|
38°F |
|
Press Releases
Ska Brewing’s Steel Toe Stout Wins Gold at Great American Beer Festival
DURANGO, COLO., (Oct. 4, 2011) —Ska Brewing Co. claimed a coveted gold medal for their Steel Toe Stout at this year’s Great American Beer Festival (GABF) Competition, the largest commercial beer competition in the world with 3,930 beers from 526 breweries, vying for medals in 83 categories. Ska’s Steel Toe Stout, a milk-stout, won gold in the Sweet Stout category.
While this is Steel Toe Stout’s first gold at GABF, it won a bronze medal in 2009 and a silver medal in 2006. The beer—one of Ska’s long-running styles—has also been frequently recognized at competitions like the L.A. County Fair Commercial Beer Competition, where it won medals for four straight years from 2006 through 2009. Steel Toe Stout also won bronze at this year’s North American Beer Awards.
Ska’s history of medal wins at the GABF competition goes back to 2003, and includes two bronze medals and a silver medal in 2009, and a bronze for its ESB Special Ale in last year’s competition.
“Despite all of our camaraderie—or maybe because of it—competition in the craft beer world continues to heat up”, said Dave Thibodeau, Ska President and Co-Founder. “Two years ago, the number of U.S. craft breweries grew by about 3%. Last year, that number grew by 48%. So there are more brewers than ever making a run at these medals, and to win a gold is an accomplishment.”
Ska Brewing recently celebrated its 16th anniversary, or in industry parlance, their “beerthday”. As the number of newer breweries continues to swell, Ska joins the ranks of the industry’s most established brewers. Tenure means little to Thibodeau, though. “You’re only as good as your last batch of beer. This gold medal is a testament to the skill and experience of our brewers.”
The 2011 Great American Beer Festival Competition winners were selected by an international panel of 167 expert judges from 9 countries. For more Great American Beer Festival Competition information, and the complete list of 2011 winners, visit www.GreatAmericanBeerFestival.com.
About Ska Brewing
Based in Durango, Colorado, Ska Brewing was founded in 1995 and now produces over a dozen award-winning beers (that means medals!) including the Pinstripe Red Ale, True Blonde Ale and Steel Toe Stout. Four Ska beers are now widely available in cans: ESB Special Ale, True Blonde, Modus Hoperandi IPA and the winter seasonal Euphoria Pale Ale. For beery stuff and music visitwww.skabrewing.com. Chat us up and get the latest news at facebook.com/skabrew andtwitter.com/skabrewing.
