Alberta and Saskatchewan brewers dominated the awards at the Calgary International Beer Festival a couple of weekends ago. The festival awarded medals to the best ales, lagers and specialty beer, divided into international and domestic. They also gave out a people’s choice award. Prairie brewers won 7 out of a possible 12 medals.
In particular, Edmonton’s Amber’s Brewing fared very well, winning three medals including a bronze in the People’s Choice Award. The Brewster’s Brewpub chain garnered two medals and Saskatoon’s Paddock Wood won gold for best domestic ale. The other winning brewery was the quiet Brew Brothers from Calgary.
Of course, being a Calgary event, prairie brewers were well represented, but keep in mind that imports, represented by agencies, are always present in great numbers at these kind of events. B.C. also had quite a number of breweries on hand. So on the whole I think our flatlander brewers showed themselves well.
I am told the judging was done by a panel that included BJCP-certified beer judges from the Calgary Yeast Wranglers, some media representatives and a couple of contest winners. The organizers report that they are careful to make sure the judging is serious and legitimate. This would give credibility to the awards, I suspect.
Here is the complete list of medal winners at the event (after the page cut):
International Ale
Gold:Innis & Gunn
Silver: Ayinger
Bronze: Anchor Porter
International Lager
Gold: Anchor Steam
Silver: Ankerbrau
Bronze: Raasted Vinter
Domestic Ale
Gold: Paddock Wood Loki IPA
Silver: Brewster’s Bow Valley Brown
Bronze: Brewster’s Gunther’s Hefeweizen
Domestic Lager
Gold: Dead Frog Lager
Silver: Brew Brother’s Black Pilsner
Bronze: Amber’s Mountain Pepper Berry Lager
Specialty Beer
Gold: Leifmans
Silver: Mill St. Coffee Porter
Bronze: Amber’s Sap Vampire Maple Lager
People’s Choice Beer
Gold: Dead Frog Pepper Lime
Silver: Fernie First Trax Brown Ale
Bronze: Amber’s Vampire Sap Maple Lager
People’s Choice Alternate Beverage
Gold: Woody’s Appletini
Silver: Mott’s Clamato Caesar
Bronze: Woodstock
June 9, 2010 at 9:42 AM
Glad to hear that some local brewers took a few awards at the festival – but I have to say, I don’t really put much stock in those big beer festivals. In my experience, they are little more than an excuse for a bunch of rowdy 18 year-olds to get wasted.
March 2, 2011 at 12:47 PM
I have just found your web site and am pleased to see my favorite beer (Brew Brothers Black Pilsner) faired well in this contest. I am also impressed at the depth of craft beer makers in our region and can only say keep up the inspirational work you are doing.