Incendiary Brewing Co. – Westbend, Lewisville, NC
Silver: Old Normal, Bend Brewing Co., Bend, OR
Bronze: Slumber Car, Accomplice Beer Co., Cheyenne, WY

Category 80: Robust Porter – 85 Entries
Gold: Penn Quarter Porter, DC Brau Brewing Co., Washington, DC
Silver: YeongDeungPo-rter, BEERVANA Brewing Co., Seoul, Republic of Korea
Bronze: Porter, Big Timber Brewing Co., Elkins, WV
Category 81: Sweet Stout or Cream Stout – 58 Entries

Gold: 30 E Stout St, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant – Greenville,
Greenville, SC
Silver: Work of Heart, Canteen Brewhouse, Albuquerque, NM
Bronze: Higher Purpose, Third Eye Brewing Co., Sharonville, OH

Category 82: Oatmeal Stout – 66 Entries
Gold: Pure Imagination, Verboten Brewing & Barrel Project,
Loveland, CO
Silver: Event Horizon, SPACECRAFT Brewing Co., Bangkok, Thailand
Bronze: Night Maker, Fieldwork Brewing Co., Berkeley, CA

Category 83: British-Style Imperial Stout – 54 Entries
Gold: Others in Darkness, Verboten Brewing & Barrel Project,
Loveland, CO
Silver: Kill the Lights, The Tap Brewery, Bloomington, IN
Bronze: Big Deluxe, Ritual Brewing Co., Redlands, CA

Category 84: Old Ale or Strong Ale – 42 Entries
Gold: Olde Ale, AleSmith Brewing Co., San Diego, CA
Silver: Dirty Bastard, Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, MI
Bronze: Ol’ Beauty, Oregon City Brewing Co., Oregon City, OR

Category 85: Irish-Style Red Ale – 106 Entries
Gold: Equanimity, Ursa Minor Brewing, Duluth, MN
Silver: Red Ale Eddy, Brü Daddy’s Brewing Co., Allentown, PA
Bronze: Drake’s Irish Red Ale, Drake’s Brewing Co., San Leandro, CA

Category 86: Classic Irish-Style Dry Stout – 69 Entries
Gold: Lucky Four Leaf, Danville Brewing Co., Danville, CA
Silver: Olde 17 Irish Stout, Lion Bridge Brewing Co., Cedar Rapids, IA
Bronze: Feckin’ Oirish, Flix Brewhouse – El Paso, El Paso, TX

Category 87: Export Stout – 50 Entries
Gold: Silent Neighbor, Atlas Brew Works, Washington, DC
Silver: Starry Night Stout, Island Brewing Co., Carpinteria, CA
Bronze: Sinister Path, Eppig Brewing, Vista, CA

Category 88: Scottish-Style Ale – 57 Entries
Gold: The Fulkin, Half Batch Brewing, Hendersonville, TN
Silver: Taildragger Clan-Destine, Saddle Mountain Brewing Co.,
Goodyear, AZ
Bronze: Caber Tosser, Diamond X Beer Co., Billings, MT

Category 89: Scotch Ale – 66 Entries
Gold: Full Malted Jacket, Beachwood Brewing – Huntington Beach,
Huntington Beach, CA
Silver: Wee Heavy Wilson, MudHen Brewing Co., Wildwood, NJ
Bronze: Billy Boy’s Scotch Ale, Parkway Brewing Co., Salem, VA

Category 90: Golden or Blonde Ale – 150 Entries
Gold: Boone Creek Blonde, Appalachian Mountain Brewery – Boone,
Boone, NC
Silver: Big Thicket, White Rock Alehouse & Brewery, Dallas, TX
Bronze: Best Life, HenHouse Brewing Co., Santa Rosa, CA

Category 91: American-Style Pale Ale – 176 Entries
Gold: MadeWest Pale, MadeWest Brewing Co., Ventura, CA
Silver: Pale From The Crypt, Liquid Gravity Brewing Co., San Luis
Obispo, CA
Bronze: Papermaker Pale Ale, Grains of Wrath Brewing – Portland,
Portland, OR

Category 92: Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale – 153 Entries
Gold: Alpenhaze, Icicle Brewing Co., Leavenworth, WA
Silver: Muscle Memory, Cerebral Brewing – Congress Park, Denver, CO
Bronze: Queens & Sons Soft IPA, Kings & Daughters Brewery,
Clackamas, OR

Category 93: American-Style Strong Pale Ale – 154 Entries
Gold: Something Dank This Way Comes, Sunriver Brewing Co., Sunriver, OR
Silver: Breakside IPA, Breakside Brewery & Taproom, Milwaukie, OR
Bronze: You Have to Call Me Nighthawk, Joyride Brewing Co.,
Edgewater, CO

