Congratulations to Black Diamond Brewing for winning Best of Show for the 2016 West Coast Invitational Commercial Craft Competition...

With over 160 entries from some of the best brewers of the West Coast, this is quite a great accomplishment. Check out the details below.

2016 WCI BEST OF SHOW

1. Black Diamond Brewing Co    |     Dryed Up Old Geezer    |     (Specialty Wood-Aged Beer)
2. High Water Brewing    |     Stella Blue    |     (Wild Specialty Beer)
3. Altamont Beer Works    |     Something New    |     (Imperial Stout)

If you're lucky, you might just get a chance to taste these brews with our Unlimited Award Winning Craft Brew Tasting. 

On Saturday, May 14, some of the best noses and palettes in the beer enthusiast community came together at Sactown Union Brewery for the West Coast Invitational Commercial Craft Competition. 

Over 160 beers were entered and judged for 10 Categories and Best of Show... 

The judging was a Triple Blind Tasting... which means the judges had no idea what brand of beer they were tasting for each category.

And now, what you have all been waiting for... here are the winners of the 2016 West Coast Invitational Commercial Craft Competition... (if you're lucky you'll get to taste some of these winning brews at Saturday West Coast Invitational)

Table 1: Lagers and Light Hybrids

1.  The Monks Cellar   |    Maibock   |    (Helles Bock)
2.  New Helvetia Brewing   |    Buffalo Craft Lager   |    (Munich Helles)
3.  Feather Falls Brewing Co   |    Doppel Down Doppelbock   |    (Doppelbock)

Table 2: Domestic and International Ale

1.  American River Brewing Co   |    Coloma Brown   |    (American Brown Ale)
2.  El Dorado Brewing Co   |    Sutter’s Mill Red Ale   |    (Irish Red Ale)
3.  New Helvetia Brewing Co   |    Molly American Red Ale   |    (Scottish Export)

Table 3: American Blond/Pale Ale

1.  Sactown Union Brewery   |    Centennial Falcon   |    (American Pale Ale)
2.  101 North Brewing Co   |    Golden Naked Ale   |    (Blonde Ale)
3.  Track 7 Brewing Co   |    Bee Line   |    (Blonde Ale)

Table 4: Mild, Porters, and Stouts

1.  Altamont Beer Works   |    Something New   |    (Imperial Stout)
2.  New Helvetia Brewing Co   |    Homeland Stout   |    (Irish Extra Stout)
3.  High Water Brewing   |    Aphotic Imperial Porter   |    (Imperial Stout)

Table 5: IPA        

1.  Knee Deep Brewing Co    |    Breaking Bud   |    (American IPA)
2.  Track 7 Brewing Co   |    Blood Transfusion   |    (Specialty IPA)
3.  Track 7 Brewing Co   |    Panic   |    (American IPA)

Table 6: American Strong Ale    

1.  American River Brewing Co   |    Rockhound Barleywine   |    (American Barleywine)
2.  Knee Deep Brewing Co   |    Hoptologist   |    (Double IPA)
3.  Track 7 Brewing Co   |    Left Eye Right Eye   |    (Double IPA)​

​Table 7: Wheat/Saison/Belgian/Sour    

1.  High Water Brewing   |    Stella Blue   |    (Wild Specialty Beer)
2.  American River Brewing Co   |    River Bend Hefeweizen   |    (Weissbeer)
3.  The Monks Cellar   |    St. Arnold   |    (Belgian Dark Strong Ale)

Table 8: Specialty Beers        

1. Black Diamond Brewing Co   |    Dryed Up Old Geezer   |    (Specialty Wood-Aged Beer)
2. High Water Brewing   |    Cucumber Kolsch   |    (Spice, Herb or Vegetable Beer)
3.  Out of Bounds Brewing Co   |    Juiced Grapefruit DIPA   |    (Fruit Beer)

Table 9: Ciders        

1. 2 Towns Ciderhouse   |    Outcider  |    (New World Cider)
2. Common Cider Company   |    Blackberry Sangria   |    (Specialty Cider/Perry)
3. 2 Towns Ciderhouse   |    Ginja Ninja   |    (Cider w/ Herbs/Spices)

Table 10: Mead       

1. Aesir Meadery   |    Fehu   |    (Sweet Mead)
2. Aesir Meadery   |    Marglod   |    (Melomel)
3. Stung Fermented   |    Mosaic   |    (Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Mead)

BEST OF SHOW...
Ha! You don't get to know that yet. ;-) Stay tuned...

The West Coast Invitational is more then just another beerfest.  The WCI is a true craft brew lovers appreciation party.

With over 120 different brews, including specialty brews & ciders that you won't find on the average tap, the West Coast Invitational was designed to give you 4 hours of memories to be talked about all year. 

And lets not forget the Commercial Craft Competition! 

Limited to West Coast breweries, the WCI is one of the last remaining fully sanctioned Craft Brewer competitions. Those that are interested in being a part of the competitive fun can check out the event at http://wcicomp2016.ubsbrew.com.

Tickets are available online or at a couple select area breweries. 

But don't delay, they've been known to sell out fast! 

​Unlimited. Craft. Beer. Tasting. 

What a dream gig to be able to organize and promote those four words. 

We've been working away on this year's event and we've got lots happening. The breweries are confirming, the tickets are being sold, and all the elements are coming together. 

Stay tuned as we publish this year's brewery list and share all kinds of great stuff! 

​Last night the team met at 19 Handles, a pub in Arden Arcade (formerly known as the Kilt Pub). This was the first official meeting of the 2016 West Coast Invitational planning committee. 

There is a lot that goes into putting together any event, whether it is a one day professional conference or a multi-day Blues festival or, and afternoon of craft beer tasting. 

Over the year's I've been blessed with volunteers and associates that did an amazing job helping to build the region's best brewer festivals including the world famous West Coast Brew Fest. 

After 15 years of the WCBF, it was time for an evolution. We marked that evolution with the first annual West Coast Invitational.

It is a truly exciting time in the world of Craft Brew. The Sacramento region alone has 40 breweries with new ones starting all the time including the newest edition, Sactown Union Brewery. 

We plan on bringing some incredible West Coast Brews to the WCI for you to savor. Stay tuned.