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Press Releases
NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – SEPTEMBER 18, 2010
For further information, contact:
Steamworks Co-Founders Kris Oyler, 970.769.0776 or Brian McEachron, 970.799.3481
Steamworks Brewing Co. earns Gold and Silver at GABF
Backside Stout, What in the Helles? and Colorado Kölsch take honors
DURANGO, Colo. – Steamworks Brewing Co. helped sustain Durango’s reputation as the Napa Valley of Beer, capturing three medals at the 2010 Great American Beer Festival (GABF). The Backside Stout and What in the Helles? took Gold, with the Colorado Kölsch earning Silver.
The GABF is sponsored by the Brewers Association and was held in Denver, September 16-18. According to a press release from the Brewers Association, the 2010 GABF drew an impressive field of competitors, with entries topping last year's by 9 percent. The GABF remains the largest commercial beer competition in the world, with this year 3,523 beers from 516 breweries vying for medals.
Annually, breweries enter beers to be judged by the GABF’s Professional Judge Panel – this year numbering 151 from 10 countries – which awards gold, silver or bronze medals. Judges select beers that are recognized around the world as symbols of brewing excellence in their category. For 2010, the GABF had 79 categories covering 133 beer styles.
Steamworks’ Backside Stout competed among 39 entries to take the Gold in the Oatmeal Stout category. Inspired by the turns under Chair 8 on Purgatory Mountain, the Backside Stout, a moderately hopped dark beer, has an extremely complex malt and oat flavor - sweet with chocolate and roast overtones. The addition of just the right amount of brewer’s oats is detectable in the smooth, silky finish.
“This is the first time the Backside Stout has been recognized at the GABF,” said Kris Oyler, Steamworks co-founder, noting it won Bronze in the 2009 Australian International Beer Competition. “It is one of our original brews, on tap since we opened in 1996. This recognition is long overdue.”
What in the Helles?, competing among 42 entries in the Munich Style Helles category to win the Gold, is a medium-bodied, malt-emphasized beer, with malt character reminiscent of freshly and lightly toasted malted barley.
“What in the Helles? continues to stand out as a great beer,” said Oyler. “In its first showing at the GABF in 2007, it took a Bronze.”
Steamworks’ Colorado Kölsch was one of 46 entrants in the German Style Kölsch category to earn the Silver medal. The Colorado Kölsch is a derivative of German Kölschs, which were created in response to the popular lager-based Pilsners being produced in the Czech Republic in the 1840s.
“For those of you who haven’t studied your beer history, that means it’s a light crisp ale with a hint of sweetness,” said Brian McEachron, Steamworks co-founder. “And it’s very refreshing. The credit for the Kölsch and all our award-winning beers definitely goes to our brew dogs Ken Martin and Spencer Roper.”
The Kölsch won Silver at both the GABF in 2007 and the 2008 World Beer Cup. At the Australian International Beer Competition it took Silver in 2009 and Bronze in 2008.
Only one additional Durango brewery, Ska Brewing Co., medaled at the event, with the “Ska Special” taking Bronze in the Classic English Style Pale Ale category. Pagosa Brewing Co., in Pagosa Springs, took Silver in the Specialty Beer category with its Coconut Porter.
Based in Boulder, Colorado, USA, the Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade and education association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their craft beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. Visit BrewersAssociation.org to learn more.
Steamworks Brewing Co. is located at 801 E. Second. Ave., Durango (970.259.9200). For further information, visit www.steamworksbrewing.com.
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