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2022 Great American Beer Festival Results

October 13, 2022 by Dow Scoggins

Denver, Colorado — The 2022 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) competition awarded 300 medals to the best commercial breweries in the United States. Presented by the Brewers Association (BA), GABF is the nation’s largest professional beer competition and the premier symbol of brewing excellence.

Award-winning breweries received prestigious gold, silver, and bronze medals in 98 beer categories covering 177 different beer styles (including all subcategories), establishing the best examples of each style in the country. In addition, three GABF Collaboration medals pairing two professional breweries, and three GABF Pro-Am medals pairing homebrewers with professional brewers, were announced. The awards ceremony was held at the Bellco Theatre in Denver during the 40th anniversary Great American Beer Festival.

The competition took place in three phases over a period of nine days and was judged by 235 beer experts from seven countries, including the U.S. In addition to 9,904 commercial brewery entries, the judging panel also evaluated 35 Pro-Am entries and 94 Collaboration entries. The competition was made possible with the help of 310 volunteers.

“Each year the Great American Beer Festival showcases the best that American brewers have to offer,” said Chris Williams, competition director, Great American Beer Festival. “With 9,904 entries, this year’s competition was the most competitive to date. Congratulations to all the winners who truly demonstrated why the U.S. is the best brewing nation in the world.”

2022 GABF Medal Winners
2022 GABF Brewery of the Year Awards

GABF COMPETITION STATISTICS
36th edition of the GABF competition
9,904 beers judged
177 beer styles
2,154 breweries in the competition from 50 states plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico
235 judges
310 volunteers
Average number of competition beers entered in each category: 99
Category with the highest number of entries: American Style India Pale Ale (423 entries)
300 total medals awarded, including 3 Pro-Am and 3 Collaboration medals
268 medal-winning breweries
301 first-time GABF entrants
18 first-time GABF winners

MOST-ENTERED STYLE CATEGORIES

The winners of the top five most-entered categories were:

MOST-MEDALED BREWERY: North Park Beer Co. | San Diego, CA
GOLD: English India Pale Ale or New Zealand India Pale Ale (Cat. 59)
SILVER: Juicy or Hazy Imperial India Pale Ale (Cat. 67)BRONZE: American-Style India Pale Ale (Cat. 64)
BRONZE: Imperial India Pale Ale (Cat. 66)

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 5,700-plus U.S. breweries and more than 38,000 homebrewers. 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, SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience, Homebrew Con, National Homebrew Competition and American Craft Beer Week. The BA publishes The New Brewer and Zymurgy magazines, and Brewers Publications is the leading publisher of brewing literature. 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.

U.S. 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.

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Bolero Snort Brewery Set To Release ‘Slasher Series’ Inspired By Horror Movie Icons

October 11, 2022 by Dustin Scoggins

CARLSTADT, New Jersey – Bolero Snort Brewery in Carlstadt, NJ is excited to announce the 2022 Slasher Series Lineup featuring Five different sours inspired by Horror Movie Icons.

You’re All Doomed – A Sour Ale with Black Currant, Strawberry and Blueberry.

Do You Like Scary Movies – A Kettle Sour with Banana, Coconut, Vanilla Ice Cream and Milk Sugar.

My Family’s Always Been In Meat – A Kettle Sour with Dark Sweet Cherry, Tart Cherry, Vanilla Ice Cream and Milk Sugar.

Welcome To Primetime… – A Sour Ale with Green Apple and Caramel.

Everyone’s Entitled To One Good Scare – A Sour Ale with Sherbert, Prickly Pear, and Strawberry Drink Mix

“This has become one of our favorite annual traditions. We love paying tribute to some of our favorite things when crafting our art, and our entire team can really lean into the slasher series. It gets us all in the holiday mood….. The Halloween holiday.”

The 2022 Slasher Series will be released on Friday, October 7th 2022. These beers are a limited release and will only be available at the Bolero Snort Tasting Room (Located at 316 20th Street, Carlstadt, NJ) or online for pickup/delivery.

