Last night, a friend of mine who is now brewing for Trumer called and jubilantly announced that beer he brewed had struck gold at the Great American Beer Festival. Even if the beer you brew was designed eons ago in lands far, far away, it's still exciting to see your handiwork honored.
Oregon had good reason to feel pleased, taking home a grand total of 19 medals--though just three were gold. Special nod to multiple-winners Deschutes (gold, two silvers, bronze), Barley Brown's (gold, two silvers), Pelican (gold, two bronzes), Bend Brewing (silver, bronze), and Widmer and Rogue both picked up a pair of bronzes. Other interesting tidbits: Barley Brown won in the inaugural Black IPA category, staking a claim for Cascadians everywhere. Also, I was pleased to see a few lagers in the Oregon winner's column--pilsners and bocks. Who says the Beaver state only brews ales?
Anyway, here are the winners. Full list is here.
Gold
Mirror Pond, Deschutes - Classic English-Style Pale Ale (29 Entries)
Turmoil, Barley Brown's - American-Style India Black Ale (53 Entries)
Kiwanda Cream Ale, Pelican - Golden or Blonde Ale (55 Entries)
Silver
Shredders Wheat, Barley Brown’s - American-Style Wheat Beer (23 Entries)
Gluten Free, Deschutes - Gluten Free Beer (13 Entries)
Cherry Baltic, Bend Brewing - Aged Beer (30 Entries)
Wowzenbock, Deschutes - German-Style Wheat Ale (29 Entries)
Disorder Stout, Barley Brown's - American-Style Stout (27 Entries)
Bronze
Hefeweizen, Widmer Brothers - American-Style Wheat Beer With Yeast (43 Entries)
Hazelnut Brown Nectar, Rogue - Specialty Beer (23 Entries)
Deranger, Laurelwood - Imperial Red Ale (43 Entries)
Drop Top Amber, Widmer - Ordinary or Special Bitter (47 Entries)
Bachelor ESB, Deschutes - Extra Special Bitter or Strong Bitter (42 Entries)
Bridge Creek Pilsner, Silver Moon - Bohemian-Style Pilsener (42 Entries)
Shakespeare Stout, Rogue - American-Style Stout (27 Entries)
Maibock, Ram Restaurant and Brewery (Salem) - Bock (36 Entries)
McPelican Wee Heavy, Pelican - Scotch Ale (34 Entries)
Outback X, Bend Brewing - Old Ale or Strong Ale (38 Entries)
Tsunami Stout, Pelican - Foreign-Style Stout (33 Entries)
Due respect to your commercial brewing friend, the GABF judges, and Trumer Pils; but, I put more than half a dozen lagers ahead of Trumer Pils as exemplary German Pilsners, eg:
ReplyDeleteo Bayern - Pilsener
o Oskar Blues - Mama's Little Yella Pils
o Baron - Pilsner
o Left Hand - Polestar Pilsne
o Caldera - Pilsener Bier
o Full Sail - Limited Edition 03
And I have not broken stride.
But, I've heard that a difference of opinion is why they have horse race.
Jack, see today's post.
ReplyDeleteI think Trumer is a perfectly representative German pilsner (and it ought to be). Trying to identify "best" is a fraught endeavor.