Category 94: Juicy or Hazy Strong Pale Ale – 147 Entries
Gold: Templin Family Squirrel!, Templin Family Brewing, Salt Lake City, UT
Silver: Fog Harvest, Armistice Brewing Co., Richmond, CA
Bronze: MadeWest Hazy IPA, MadeWest Brewing Co., Ventura, CA

Category 95: Imperial India Pale Ale – 144 Entries
Gold: Hoptomic, Morgan Territory Brewing, Tracy, CA
Silver: Double Cone, Alvarado Street Brewery – Monterey, CA
Bronze: A Permanent Case Of Senioritis, Green Cheek Beer Co.,
Orange, CA

Category 96: Juicy or Hazy Imperial India Pale Ale – 148 Entries
Gold: The Great Coneholio, Moonraker Brewing Co., Auburn, CA
Silver: High 9 Double IPA, Highland Park Brewery – Chinatown,
Los Angeles, CA
Bronze: Lost to History, Xül Beer Co., Knoxville, TN

Category 97: American-Style Amber/Red Ale – 143 Entries
Gold: Summon Ifrit, BattleMage Brewing Co., Vista, CA
Silver: Bugsy’s Fire Brush, Infamous Brewing Co., Austin, TX
Bronze: Yard Sale Ale, Tamarack Brewing Co., Lakeside, MT

Category 98: Strong Red Ale – 68 Entries
Gold: Bone Head, Fat Head’s Brewery, Middleburg Heights, OH
Silver: Jagged Shard, Boise Brewing, Boise, ID
Bronze: Bear’s Choice, Tighthead Brewing Co., Mundelein, IL

Category 99: American-Style Brown Ale – 83 Entries
Gold: Janet’s Brown Ale, Wondrous Brewing Co., Emeryville, CA
Silver: Bufflehead Brown Ale, Kishwaukee Brewing Co., Woodstock, IL
Bronze: Stone Lifeblood, Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty
Station, San Diego, CA

Category 100: American-Style Black Ale or American-Style Stout – 81
Entries
Gold: Falling Up, Grains of Wrath Brewing – Portland, Portland, OR
Silver: What You Know, Autumn Arch Beer Project, Newark, DE
Bronze: Foca Parlante, Cervecería Wendlandt, Ensenada, Mexico

Category 101: American-Style Imperial Stout – 58 Entries
Gold: Block & Tackle Imperial Stout, Chetco Brewing Co.,
Brookings, OR
Silver: Night Howler Imperial Stout, Baerlic Brewing Co., Portland, OR
Bronze: Hidden Moon Imperial Stout, Hidden Moon Brewing,
Pittsfield, NH

Category 102: American-Style India Pale Ale – 412 Entries
Gold: Head Hunter, Fat Head’s Brewery & Saloon, North Olmsted, OH
Silver: Applied Science, Sunriver Brewing Co., Sunriver, OR
Bronze: Old West, Craft Coast Beer & Tacos, Oceanside, CA

Category 103: Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale – 374 Entries
Gold: Wherever You Go, Green Cheek Beer Co. – Costa Mesa, Costa
Mesa, CA
Silver: Nectaronus Prime, Moksa Brewing Co., Rocklin, CA
Bronze: Nelson Hazy IPA, Prison Pals Brewing Co., Doral, FL

Breweries & Lead-Up Events Announced for Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest

May 2, 2023 by Spencer Mapes

PASO ROBLES, California— Firestone Walker announced the lineup for the 2023 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest on June 3, featuring an all-star cast of more than 55 breweries from around the world.

Firestone Walker also announced a slate of local events leading up to the fest, all designed to bring visitors and the local community deeper into the experience. “This is a time when the Central Coast is at the center of the craft beer universe,” said David Walker.

Attending breweries at the 2023 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest include Balter Brewing from Australia’s Gold Coast; Birrificio Del Ducato from Parma, Italy; Oud Beersel from Beersel, Belgium; Lervig from Stavanger, Norway; Green Bench from St. Petersburg, Florida; Oxbow from Newcastle, Maine; and Private Press from Santa Cruz, California. A complete list of the breweries attending the 2023 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest can be viewed below and on the event page.

This year, the festivities begin early with the following local events and experiences:

Invitational Kickoff Concert @ Paso Robles City Park | Thursday, June 1

From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Firestone Walker will host a free Invitational Kickoff Concert in the Paso Robles City Park featuring live music by Dante Marsh & The Vibe Setters; a craft beer sensory experience; and an 805 Beer exhibit featuring trailers for upcoming original films featuring professional bull rider Stetson Lawrence and professional surfers Conner Coffin, Greyson Fletcher and Nate Tyler. The event will feature a wide selection of Firestone Walker beers, including No Vacancy IPA—the “fest collaboration” beer brewed with Alvarado Street Brewery (more details below).