For More Information:
https://bolerosnort.com

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St. John Brewers Launch Cool Out Delta 8 Infused Sparkling Seltzer

June 29, 2022 by Dow Scoggins

MIAMI, Florida – From the founders of St. John Brewers, Kind Grade, LLC introduces Cool Out Delta 8 infused sparkling seltzer. An idea born in the islands, the brand is now expanding distribution in states where D8 is sold and at DrinkCoolOut.com. Beverage industry veterans, Chirag Vyas and Kevin Chipman deliver a clean crisp premium hemp beverage that is light and refreshing with hints of natural citrus fruit flavors.

Crafted from the highest-quality ingredients consumers expect from Vyas and Chipman, Cool Out’s D8 seltzer is derived from non-GMO hemp grown on certified organic farms in the US. The bioavailability of Cool Out’s water-soluble nanotechnology allows the D8 to absorb quickly into the body providing a faster onset and state of relaxation than consuming other edible cannabinoid products.

The craft beer veterans are best known for their local craft brews and popular tap room concept in the US Virgin Islands. That experience is now taken to Kind Grade, LLC where the duo has the production capacity to scale nationwide while providing consistent quality and availability. Cool Out’s Delta 8 seltzer is the first product to roll out from their new company.

Vyas and Chipman provide the professionalism and industry knowledge from nearly two decades of beverage experience enabling the creation of a product with superior flavor, based in the best science, and delivered in packaging appealing to distributors and customers.

“Staying true to what a seltzer originally started out as is key to market success and customer appeal: a carbonated, lightly flavored drink with no added sugar or sweeteners,” said Kevin Chipman, co-founder, Kind Grade, LLC. “We do not use sweeteners like Erythritol, Stevia, or Sucralose. We are a sugar-free product. This gives our seltzer a true clean taste with no palate-coating heaviness or aftertaste.”

“We took our time to create a product that provides an amazing customer experience and taste profiles that delight the senses, high product consistency, and deep dedication to consumer safety. We are really excited to be providing the Cool Out line to the Delta 8 marketplace,” said Chirag Vyas, co-founder, Kind Grade, LLC.

Designed to be enjoyed socially or solo, Cool Out eases the mind and body while keeping the head clear tomorrow. An alcohol-free beverage alternative, Cool Out contains zero sugar, zero carbs, zero calories, is gluten-free, and is sourced from Non-GMO organic hemp.

Each 12-ounce can of the initial release of Cool Out contains 10 mg of Delta 8 in one of three flavors: Citrus, Tropical, or Berry.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is Delta 8?

Delta 8 is one of over 100 cannabinoids that exists naturally in hemp.

Is Delta 8 Marijuana?

No, D8 it is derived from the hemp plant, which is a variety of cannabis that contains less than 0.3% THC. By federal definition, hemp is an agricultural product, and is legal under the 2018 Farm Bill.

How will Delta 8 make me feel?

People say they experience a relaxed body sensation with a feel-good euphoric high that is milder than when consuming THC from marijuana.

About St. John Brewers
St. John Brewers is a craft brewing company located in Cruz Bay on the island of St. John in the US Virgin Islands. Founded in 2004 by Kevin Chipman and Chirag Vyas, the brewery has garnered a loyal following of local craft beer lovers and Virgin Island visitors who return year after year. Bellows International distributes St. John Brewers products throughout the Virgin Islands.

About Kind Grade, LLC
Founded in 2021 by craft brewers, Kevin Chipman and Chirag Vyas, Kind Grade, LLC is based out of Miami, FL and serves the expanding cannabinoid markets in North America. Kind Grade, LLC produces the Cool Out line of infused beverages via distribution partners throughout the United States sourcing natural ingredients including cannabinoids derived from Hemp.

