Canadian breweries cleaned up at the U.S. Open Beer Championship, winning 24 medals in total. Over 6,000 beers were submitted, representing 100 different styles from breweries around the world.
Ontario breweries accounted for 21 of the medals. The heaviest hitter was Cameron’s Brewing of Ontario which medaled in four categories, including a Gold for their Bitter submission One-Eyed Grouse. Their multiple wins were enough to put them in the overall Top 10 Breweries of 2017.Other Ontario breweries taking home a gold (or two) included: The Exchange Brewery(2), Sawdust City Brewing Co., Collective Arts Brewing, Steam Whistle Brewing, Nickel Brook Brewing Co.(2), and Hill Street Beverage Company.
From other parts of Canada, Belgh Brasse of Quebec won a Gold for their American Lager/Pilsner and a Bronze for their Belgian Pale Ale. Lighthouse Brewing Company was the sole medal winner for British Columbia but went big, earning a Gold in the Brown Ale category with their beer Race Rocks Ale.
The U.S. Open Beer Championship was founded in 2009 and has grown every year since. It is open to both professional breweries and home brewers. This year’s event was judged by experts from the United States, Canada and England.
Our annual BeerFest in Edmonton offers some of the best selections from the micro brewing community. Those interested in attending the event in 2018 can keep up to date by liking our
Facebook page.
If you love beer, a visit to BeerFest is a must. You get to drink loads of beer of various brands, in the company of fellow beer lovers. Just pay the entrance fee and you can drink beer to your heart’s delight! However, to ensure you enjoy yourself and don’t end up doing something you will regret after all that beer, here is a quick beer festival survival guide to help you.
1. An empty stomach won’t help you enjoy more brews. Eat a meal before you start the beer binge or your enjoyment will last only a few beer rounds. However, don’t eat any spicy foods as they will only destroy your ability to properly taste a mug of beer.
2. Hydrate yourself! Drink lots of water, your day at the beer festival will be very long and hot!
3. Take your time. You have come to the beer festival to enjoy yourself and your beer. Pace yourself and enjoy as many types and mugs of beer as possible. Don’t drink uncontrollably, relax and just taste the beer and either dump it or take your time to drink it. The festival lasts for hours. No one’s racing – just relax and enjoy your day!
4. Wear a comfortable pair of shoes. Shoes matter a lot as seating is limited. You will spend lots of time moving from one beer booth to the next, so wear comfortable shoes.
5. Bring cash. Cash is important to buy some things with so many beer vendors and food to try. Though some vendors accept credit cards and the festival might have ATMs, it’s more convenient if you carry some cash.
6. Take notes. You never know; you may find some beer you like and no matter how strong your memory is, you won’t remember the names after all the beers, so carry some way of remembering. I like to take cell phone photos of the bottle to help me, but you may prefer the old-fashioned pen and paper method.
7. “If lost please send to.” If you traveled from out of town, it’s also a good idea to write down the name and address of your hotel or sleep accommodations. That way at the end of the night, you know where to have the taxi deliver you. Large amounts of beer can sometimes affect the memory.
8. Take lots of photos. Last, but not least, a camera is a must at any beer festival. You get to see many crazy things worth clicking to remember. Share your pics with others to give them an idea of how great a beer festival actually is!
Survival Guide
Edmonton BeerFest logo
If you love beer, a visit to BeerFest is a must. You get to drink loads of beer of various brands, in the company of fellow beer lovers. Just pay the entrance fee and you can drink beer to your heart’s delight! However, to ensure you enjoy yourself and don’t end up doing something you will regret after all that beer, here is a quick beer festival survival guide to help you.
1. An empty stomach won’t help you enjoy more brews. Eat a meal before you start the beer binge or your enjoyment will last only a few beer rounds. However, don’t eat any spicy foods as they will only destroy your ability to properly taste a mug of beer.
2. Hydrate yourself! Drink lots of water, your day at the beer festival will be very long and hot!
3. Take your time. You have come to the beer festival to enjoy yourself and your beer. Pace yourself and enjoy as many types and mugs of beer as possible. Don’t drink uncontrollably, relax and just taste the beer and either dump it or take your time to drink it. The festival lasts for hours. No one’s racing – just relax and enjoy your day!
4. Wear a comfortable pair of shoes. Shoes matter a lot as seating is limited. You will spend lots of time moving from one beer booth to the next, so wear comfortable shoes.
5. Bring cash. Cash is important to buy some things with so many beer vendors and food to try. Though some vendors accept credit cards and the festival might have ATMs, it’s more convenient if you carry some cash.
6. Take notes. You never know; you may find some beer you like and no matter how strong your memory is, you won’t remember the names after all the beers, so carry some way of remembering. I like to take cell phone photos of the bottle to help me, but you may prefer the old-fashioned pen and paper method.
7. “If lost please send to.” If you traveled from out of town, it’s also a good idea to write down the name and address of your hotel or sleep accommodations. That way at the end of the night, you know where to have the taxi deliver you. Large amounts of beer can sometimes affect the memory.
