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On October 20, 2018, winners of this year’s BC Beer Awards were named. The ceremony was held in conjunction of a tasting event with 60 breweries setting up shop at the Croatian Cultural Centre.

BC Beer Awards received 1,085 entries from 109 breweries. The judging took place over 3 days and was performed by a panel of BJPC (Beer Judge Certification Program), Cicerones and Pro Brewers from all over North America.

Like last year, there was also a Brewers Challenge. Participating breweries were challenged this year to brew something with fresh hop. It can be any beer style. The judging took place as we were given a tour of the space.

And I must say, it’s pretty awesome to see Lien Yeung at CBC as the emcee, especially with her on the step stool. I can totally relate!

BC Beer Awards Winners

A shout out to all the big award winners:

• Brewery of the Year – 33 Acres Brewing Company

• Rookie of the Year – Sooke Brewing Co

• Innovator of the Year – Field House Brewing

• Brewers Challenge – Yellow Dog Brewing – Alpha Dog (Fresh-hopped)
• Best in Show – Twin City Brewing Company – Late Bloomer

• People’s Choice Award – BREWHALL – Mighty Morphing Sour Rangers
• Legend Award – Lundy Dale

For a list of winners of each beer category, visit the BC Beer Awards website. Worthy to note is that Twin Sails had swept the Hazy IPA category, having their beers in top 3.

Creative Industry Awards

BCBA also brought back the Creative Industry Awards, of which I had the privilege to again sit on the panel to help select the winners:

• Best Tap Handle – Luppolo Brewing
• Best Label Design (Can) – Holotape, Boombox Brewing
• Best Label Design (Bottle) – A Good Life, Field House Brewing
• Best Packaging (Outer) – Craft Camper, Old Yale Brewing
• Best Website – Field House Brewing
• Best Social Media Presence – Electric Bicycle Brewing
• Best Tasting Room Design – Sooke Brewing Company
• Best Merch Design – Riot Brewing
• Best Beer Flight Design – The Parkside Brewery

As for the tasting portion, we discovered new beers and breweries that we really enjoyed:

• Twin City Brewing – 2017 Cellared Dissimulator German Dopplebock
• Coal Harbour Brewing – Lime Dino Sour (Sour Dinosaur Candy Beer)
• Kettle Valley Brewing Co. – Snow Leopard Wheat Wine
• Mariner Brewing – Venture Strawberry Rhubarb Sour (although I think I liked the blueberry version more)
• Field House Brewing – Fresh Hop Sartori Sour
• Sundown Brewing Company – Boxcar! Raspberry Cherry Sour (brewed at Callister)
• Main Street Brewing – Vancouver Mural Festival Citrus White Ale
• Sooke Oceanside Brewing – Sandcut Rye Saison
• Steel & Oak – Meander Barrel Aged Blonde with Gooseberries
• Coast Mountain Brewing – First Aid Kit Pomegranate Sour
• Lighthouse Brewing – Seaport Vanilla Stout

Another great year for craft breweries in BC! The event was held on a gorgeous sunny day, and we were graced by DL Chicken Shack, Cartems Donuts, Tap & Barrel, and Reel Mac & Cheese. The event was sold out quickly so if you want to go next year make sure to buy tickets early (and enjoy early bird price too)!

Disclosure: I attended the event as a representative from the media. Admission to the event was complimentary of BC Beer Awards. However, the views and opinions expressed in this post are purely my own.