Here’s the List of San Diego’s ‘Great American Beer Festival’ Winners
Every year, the best in the brewing industry meet in Denver to compete for brewing bragging rights (and to have a little fun, too!).
This year, San Diego’s Great American Beer Festival winners included fifteen beers from the area.
It’s now your job to show your support to each and every one of them! 🙂
Here are the San Diego’s Great American Beer Festival Winners and their acclaimed craft beers:
1. Legally Red by Second Chance Beer Co.
Second Chance is more than just a name, it is also the owners’ mission. Many of the brewery’s decor has got a second chance as it has been restored and upcycled. The brewery also partnered with organizations like Second Chance Dog Rescue and Horses of Tir Na Nog which give rescue animals a second chance at finding their forever homes. All around a great company with great missions and values…and great beer!
This year they won a silver medal for ‘Legally Red’ in the American-Style Amber/Red Ale category.
2. Back in the ESSA by Monkey Paw Brewing
Monkey Paw Brewing has recently joined force with Coronado Brewing Company, which means greater resources for Monkey Paw to develop the craft beer its fans love.
Their ‘Back in the ESSA’ won silver medal in the English-Style Summer Ale.
3. Sour Wench Blackberry Ale by Ballast Point Brewing Co. – Home Brew Mart
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Ballast Point Brewing Co. has “had an undeniable impact on the local beer scene” said World Beer Cup champion brewer Ryan Brooks, of Coronado Brewing Company and South Norte Beer, who also started his brewing career here. It also just turned 25 last month.
This year, they won a silver medal in the Fruited American-Style Sour Ale category.
4. Hidden Gem by OB Brew
OB Brew isn’t only famous for its beer, but also for its unmatched, panoramic view of Ocean Beach.
They won a silver medal for its ‘Hidden Gem’ in the German-Style Wheat Ale category.
5. Manta Ray by Ballast Point Brewing Co.
Another gold medal for Ballast Point Brewing Co., for its ‘Manta Ray’ in the Imperial India Pale Ale category.
6. Witty Moron by Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station
Apart from amazing selection of beers, Stone Brewing also offers its patron “indoor and outdoor dining and bars, as well as a bocce ball court, outdoor cinema space and garden.”
This year, Stone Brewing took home a gold medal for its ‘Witty Moron’ in the Other Belgian-Style Ale.
7. Tabula Rasa Toasted Porter by Second Chance Beer Co.
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Another medal for Second Chance Beer Co. This time it’s a gold medal for its ‘Tabula Rasa Toasted Porter’ in the Robust Porter category.
8. AleSmith Wee Heavy by AleSmith Brewing Co.
To celebrate its 20th birthday, AleSmith opened a new location at 9990 AleSmith Court. This new location “features an entirely new tasting room and brew system with the capability to pump out more than 100,000 barrels/year only two blocks west of the original location.”
This year, AleSmith took home a bronze medal for its ‘AleSmith Wee Heavy’ in the Scotch Ale category.
9. Guillaume by Pizza Port Ocean Beach
This year, Pizza Port takes home a gold medal for its ‘Guillaume’ in the Session Beer category, adding to its collection of 91 medals (!) from past Great American Beer Festival.
10. Agavamente by SouthNorte Beer Co.
“Crossroads of cultures” is how one could explain the SouthNorte beer. According to its website, SouthNorte “aims to bring the authentic flavor of Mexico to American craft beer”.
This year, SouthNorte takes home a bronze medal for Specialty Beer.
11. Head of Turtles by Bagby Beer Co.
Come through Oceanside and pay a visit to Bagby Beer Co.’s a two-story restaurant, 1,500-square-foot brewery, and beer garden on an 11,000-square-foot lot and have a beer with the owner, Jeff Bagby, one of the country’s most award-winning brewers.
The ‘Head of Turtles’ won a silver medal for Bagby in the Baltic-Style Porter category.
12. Blood Orange Wit by Refuge Brewery
Refuge Brewery, a brewery based in Temecula, saw its best-selling ‘Blood Orange Wit’ win the gold medal in the Belgian-Style Fruit Beer category.
13. Z-Man Port by Pizza Port Carlsbad
Another medal for Pizza Port, this time it’s a silver medal for its ‘Z-Man Port’ in the Export Stout category.
14. Blonde by Culture Brewing
Based in Solana Beach, Culture Brewing is gaining fans left and right with its laid back attitude and commitment to being an every day part of the community.
This year, the ‘Blonde’ won a bronze medal in the Golden or Blonde Ale category.
15. Orange Blossom Common by Karl Strauss Brewing Co.
It all started in the late 80s, when two college buddies wanted to bring handcrafted beer scene back to San Diego. Now, the company is credited with the growth of the industry in San Diego. Thank you Karl Strauss!
Karl Strauss takes home a gold medal this year for its ‘Orange Blossom Common’ in the Honey Beer category.
Be grateful you live in the best beer-making city in America, and pay a visit to these local breweries to sample some of the best craft beers in the country!