Disclaimer: Consumption of delta 8 can impair your ability to drive a car or operate machinery. Do not consumer if you are pregnant or nursing. Not intended for individuals under 21 years of age. This product is derived from hemp and may contain THC which could result in a failed drug test. This product may contain a total delta-9 THC concentration that does not exceed 0.3% on a dry-weight basis.

For More Information:
https://drinkcoolout.com/

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Ohio’s Combustion Brewery to open second location in Clintonville in 2022!

April 13, 2022 by Dow Scoggins

Combustion Brewery will open their second location this summer. Clintonville customers can expect to enjoy a wide variety of fresh craft beer and cider all made by Combustion Brewery. Combustion, who celebrates their 5-year anniversary in Pickerington on April 16th, is excited to bring their award-winning beers to the Clintonville neighborhood at 2971 N High St, Columbus, OH 43202.

“We are moving into the space currently occupied by Lineage Brewing as they move on to pursue other opportunities. We wish them well and are thrilled to bring our beer and cider to the Clintonville community this summer,” says co-owner Sarah Jackson.

“Our focus has always been to deliver the freshest and highest quality beer to our customers,” says co-owner Keith Jackson. “We will uphold this promise as we expand into the Clintonville Taproom.” The Taproom will maintain a wide variety of beer and cider on tap, 16oz 4-pack cans to go, and 32oz crowler cans of specialty beers to go.

Follow the brewery on social media for updates on opening plans and click right here about job openings.

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Land-Grant Releases Webb Black IPA In Honor of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope

January 18, 2022 by Mike Curme

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Land-Grant Brewing Company announced the ninth beer in their series of space-themed beers: Webb Black IPA – named in honor of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. The brewery’s annual “Space-Grant” series seeks to celebrate the spirit of space exploration and discovery through the release of deep-space-black IPAs, and is named for an aerospace-focused spin-off of the Land-Grant University program.

Land-Grant’s release of Webb Black IPA, which occurred mere weeks after the JWST was launched into orbit, pays timely homage to NASA’s scientific successor to Hubble. At more than 100 times more powerful than Hubble, the Webb telescope will be able to tell us more about the birth of galaxies, stars and planets further back in time than ever before.

When it came to planning for this year’s release, Land-Grant Brewing Company’s President and Co-Founder, Adam Benner – who has had an affinity for space exploration from a young age – knew right away that the beer had to showcase NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.

“I remember, as a kid, saving the front page of the newspaper when they published in color the Pillars of Creation from the Hubble Telescope,” Benner said. “We are all just as excited to see what new discoveries come from the JWST, so it was a no-brainer to honor it through this year’s Space-Grant beer.”

Webb Black IPA embodies Land-Grant’s mission of community, education, and storytelling through its masterfully crafted recipe and beautifully designed packaging. Webb’s sleek, matte black and shiny gold-foiled label depicts the James Webb Space Telescope and the 18 hexagonal segments that make up its mirror, and a small blurb about the incredible instrument for customers to read. As for the beer itself, though the recipe differs from past Space-Grant brews, Land-Grant Head Brewer Dan Shaffer did draw some inspiration from the recipe of the 2017 Space-Grant release, Godspeed.

“Having done a coffee variant the last two years, we were excited to return the black IPA to its truest expression with this recipe,” Shaffer said. “The malt bill was based on my favorite Black IPA, and we paired Galaxy hops with Amarillo and Mosaic cryo hops in a stripped-down version of Godspeed’s hop schedule to create a lightly sweet and firmly bitter brew with tropical, citrus and cocoa notes.

Space-Grant Webb Black IPA is now available at the Land-Grant’s Franklinton taproom in downtown Columbus, and in select craft beer retailers around central Ohio. It is also available to order online from Land-Grant, but shipping is limited to the state of Ohio. Webb Black IPA registers a 8.2% ABV and retails for $11.99/six pack. You can also learn more about Webb on Land-Grant’s Beers with the Brewers Podcast, available to stream wherever you get your podcasts.