Brewery Block Party @ Firestone Walker Paso Robles | Friday, June 2

The public is invited to the inaugural Invitational Brewery Block Party starting at 1:30 p.m. with outdoor barbecue offerings, beer sampling, guest taps, special bottle pours and games. The street between the brewhouse and Taproom restaurant will be open to foot traffic, with live music happening from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Invitational Kickoff Beer Pairings @ Participating Restaurants | Starting May 12

Starting May 12, Firestone Walker is collaborating with more than 20 top restaurants countywide to present custom fixed-price beer pairing menus. Each participating restaurant is offering a chef’s selection of dishes paired with a range of Firestone Walker beers—a culinary precursor to the upcoming beer fest. A full list of participating restaurants will be announced on May 12.

“No Vacancy” Fest Collaboration Beer | Available Now

Introducing “No Vacancy IPA,” the 2023 Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest collaboration beer made with Alvarado Street Brewery in Monterey. No Vacancy is a new-age West Coast IPA, riffing on Alvarado Street’s signature My Tai IPA with a layer of Firestone Walker flair. Liberally hopped and loaded with tropical character, this is the IPA that welcomes you to the best beer fest in the West.

No Vacancy is rolling out to tap accounts throughout the Central Coast, as well as at Firestone Walker locations in Paso Robles, Buellton and Venice. It is also available at FirestoneBeer.com.

Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest | Saturday, June 3 (Sold Out)

Since its inaugural event in 2012, the Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest has become renowned as one of the world’s most esteemed beer festivals. This year’s edition will once again showcase an international cast of more than 55 leading craft breweries, as well as live music and food from more than 25 local restaurants and purveyors. Proceeds from the fest benefit Paso Robles Pioneer Day, a beloved local nonprofit.

“The Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest was born from a dream of creating a world-class festival featuring some of the best brewers in the world,” said Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “This is a day when we can set the sales pitches aside and simply share our beers and stories with passionate craft drinkers.”

For Brewing fun facts, trivia, movies and more, Click Here.

California Wild Ales to Host 5th Annual Star Wars Celebration

April 26, 2023 by Spencer Mapes

SAN DIEGO, California – The Force will be strong with beer lovers in Ocean Beach as California Wild Ales gears up for their annual May the 4th Star Wars-themed celebration. The brewery, known for its creative and innovative craft beers, will be hosting a day-long event on May the 4th, featuring a lineup of special Star Wars-inspired brews, including Darth Citrius, Chewboocha, Jabba the Hopp, and Juicy Jedi IPA.

Located in the heart of Ocean Beach, California Wild Ales has become a staple in the San Diego craft beer scene. Co-founders Zack Brager and Bill DeWitt are known for their passion for both craft beer and Star Wars, and this event brings their two passions together in a galactic celebration.

“It’s always exciting to see our customers get into the spirit of the day, whether it’s through their costumes or their choice of beer. We’re already looking forward to planning next year’s celebration.” says co-founder Zack Brager.

The May the 4th celebration at California Wild Ales promises to be a day filled with fun, flavor, and fandom. The brewery will be decked out in Star Wars-themed decorations, and attendees are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite Star Wars characters for a chance to win prizes in the costume contest.

But the highlight of the event will undoubtedly be the special Star Wars-inspired beers that California Wild Ales will be pouring. From the zesty and refreshing Darth Citrius to the tropical Juicy Jedi Hazy IPA, beer lovers can expect unique flavors that pay homage to the beloved Star Wars saga.

“Our goal has always been to create exceptional craft beers that push the boundaries of flavor and creativity,” says co-founder Bill DeWitt. “Events like these allow us to not only showcase our love for craft beer and Star Wars but also to bring people together and create lasting memories. It’s what we love to do, and we can’t wait for the next opportunity to share our passion with our customers.”

In addition to the Star Wars-themed festivities, California Wild Ales will also be offering limited edition Star Wars-themed merch available for purchase, making it a perfect memento for fans and collectors alike.

But the excitement doesn’t stop there. California Wild Ales has even more in store for their fans, as they have announced plans to move their production facility to the neighboring community of Point Loma, with the new location set to open this spring. The move will allow the brewery to increase its ability to bring its innovative craft beers to even more people.

“We’re excited to be moving to a closer facility that will allow us to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with craft beer,” says co-founder Bill DeWitt. “We’re committed to creating exceptional beers, and this move will allow us to do that on an even larger scale.”

As the May the 4th Star Wars celebration approaches, California Wild Ales is gearing up to welcome beer lovers and Star Wars fans alike for a day of interstellar fun and flavor. Whether you’re a die-hard Star Wars fan or simply a lover of great beer, this event is not to be missed.

May the force be with you, and we hope to see you at California Wild Ales on May the 4th!

