And the 2016 Winners are... 

The Judges at "Work"

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...