For More Information:

Beers

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New Data Says these are the 25 Worst Beers in the World

January 9, 2022 by Dow Scoggins

Beeradvocate, a peer-review platform that combines real-life ratings of almost every beer that’s ever popped up in the world, recently released its annual list of the worst beers in the world.

Top 15 Worst Beers in the World
1. Budweiser Select 55 – Anheuser-Busch Lager 2.40% ABV
2. Natural Light – Anheuser-Busch – 4.20% ABV
3. Sharp’s – Miller Brewing Co. – 0.40% ABV
4. Keystone Light – Coors Brewing Company (Molson-Coors) – 4.10% ABV
5. Natural Ice – Anheuser-Busch – 5.90% ABV
6. Miller64 – Miller Brewing Co. – 2.80% ABV
7. Beer 30 Light – Melanie Brewing Company – 4.00% ABV
8. Milwaukee’s Best Light – Miller Brewing Co. – 4.20% ABV
9. Bud Light – Anheuser-Busch – 4.20% ABV
10. Busch Ice – Anheuser-Busch – 5.90% ABV
11. Bud Ice – Anheuser-Busch – 5.50% ABV
12. Busch Light – Anheuser-Busch – 4.10% ABV
13. Michelob Ultra – Anheuser-Busch – 4.20% ABV
14. Bud Light & Clamato Chelada – Anheuser-Busch – 4.20% ABV
15. Keystone Premium – Coors Brewing Company (Molson-Coors) – 4.40% ABV
16. Corona Light – Grupo Modelo S.A. de C.V. – 4.10% ABV
17. Beer 30 – Melanie Brewing Company
18. Keystone Lager – Molson Coors Canada – 4.90% ABV
19. Carlton Cold – Carlton & United Breweries, Ltd. – 4.90% ABV
20. O’Doul’s – Anheuser-Busch – 0.05% ABV
21. Red Dog – Miller Brewing Co. – 4.80% ABV
22. Coors Light – Coors Brewing Company (Molson-Coors) – 4.20% ABV
23. Sleeman Clear – Sleeman Breweries Ltd. – 4.00% ABV
24. Busch Beer – Anheuser-Busch – 4.30% ABV
25. Keystone Ice – Molson Coors Canada – 5.50% ABV

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Firestone Walker’s 25th Anniversary Ale

November 2, 2021 by Dow Scoggins

FIRESTONE WALKER UNVEILS
25^th ANNIVERSARY ALE & LIMITED TRIO PACK
Brewers Collaborate with Local Winemakers to Create Annual Barrel-Aged Blend

Paso Robles, CA: Firestone Walker today unveiled “25”—a tour de force blend of five barrel-aged beers, created with the help of local winemakers to mark the brewery’s 25th anniversary year.

Additionally, for the first time ever, Firestone Walker’s Anniversary Ale is being released in tandem with a limited Anniversary Trio Pack featuring “25” as well as two component ales—2021 Parabola Autumn Edition and 2021 Stickee Monkee.

“This is a beer that truly rises to the occasion of our 25th anniversary,” said Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “It represents many of the core elements that have made our brewery what it is today: exceptionally talented people, innovation, barrels, hard work, patience and beautiful beers.”

“25” and the Anniversary Trio Pack are now rolling out to all Firestone Walker markets, and are also available at the brewery’s locations in Paso Robles, Buellton and Venice. “25” comes as an individually boxed 12-ounce bottle accompanied by extensive brewmaster notes. The boxed trio pack features one 12-ounce bottle each of “25,” Parabola Autumn Edition and Stickee Monkee.

Masterfully Blended
On July 15, 2021 an all-star cast of Paso Robles winemakers convened at the brewery for an annual summer rite: the blending of Firestone Walker’s next Anniversary Ale. They broke into teams to create their own preferred blends from five barrel-aged component ales, then voted as a group on the winning blend.

