The 29th Great American Beer Festival 2010 wrapped up in Denver, Colorado on September 18th, slightly more than a week ago. As I was paging through my little black journal, I came across a list of impressions I had noted at some point during that week - probably on the day I judged 55 beers. These were little awards I would theoretically give to various brewing companies or people … awards not actually given, but still worthy of notice to anyone who loves good craft beer. This list is, by no means, complete, but in the spirit of sharing, I present to you my most private journal:
1. Luckiest Pants: Jeff Bagby, Pizza Port Brewing Company, Carlsbad, California
2. Brewery That Should Command Attention Nation-wide: Ska Brewing Company, Durango, Colorado
3. Best Gluten Free Beer Brewing Company: The Alchemist, Waterbury, Vermont
4. Finest Example of Terroir in Beer: Alaskan Brewing Company, Juneau, Alaska
5. Best Gateway Beer: Blue Moon, Denver, Colorado
6. Most Notable Sour Beers: Russian River Brewing Company, Santa Rosa, California
7. Finest Example of Gonzo Brewing and Gonzo Labels: Flying Dog Brewery, Frederick, Maryland
8. Most Recognizable IPA: Fat Heads Brewery & Salloon, North Olmstead, Ohio
9. Best Brewer with a Chef’s Palate: Jared Rouben, Goose Island Beer Company, Chicago, Illinois
10. Small Town Brewery I want in my neighborhood: Haverhill Brewery, Haverhill, Massachusetts
11. Best Barrel Aged Beer, Small Scale: Jolly Pumpkin Brewing Company, Dexter, Michigan
12. Best Barrel Aged Beer, Large Scale: New Belgium Brewing Company, Fort Collins, Colorado
13. Best Use of Nuts in Beer: Lazy Magnolia Brewing Company, Kiln, Mississippi
14. Most Non-Traditional Palate Pleasing: The Lost Abbey, San Marcos, California
15. Up-and-Coming Brewpub to Watch: Mad Fox Brewing Company, Falls Church, Virginia
16. Kick Butte Brewing Company: Deschutes Brewery, Bend, Oregon
17. Best Woman-Influenced Brewery: Bend Brewing, Bend, Oregon
18. Women to Watch Brewery: Six Rivers Brewery, McKinleyville, California
19. Most Beautiful White Beer: Allagash Brewing, Portland, Maine
20. Best Brewery with an Ethnic Twist of Humor: Schmaltz Brewing Company, San Francisco, California
21. Most Authentic German Style Beer: Left Hand Brewing Company, Longmont, Colorado
22. Best of the Beach: Maui Brewing Company, Maui, Hawaii
23. Great Pacific View Brewery: Pelican Pub & Brewery, Pacific City, Oregon
24. Most Sought After Little Tart: New Glarus Brewing, New Glarus, Wisconsin
25. Most Extreme Non-Traditional Taste-Bud Teaser: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, Delaware
26. New Surprises: Weasel Boy Brewing Company, Zanesville, Ohio
27. Best Big Beer Brewers: Troegs Brewery, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
28. Most Noteworthy Brewpub Group: TAPS Fish House & Brewery, Brea, California
29. Under the Magnifying Glass New Brewer: Thirsty Planet Brewing Company
30. Best Executive Beer Chef: Sean Paxton, Napa Valley, California
31. Best Anniversary Lager: Seventeen, Avery Brewing Company, Boulder, Colorado
32. Brewery I Most Want to Session With: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, California
33. Capturing the True Essence of Craft Brewing: Stone Brewing Company, Escondido, California
34. The “I thought you were an Import” Beer: Stillwater Artisanal Ales, Baltimore, Maryland
35. Chicks Rule Beer: Snake River Brewing Company & Brewpub, Jackson, Wyoming
Cheers!
Photos are (from top): Ska Brewing Company, onstage with Charlie Papazian; Tonya Cornett of Bend Brewing and Teri Fahrendorf of the Pink Boots Society; Executive Chef Sean Paxton directs a team of chefs at the Great American Beer Festival 2010