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| Medals |
The first ever Hawaii Craft Beer Awards were held this
weekend. It was a two-day celebration of 100% locally made craft beer. I was thankful to be invited. Steve Haumschild of Lanikai Brewing
Company came up with the idea and hosted the event at Tap & Barrel in
Kailua. The event benefited the Hawaiian Craft Brewers Guild, with ticket
sales and scrip going to help the guild further promote local beer.
Friday an independent judging panel was invited to Tap &
Barrel to sample and enjoy the beer. Certified Cicerones Tim Golden, Bill Carl,
and Pablo Scurto were joined by BJCP Judges Shawn Crawford, Vince Gallo, Eddie
Kowal, Bob Hillier, and I. Cindy Goldstein, the executive director of the
guild, planned and organized the judging. We received over 100 beer entries
from guild members all over the islands; it was a tough job! Categories included popular styles like IPAs, Stouts/Porters,
Sours, and others. Unique for this competition, we also judged the best
collaboration beer, best beer using Hawaiian sourced ingredients, and best
label art. Two categories were voted on
by the brewery-members themselves: best new brewery, and brewery of the year
(the company that contributes most to the advocacy of local beer). After the
hard work was done, we enjoyed Lanikai’s celebration of two years of Tap &
Barrel, as well as the leftovers from the competition!
Saturday was the real party. That evening was the Awards
Ceremony in their outdoor parking lot. For a first year, it was a great event with lots of happy
beer enthusiasts. The last category was presented here: Peoples Choice. A dozen
kegs were marked with style only, the entry ticket got everyone a 1oz pour
to sample and choose the favorite. Full pours were also available. A DJ
supplied the tunes and the guild had a swag table. The indoor bar was also very busy with
a few food trucks along the street providing much-need grub.
The real entertainment was the presentation of awards: MC’d by
Cindy and Steve, they presented third through first of each category with
the sponsored prizes they received. Each group got pictures taken with their awards. We took a rain break halfway through,
which just added to the fun. Attendees seemed happy throughout, drinking beer while
celebrating those who make it. Join us next year!
Brewery of the Year
Gold: Lanikai Brewing Co Prize Sysco $500 Credit
Silver: Kohola Brewery
Bronze: BeerLab HI
New Brewery of the Year
Olomana Brewing Company Prize White Labs 10 BBL Yeast Pitch
Best Design
Gold: Inu Island Ales - Coconut Hazy w/ Village Bottle Shop Prize Likos $50 Gift Certificate
Silver: Waikiki Brewing Co - Skinny Jeans
Bronze: Kohola Brewery - Lahaina Haze
Best Collaboration
Gold: Kohola Brewery Owyhee NEIPA Prize Village Bottle Shop $100 GC + Secret Prize
Silver: Lanikai Brewing Co Everybodys HI Sour Farmhouse Kveik
Bronze: Inu Island Ales - Haole Brownie Stout
Best Locally Sourced
Gold: Inu Island Ales - Island Punch w/ Mango & Guava Prize Off the Wall $50 & VIP Membership
Silver: Honolulu Beerworks - Pia Mahi'ai
Bronze: Lanikai Brewing - Jaboticaba Cuvee Hawaiian Wild Ale
Most Creative Beer
Gold: Waikiki Brewing Co - Jalapeno Mouth Prize Crosby Hops 11 lbs Estate Grown Amarillo
Silver: Olomana Brewing - Pele's Reign IRA
Bronze: Inu Island Ales - Island Punch w/ Pomegranate, Peach, & Coconut
Best Farmhouse/Belgian
Gold: Maui Brewing Co - La Perouse Prize 44# Wakatau Hops
Silver: Lanikai Brewing - Alai'a Quad
Bronze: Honolulu Beerworks - Pia Mahi'ai
Best IPA
Gold: Kohola Brewery - Lahaina Haze Prize YCH Hops $200 Credit
Silver: Inu Island Ales - Imperial Hazy
Bronze: BeerLab HI - Ko'olauloa Hazy
Best Lager/Pilsner
Gold: Big Island Brewhaus - Graham's Pilsner Prize Country Malt $400 Credit
Silver: Kohola Brewery - Lokahi Pilsner
Bronze: Maui Brewing - Pau Hana Pilsner
Best Non-Category
Gold: Honolulu Beerworks - Cocoweizen Prize Nico's Upstairs Breakfast for 6 & Fish Auction Tour
Silver: Kauai Island Brewing - Cane Fire Red Amber
Bronze: Waikiki Brewing - 4th Anniversary Barleywine
Best Porter/Stout
Gold: Maui Brewing - Imperial Coconut Porter Prize Square Barrels Secret Prize
Silver: Kohola Brewery - Molokai Stout
Bronze: Ola Brew - Ola Kiawe Porter
Best Sour
Gold: Lanikai Brewing - Pua Aloalo Hibiscus Sour Prize Grace in Growlers $50, Freaker, Shirt, Hat
Silver: Maui Brewing - Land of Rainbows
Bronze: Inu Island Ales - Island Punch w/ Peaches & Vanilla
Peoples Choice Award
Gold: Lanikai Brewing - 2 Shakes & a Howzit Prize ChemStation 44# Brewery Wash
Silver: BeerLab HI - Ko'olauloa
Bronze: Ola Brew - Lilikoi Lime Milkshake IPA