The result is “25”—a masterwork of flavor and complexity, blended from five distinct ales aged in bourbon, brandy and tequila barrels.

Firestone Walker’s collaboration with local winemakers dates back to 2006, when Brynildson was tasked with creating the inaugural Anniversary Ale to mark the brewery’s 10th anniversary year.

“We started with just a few barrels of beer and a few of our closest winemaker friends, and the result was the most complex and interesting beer we had ever made—ultimately sparking the longest and strongest collaboration we have participated in,” Brynildson said. “They outdid themselves this year, and I couldn’t be happier with ‘25’—it’s an absolutely beautiful beer.”

“25”: The Final Blend
Winemakers from the following Paso Robles wineries participated in this year’s blending: Booker Vineyard, Desparada Wines, Epoch Estate Wines, Halter Ranch Vineyard, Herman Story, Ledge Vineyards, Tablas Creek Vineyard, TH Estate Wines, Thacher Winery and Torrin Wine.

For the first time, the winemakers were joined by two members of Firestone Walker’s Brewmaster’s Collective beer club, who won the chance to participate in the blending session. Russell From of Herman Story Wines and Taylor Mathiesen of Booker Vineyard, along with Brewmaster’s Collective club member Paul Rios (with guest Christian Smith), created the winning blend that became “25.”

Parabola Autumn Edition – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (41%)
Russian Imperial Stout

Tequila Barrel Merkin – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (28%)
Milk Stout

Brandy Barrel Barley Wine – Aged in Brandy Barrels (13%)
Blonde Barley Wine

Stickee Monkee – Aged in Bourbon Barrels (10%)
Central Coastal Quad

Whiskey Barrel Wheat Wine – Aged in Tequila Barrels (8%)
Strong Golden Barley Wine

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Goodwood Brewing Releases Rye Whiskey

May 12, 2021 by Dow Scoggins

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – In a move toward diversifying its portfolio and reaching spirits consumers, Goodwood Brewing Company announced a foray into the crafts spirits space with the launch of a Premium Bourbon aged in stout barrels in 2019. A year later, they are adding a Rye Whiskey to their lineup.

The 90 proof, small-batch rye is the fourth product to be launched under the Goodwood Spirits line. As with all Goodwood Brewing products, an emphasis was placed on quality and craftsmanship, with months of preparation and experimentation going into the spirit.

Goodwood Rye Whiskey is aged for two years, before being finished in Goodwood English Mild beer barrels, for a special flavor that can only develop from this process. Tasting notes of caramel and vanilla fade to a complex spice and smoky body.

Goodwood Rye will be released in early May in select retail stores and exclusive accounts throughout the Louisville area, and will enter the rest of Kentucky in the near future. Goodwood Spirits can also be purchased at the Goodwood Brewing Taproom in Louisville, KY.

Other spirits in development from Goodwood Brewing and Spirits include a Walnut Brown and an Imperial Stout.

ABOUT GOODWOOD BREWING
Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Goodwood Brewing and Spirits is dedicated to making the highest quality beers, barrel finished spirits and made from scratch food. We believe what’s good for bourbon is good for beer. Goodwood’s Louisville brewery is one of Kentucky’s longest continuously operated breweries, having started operations in 1990.

Goodwood beers are available in Kentucky, Indiana, Alabama, Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, West Virginia, Missouri, Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Ohio and Kansas.

Pliny the Younger 2021 Final Thoughts, Tips and Tricks for Ordering!

January 27, 2021 by Dow Scoggins

Everyone here at RRBC is busy getting ready for our Pliny the Younger 2021 online pre-sale release tomorrow, January 28th, at 11AM PST! This year’s merchandise has arrived and is for sale now online HERE and in both the Santa Rosa and Windsor Gift Shops, including a Pliny the Younger salami made locally by Journeyman Meats. Delicious! Here are some final thoughts, tips and tricks if you are planning to order the mixed case on Thursday:

Each non-customizable mixed case holds 12 510ml bottles including: 4 Pliny the Younger, 2 Pliny the Elder, 2 Happy Hops, 2 STS Pils, and 2 Funky Foeder Cherry Beer, which is a sour/tart foeder-aged cherry beer never before released!