8. Take lots of photos. Last, but not least, a camera is a must at any beer festival. You get to see many crazy things worth clicking to remember. Share your pics with others to give them an idea of how great a beer festival actually is!
Survival Guide
If you love beer, a visit to BeerFest is a must. You get to drink loads of beer of various brands, in the company of fellow beer lovers. Just pay the entrance fee and you can drink beer to your heart’s delight! However, to ensure you enjoy yourself and don’t end up doing something you will regret after all that beer, here is a quick beer festival survival guide to help you.
1. An empty stomach won’t help you enjoy more brews. Eat a meal before you start the beer binge or your enjoyment will last only a few beer rounds. However, don’t eat any spicy foods as they will only destroy your ability to properly taste a mug of beer.
2. Hydrate yourself! Drink lots of water, your day at the beer festival will be very long and hot!
3. Take your time. You have come to the beer festival to enjoy yourself and your beer. Pace yourself and enjoy as many types and mugs of beer as possible. Don’t drink uncontrollably, relax and just taste the beer and either dump it or take your time to drink it. The festival lasts for hours. No one’s racing – just relax and enjoy your day!
4. Wear a comfortable pair of shoes. Shoes matter a lot as seating is limited. You will spend lots of time moving from one beer booth to the next, so wear comfortable shoes.
5. Bring cash. Cash is important to buy some things with so many beer vendors and food to try. Though some vendors accept credit cards and the festival might have ATMs, it’s more convenient if you carry some cash.
6. Take notes. You never know; you may find some beer you like and no matter how strong your memory is, you won’t remember the names after all the beers, so carry some way of remembering. I like to take cell phone photos of the bottle to help me, but you may prefer the old-fashioned pen and paper method.
7. “If lost please send to.” If you traveled from out of town, it’s also a good idea to write down the name and address of your hotel or sleep accommodations. That way at the end of the night, you know where to have the taxi deliver you. Large amounts of beer can sometimes affect the memory.
8. Take lots of photos. Last, but not least, a camera is a must at any beer festival. You get to see many crazy things worth clicking to remember. Share your pics with others to give them an idea of how great a beer festival actually is!
Survival Guide
As temperatures become warmer during the summer months, people naturally choose lighter, different flavored food and drinks than in the winter. Heavy, full-bodied stouts, porters and other heavy beers are too overpowering for the heat and sunshine of the hotter months. When you think about switching up your beer for higher temperatures you probably want something light, refreshing, and easy to drink.
What’s the perfect beer for summer? The Saison! In fact, the word Saison means “season” as this beer was originally brewed as a lunchtime drink for field workers. A Saison’s medium average ABV of between 5.0% and 6.0% is reflected in this, as an intoxicated worker wouldn’t be of much use. This makes them perfect for session drinking on long, hot days. The flavor profile of Saisons also reflects it’s farm focused roots.Saisons are, by definition, a drink that brings the best parts of the warmer season together. Saisons have a dry finish and a high carbonation, which makes them taste uniquely refreshing during a heat wave. Saisons can have a wide range of taste profiles, from licorice to herbal, fruity notes, but the dry finish is the unique aspect that makes this drink perfectly light and crisp.
Saisons pair well with many hot weather foods too. They are delicious with fresh seafood or fish, and the Saisons’ mild, yet aromatic notes go beautifully with spicy ethnic foods. They are also well-suited to lighter fare like salads, yet stand up to even the stinkiest of cheeses.
All in all, Saisons are the best choice for your summer drinking adventures, no matter the time, place, or food.
Our annual BeerFest in Edmonton offers some of the best selections from the micro brewing community. Those interested in attending the event in 2018 can keep up to date by liking our
Facebook page.
Many people choose to drink single hopped beers in the hopes that they will become better verse in the specific flavors of different hop varieties. It is a way to help identify other beers when you come into contact with them. The unfortunate thing is that these beers can get a little bit boring after awhile. Luckily, many different breweries are picking up on this and introducing new varieties of single hopped beers.
This is a great way to get out there and taste something that you never have before. Places like BrewDog are serving up these hoppy delights in all different ways, some with bitter orange or lemon, and others with subtler flavors. These beers are refined enough to stand out for the beer geeks, but it is still understandable and tastes great for those who may not be aficionados.Either way, new places like BrewDog are pumping out these creations at a rapid rate, and the beer drinkers of the world are really lapping it up. It is like a new take on an old classic and it can allow people to become better versed in beers more quickly because it is enjoyable and interesting at the same time. The secret is being able to taste all of the components of beers like Chinook, without losing any of the value or complexity. They can all stand on their own without being overpowered by the bitterness that can sometimes come with hoppy beers. Don’t miss these new creations are they may be coming to the International Beer Fest where you could get the chance to test them out for yourself.
Our annual BeerFest in Edmonton offers some of the best selections from the micro brewing community. Those interested in attending the event in 2018 can keep up to date by liking our
Facebook page.