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Anderson Valley Brewing Company’s 2023 Legendary Boonville Beer Festival To Be Held on Saturday, April 29 at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds

April 21, 2023 by Spencer Mapes

BOONVILLE, California— Anderson Valley Brewing Company (AVBC) will be hosting its annual Boonville Beer Festival on Saturday, April 29 at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds. Now in its 25th year, this legendary Northern California craft beer event has donated over $1.7 million to local charities.

Featuring more than 80 breweries, two live music stages, and a stellar lineup of local food vendors, the Boonville Beer Festival gates and taps will open at 1:00 pm and close at 5:00 pm. Tickets for this year’s event cost $55/person if purchased before April 29 and $65/person if purchased the day of (April 29). Designated driver tickets are $5/person. Tickets are only available for purchase online. This is a 21 and over event including designated drivers.

Saved by the Beer! Throwing it back to the 90s, this year’s Boonville Beer Festival theme celebrates a decade that smelled like Teen Spirit and tasted like Hot Pockets. Guests are encouraged to break out their best 90s threads and head to the Mendocino Redwoods to enjoy a full day of live music, local eats, and the state’s top craft beers.

About Anderson Valley Brewing Company

Founded in 1987, Anderson Valley Brewing Company brews hand-crafted, authentic beers with balance, complexity, and an unwavering commitment to sustainably producing world-class beer. As the World’s First Solar Powered Brewery, AVBC leads the craft beer industry as pioneers in responsible brewing and innovators in environmental sustainability practices. Anderson Valley Brewing Company beer is available in 40 states and at its taproom in Boonville, California.

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Raise a Glass: Celebrating National Beer Lover’s Day on September 7

April 14, 2023 by Dow Scoggins

Cheers to National Beer Lover’s Day: A Frothy Celebration!
September 7 is National Beer Lover’s Day, and it’s time to raise a glass to the world’s favorite brew! Let’s dive into the fizzy fun of this hop-tastic holiday.

Why National Beer Lover’s Day is a Big Deal
Beer isn’t just a drink—it’s a vibe, a culture, and a history lesson in every sip. National Beer Lover’s Day, celebrated every September 7, is all about honoring the golden nectar that’s been bringing people together for centuries. From ancient Sumerians brewing in 3000 BCE to today’s craft beer revolution, beer has a story as rich as a stout and as refreshing as a lager.

This day is your excuse to geek out over IPAs, savor a crisp pilsner, or just crack open a cold one with friends. Whether you’re a casual sipper or a homebrew hero, National Beer Lover’s Day is for you!

A Sip of Beer History
Did you know beer is one of the oldest beverages in the world? Archeologists have found evidence of beer-making in Mesopotamia dating back over 5,000 years. Fast forward to 1933, when the Cullen-Harrison Act brought beer back to the US after Prohibition’s dry spell, sparking celebrations that inspired holidays like National Beer Day (April 7). National Beer Lover’s Day builds on that legacy, giving us a dedicated moment to toast the brewers, bartenders, and beer fans who keep the taps flowing.

5 Fun Ways to Celebrate National Beer Lover’s Day
1. Visit a Local Brewery: Hit up a craft brewery for a tour, tasting, or just to chat with the brewmaster. Many breweries host special events on September 7, so check their schedules!

2. Host a Beer Tasting Party: Grab a mix of brews—think sours, stouts, and pale ales—and have friends sample them blind. Bonus points for pairing with snacks like pretzels or cheese.

3. Try Homebrewing: Feeling adventurous? Start your own batch with a beginner’s kit. It’s like science, but with beer as the reward!

4. Explore Beer Cocktails: Mix things up with a shandy (beer + lemonade) or a michelada (beer + lime juice and spices). They’re refreshing twists on your favorite pint.

5. Share the Love Online: Post your favorite beer moment on social media with #NationalBeerLoversDay. Maybe you’ll inspire someone to try a new brew!

The Craft Beer Boom
National Beer Lover’s Day shines a spotlight on the craft beer scene, which has exploded with creativity. In the US alone, there are over 9,000 craft breweries, each experimenting with wild flavors like peanut butter stouts or mango-infused sours. These small-batch brews are all about passion, community, and pushing the boundaries of what beer can be. So, skip the usual and seek out a local gem this September 7.

Beer and Good Vibes
At its core, National Beer Lover’s Day is about connection. It’s the clink of glasses at a pub, the laughter at a backyard barbecue, or the quiet moment savoring a cold one after a long day. Beer brings us together, and this holiday reminds us to celebrate the simple joys in life.

So, on September 7, grab your favorite brew, call some friends, and toast to the drink that’s been making history for millennia. Cheers to National Beer Lover’s Day—here’s to hops, heart, and happy times!