If you have not purchased from our online store before, I recommend purchasing Younger merchandise or anything else in advance (even morning of) so that your information will be saved as a customer in our Shopify store. This will make checking out a much faster process for the mixed case.

I recommend buying just the mixed case in one transaction. You can then take your time to browse our other merchandise, if interested, and not worry about missing out on the mixed case. Beer and merchandise ship separately anyway, so there are no cost savings by putting it all in the same transaction.

Most, if not all, ecommerce platforms will not hold items in your cart until you have checked out. Make sure you hit “Checkout” to complete your order as soon as possible.

We are planning to review all orders once the pre-sale is over to check for anything that looks out of the ordinary or suspicious, such as a large number of cases shipping to one address. If we do find more than 4 or 5 cases shipping to the same address, we will likely be making some follow up inquiries. Our intention is to allow as many beer enthusiasts and Younger fans, like yourself, to have access to this year’s Pliny the Younger under these highly unusual circumstances!

Pliny the Younger will be bottled February 3rd and orders will start shipping out on February 8th!
Just a reminder that every bottle of Pliny the Younger this year will be leaving on the back of a GLS truck. No bottles will be available at either brewery until 2022!

Finally, Governor Newsom just lifted the statewide stay at home order which means we will be able to reopen for outdoor dining soon. We have decided to wait a couple of weeks to reopen due to inclement winter weather, pending the installation of our new tent for outdoor dining in Santa Rosa, and to help curtail large groups of people showing up the first Friday of February on the off chance they did not get the message about Younger!

Thank you, everyone, for your unwavering support through these unprecedented and unique times! We look forward to welcoming you and Pliny the Younger back to our pubs in person in 2022!

Cheers-

Natalie, Vinnie and the RRBC Crew

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Maui Brewing Company Launches Coconut Wireless Nitro Cream Ale

October 14, 2020 by Andrew Innes

Kihei, Hawaii – As heard through the coconut wireless, Maui Brewing Company will launch its final limited release beer of 2020, Coconut Wireless Nitro Cream Ale this Thursday. The smooth Coconut Cream Ale is bursting with toasted coconut, lactose milk sugar, and infused with nitrogen to add a velvety and creamy finish.

The recipe was developed by MBC’s Oahu & Kauai Market Manager, Dustin Gomes, who states, “I wanted to create something refreshing and different than what’s currently in market. I thought a light, refreshing Cream Ale with a hint of toasted coconut would be perfect for a relaxing day at the beach.”

Coconut Wireless is bright golden in appearance with a choke of coconut in its aroma. The creamy, smooth mouthfeel and sweetness is reminiscent of a coconut macaroon. The beer has an ABV of 5.5%.

Coconut Wireless will be available on draft and in 6-pack cans for to-go purchases at Maui Brewing Company restaurants in Kihei, Lahaina, and Kailua (Oahu) as well as area retailers and restaurants. A limited amount of cans and draft will be available in all markets where independently-owned Maui Brewing Company craft beer can be found.

MBC is a fiercely local company and has remained steadfast regarding local production. The MBC team are stewards of their communities and the ‘aina, and curators of the craft beer way of life. Their beers have been recognized worldwide for quality and innovation.

For more information, visit MauiBrewing.com or follow @MauiBrewingCo on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

About Maui Brewing Company
Founded in 2005, Maui Brewing Company is Hawaii’s largest craft brewery, operating 100% in Hawaii. MBC is based on Maui, with its production brewery, full service restaurant and tasting room in Kihei, as well as restaurants in Lahaina (Maui), Kailua (Oahu), and Waikiki (Oahu). Maui Brewing Company is available in 20 states, 1 district, and 3 international countries with more areas to follow.

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