Word arrived today that the Brewers Association has decided to cancel its annual Michael Jackson Beer Journalism awards program this year. The 5-year-old program was named in honor of the Beer Hunter following his unexpected death in 2007.
The award, sponsored over the years by Sam Adams and Rogue, was presented annually to three writers during the Great American Beer Festival in Denver.
Julia Herz, the B.A.’s craft beer program director, explained, “After 5 years it had grown to a level that was difficult to execute as the number of entries was ever increasing…”
I’ll have more sober insight in Friday’s column, but here’s the rundown on Philly-area awards at the Great American Beer Festival. Local brewers won 17 medals, the most ever (topping last year’s record of 14). Iron Hill led the way with 6, giving it a total of 27. That’s one more than Stoudt’s. Of course, IHB has 7 locations, and Stoudt’s has just one.
Where do we fit in with the rest of the country? You can get a pretty good idea from this map, which tracks all the award winners through ‘07. Looks like you’re S.O.L. if you live anywhere between North Dakota and Oklahoma.
I counted 17 medals for Philly-area breweries at today’s award ceremonies at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver. Get the entire list here.
I’ll slice and dice this more in Friday’s column, but for now a few things are striking:
Iron Hill won gold for its Vienna Lager, a house beer. I’ve written before that the reason brewpubs do so well at this event is that, because of their size, they’re better able to produce unique one-offs that judges love. But Vienna Lager is one of Iron Hill’s daily beers, always on tap. The beer’s recipe was tweaked a couple years ago, and - in addition to this gold - it has also taken a silver at the World Beer Cup. Justin Sproul of IHB’s Newark location gets the props.
Flying Fish of Cherry Hill, N.J., finally brought home some hardware, a silver for its Belgian Abbey Dubbel, a beer I’ve always felt was under-rated (and a helluva cash bargain). Brewery Casey Hughes was sky high at the convention center; I only wish I could’ve tracked down and high-fived the company’s Gene Muller, who was inspired to found his craft brewery after attending the GABF many years ago.
Dogfish Head nailed the specialty beer category, a catch-off for any damn thing a brewer can concoct (seems perfect for Sam Calagione). Palo Santo Marron took bronze and Red & White, which might the best beer DFH ever brewed, took gold.
Home boy Lew Bryson was one of the three Michael Jackson beer journalism award winners, joining past Philly award winners Carolyn Smagalski, Marnie Old and yours truly. Philly: America’s Best Beer-Writing City.
They don’t hand out awards for t-shirts, but Iron Hill deserves something for the one its staff is wearing out here. The slogan on the back declares, “Our beer snobs can beat up your wine snobs.”
I’m in Denver for the Great American Beer Festival, and I’ll try to post the award winners here on Saturday afternoon. But instead of waiting for me to drag out the laptop, head up to Iron Hill’s brewpub in Montgomeryville (1460 Bethlehem Pike) where you can follow the awards ceremony live on its big-screen simulcast.
Meanwhile, here’s what I’m liking so far:
Upstream Grand Cru. Never heard of this Nebraska brewery, but this tart bottle held its own against the likes of Jolly Pumpkin and Russian River.
Legacy Dear Abbey Dubbel. Love the name, love the sweet malt.
Coors Pre-Prohibition Lager. Philly locals tuned into the NLCS last night on the wide-screens that were strategically perched next to the Coors booth. Someone took a chance and sampled the yellow lager and turned to everyone else, saying, “Hey, this shit ain’t so bad.” It’s true - a Coors with actual flavor!
This is Dogfish Head’s beer board at the Great American Beer Festival. Notice, the off-centered brewery was pouring NOTHING under 10 percent alcohol. No wonder it attracted the biggest crowd at the fest.
Philly-area brewers had their best ever showing at the Great American Beer Festival last weekend. Several well-known standards, including Victory Prima Pils, Troegs Troegenator, Sly Fox Pikeland Pils & Stoudt’s Weizen were among the winners. Even more notable: The region ruled lagers. Read the full column here.
Just chatted with Ryan Michaels, the ecstatic brewer at McKenzie Brew House (240 Lancaster Ave., Malvern) following his 2-medal showing at the GABF. His Saison Vautour, which won as the best Belgian-style Saison, is pouring at the brewpub as we speak. To answer the big question: It’s his own recipe, not predecessor Scott Morrison’s. Michaels also won bronze for Wee Heavy (10.5%). Both will be bottled and available in time for the Christmas holidays. This is a huge win for this talented, young brewer.
