Here’s a list to love: local breweries that took medals at the World Beer Cup contest held last weekend in Chicago.
- Alesmith Brewing Co.
- Alpine Beer Co.
- Ballast Point Brewing Co.
- Breakwater Brewing Co.
- Green Flash Brewing Co.
- Karl Strauss Brewing Co.
- Pizza Port Carlsbad
- Pizza Port Solana Beach
- Port Brewing Company
- Rock Bottom Brewery
- The Lost Abbey
Those 11 breweries collected 21 medals in all, with three golds going to Ballast Point Brewing (for its Fathom IPL, Bourbon Barrel Aged Piper Down Scottish Ale, and Sculpin IPA.) Ballast Point also won recognition as the Best Small Brewing Company of the year. (Port Brewing Co. and The Lost Abbey won the last time the competition was held, two years ago.)
This wasn’t just a local contest. Brewers from 44 countries (including Belarus, Fiji, and Mongolia!) and 47 U.S. states entered more than 3,000 varieties of beer. In that heady crowd, the San Diegans contingent took home more medals than any other country or US state except for California (which took 45 medals overall). More than 60% of the judges came from other countries, also. For more details, see the competition website.
