In case you spent the long weekend with your friends debating the best new brew, we’ve got the results of the latest Canadian Brewing Awards to help you settle the dispute.
Held last week in Victoria, British Columbia, the Canadian Brewing Awards was attended by more than 120 breweries from across the country. As the only national competition in Canada that invites breweries of all sizes, the Canadian Brewing Awards is the premier competition for judging the quality of Canadian brewed beer.
This year, Great Lakes Brewery, Toronto’s oldest independent craft brewery, was named Canadian Brewery of the Year. However, it was a West Coast brew that was named Beer of the Year. Old Jalopy Pale Ale by British Columbia’s Powell Street Craft Brewery took that prize home.
But because it can be tough to compare a North American-style lager to an English-style IPA, winners were chosen in a variety of categories. Whether you love an imperial stout or are looking for some gluten-free options, below you’ll find the beer that received Gold in each category.
North American Style Lager: Alpine Lager, Moosehead Breweries Ltd. (NB)
North American Style Premium Lager: Okanagan Spring 1516, Okanagan Spring Brewery (BC)
European Style Lager (Pilsner): Traditional Pilsner, Creemore Springs Brewery Ltd. (ON)
North American Style Amber Lager: Barking Squirrel Amber Lager, Hop City Brewing Co. (ON)
North American Style Dark Lager: Waterloo Dark, Brick Brewing Co. (ON)
Light Lager: Alpine Light, Moosehead Breweries Ltd.(NB)
Bock – Traditional German Style: Captivator Doppelbock, Tree Brewing Co. (BC)
Kellerbier: King Kellerbier, King Brewery (ON)
Porter: Harry Porter, Great Lakes Brewery (ON)
Strong Porter (Baltic): Pothole Porter, Half Pints Brewing Co.(MB)
Cream Ale: Begbie Cream Ale, Mt Begbie Brewing Co. (BC)
Kolsch: Lug Tread Lagered Ale, Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co. (ON)
North American Style Amber/Red Ale: Red Racer ESB, Central City Brewing (BC)
North American Style Blonde/Golden Ale: Northumberland Ale, Church Key Brewing Co. (ON)
Brown Ale: Nut Brown Ale, The Black Oak Brewing Co. (ON)
American Style Black Ale: Black IPA, Brasserie Dunham (QC)
Scotch Ale: Amsterdam Vicars Vice, Amsterdam Brewery (ON)
English Style Pale Ale (Bitter): Butler’s Bitter, Niagara College Teaching Brewery (ON)
North American Style Pale Ale (Bitter): Old Jalopy Pale Ale, Powell Street Craft Brewery (BC)
Wheat Beer – Belgian Style (Wit): Dominus Vobiscum Blanche, MicroBrasserie Charlevoix (QC)
Wheat Beer – German Style (Weiss): King Heffy Imperial Hefeweizen, Howe Sound Brewing Co. (BC)
Wheat Beer – North American Style: Sun God Wheat Ale, R & B Brewing Co. (BC)
Belgian Style Abbey Ale: Vow of Silence, Parallel 49 Brewing (BC)
Belgian Style Strong Specialty Ale: Blitzen, Bellwoods Brewery (ON)
Barley Wine Style A: Legacy Ale, Swans Brewpub (BC)
Stout: Diamond Head Oatmeal Stout, Howe Sound Brewing Co. (BC)
Imperial Stout: Rang 10, Microbrasserie du Lac St-Jean (QC)
English Style India Pale Ale: Beaver River, Beau’s All Natural Brewery (ON)
American Style India Pale Ale: Karma Citra IPA, Great Lakes Brewery (ON)
Imperial India Pale Ale: Central City Imperial IPA, Central City Brewing (BC)
French and Belgian Style Saison: Le Paysan Saison, Nickel Brook Brewing Co. (ON)
Special Honey/Maple Lager or Ale: St. Ambroise Maple Beer, McAuslan Brewing Inc. (QC)
Fruit Beer: Steamworks Pumpkin Ale, Steamworks Brewing Co. (BC)
Wood and Barrel Aged Beer: Bourbon Barrel Aged Robust Porter, Great Lakes Brewer (ON)
Wood and Barrel Aged Strong Beer: Central City Bourbon Porter, Central City Brewing (BC)
Wood and Barrel Aged Sour Beer: Yaletown Oud Bruin, Yaletown Brewing Co. (BC)
Gluten Free Beer: Glutenberg Belge de Saison, Brasseurs Sans Gluten (QC)
Experimental Beer: Glutenberg Imperial Sotolon, Brasseur Sans Gluten (QC)
Beer of the Year: Old Jalopy Pale Ale, Powell Street Craft Brewery (BC)
Brewery of the Year: Great Lakes Brewery (ON)
For a complete list of the winners, visit canadianbrewingawards.com
