Local breweries win Best of Craft Beer Awards

Six Central Oregon breweries walked away as winners from the 2016 Best of Craft Beer Awards, judged Jan. 23-24 in Bend.

In its third year, America’s newest craft beer contest attracted more than 200 breweries from throughout the U.S. to compete for gold, silver and bronze medals in 65 different categories. The competition is certified by the Beer Judge Certification Program and adjudicated by professional judges and industry leaders.

Boneyard Beer earned two gold medals: one in the Pale Ale category against 60 other entries for its Bone-A-Fide West Coast-style ale, and another in the Imperial IPA category for its Notorious citrus ale that clocks in at a bold 11.5 percent alcohol by volume.

Bend Brewing Co. collected the most medals among the participating Central Oregon brewers, with one gold and two silvers. Its oak-aged Wicked Medicine took the top spot for Belgian Dark Strong Ales, Outback X earned silver in the Old Ale or British Strong Ale category and its Baltic Porter also earned silver in the category of the same name.

Sunriver Brewing took home a gold medal with its Fuzztail Hefeweizen in the American Wheat category and a silver in the American Pale Ale category for its new Rippin’ Northwest Ale, just released Feb. 13.

Three Creeks Brewing Company of Sisters won gold in the Old Ale/British Strong Ale category with its Stampede Ale, which is part of its annual, limited release Desperado series and will be available to the public from early March-June. Redmond’s Wild Ride Brew also snapped up a gold medal for its Brain Bucket Imperial IPA in the American Strong Ale section.

From Deschutes Brewery’s reserve series, Mirror Mirror barley wine ale and The Dissident Flanders-style sour brown ale both won silver medals in the English Barleywine and European Sour categories respectively.

—Kim Himstreet