Over the weekend, the beer world gathered to drink and judge and determine what came out of a bad year in the form of good beer. The North American Brewers Association handed out tons of awards and our tastebuds came up big. Congrats to our friends at Elysian Brewing and their Dragonstooth Stout and The Fix - both winning gold. Other top honors in the greater Seattle area went to Black Raven Brewing and its Pilsner, and Ravenna Brewing and their Rubicon.
Other medals went to the great brewers at Fremont Brewing (whose fresh hop should be here any day...), Haywire Brewing, Reuben's Brews, and Silver City Brewery. If you pop down south to the Vancouver and Camas area, huge award hauls by Fortside Brewing and Grains of Wrath.
Oregon absolutely slayed - Breakside Brewery and Taproom took home EIGHT golds amongst other silvers and bronzes. Golds:
Breakside Vienna Lager - Vienna-style Lager
Breakside Wentworth by the Sea - English-style Summer Ale
Breakside Cuddle Puddle - American-style Pale Ale (they also won Bronze!)
Breakside ESB - English-Style Pale Ale
Breakside Small Guy Summer IPA - Session-style India Pale Ale
Breakside Queen of the Rodeo - Lambic, Fruit Lambic and Gueuze Lambic
Breakside Unbearable Lightness - Session Beer
Breakside White Tea - HerbSpiced
With 10 Barrel Brewing, Ecliptic Brewing, Bend Brewing Co also in state, I feel like a trip to Oregon is in order! There are some massively incredible brewers that didn't make the list and I kinda assume they either didn't enter or that my taste is beer is off the mark... Old Schoolhouse Brewing and Cloudburst Brewing are just a couple in WA that come to mind. Cheers!