(Halifax,NS) - The fifth annual Atlantic Canadian Beer Awards were held on October 28th in Halifax with a Gala and Dinner at The Stubborn Goat Gastropub. The judging of 376 entries from 56 breweries and cideries had taken place the previous week end in Halifax.
Atlantic breweries and cideries shared the 45 medals awarded in 15 categories as well as six special awards ( To see full medal counts see Table 1 and category details see Table 2). There were a few changes over previous years with a new Sour category being added as well as New Brewery and New Cider House of the Year. The People's Choice Award and Brewpub of the Year were dropped in this year's competition.
The big winner of the evening was Tatamagouche Brewing taking seven medals and Brewery of the Year with 2 Crows Brewing nabbing five medals and Beer of the Year with their Forever Young. The inaugural New Brewery of the Year went to Four Rivers Brewing in Bathurst NB.
In the Cider category Riverdale Orchard Cidery from Bonshaw PE took New Cider House of the Year, Cider of the Year for 2 Scots 3 Apples and tied with Chain Yard Urban Cidery for Cider House of the Year.
It was another banner year for Atlantic craft and organizers are hoping for a bigger and better show next year.
Table 1 : Medal counts
Breweries | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
Tatamagouche Brewing | 4 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
2 Crows Brewing | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
North Brewing | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
Big Spruce Brewing | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Uncle Leo's Brewery | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Breton Brewing | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Grimross Brewing | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Pump House Brewery | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Garrison Brewing | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Casa Nova Fine Beverages | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Les Brasseurs du Petit-Sault | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Trider's Craft Beer | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
PEI Brewing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Upstreet Craft Brewing | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Riverdale Orchard Cidery | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Chain Yard Urban Cidery | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Four Rivers Brewing | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Nine Locks Brewing | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Meander River Brewery | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
A. Keith's Brewery | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Boxing Rock Brewing | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Oland Brewery | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Yip Cider | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| | | | |
Table 2 : Full Beer and Cider Category Breakdown
North American & European Style Lager
Bronze: Grimross Brewing – Après Lager
Silver: Pump House Brewery – Oktoberfest
Gold: Grimross Brewing – Braunschweig Pils
Honourable Mention: 2 Crows Brewing – Refresh
German Style Specialty Ales
Bronze: North Brewing – Little Beast
Silver: Tatamagouche Brewing – North Shore Lagered Ale
Gold: Uncle Leo’s Brewery – Altbier
UK Style Specialty Ales
Bronze: Pump House Brewery – Barley Wine Ale
Silver: Garrison Brewing – Irish Red
Gold: Trider’s Craft Beer – Rod’s Red
Honourable Mention: Schoolhouse Brewery – Scotian Export
North American Style Specialty Ales
Bronze: Oland Brewery – Oland Export Ale
Silver: Tatamagouche Brewing – Dry-Hopped Lagerhosen
Gold: Tatamagouche Brewing – Giantess Barley Wine
Belgian Style Specialty Ales
Bronze: Les Brasseurs du Petit-Sault – Col. John Baker Dubbel
Silver: 2 Crows Brewing – House Funk Brett Saison
Gold: Tatamagouche Brewing – Square One
North American Style Amber/Red Ales
Bronze: Boxing Rock Brewing – Temptation Red Ale
Silver: Four Rivers Brewing – Havre St-Pierre
Gold: PEI Brewing – Island Red Premium Red Ale
Fruit & Field Beer
Bronze: Les Brasseurs du Petit-Sault – Bonhomme Sept-Heures
Silver: Big Spruce Brewing – Guava Get Me Some
Gold: Upstreet Craft Brewing – Rhuby Social
Honourable Mention: Alexander Keith’s – Hortonville Pumpkin Ale
Pale Ales
Bronze: Big Spruce Brewing – Kitchen Party Pale Ale
Silver: Alexander Keith’s – Cornerstone Edinburgh Pale Ale
Gold: Breton Brewing Co. – Seven Years Pale Ale
Honourable Mention: Lunn’s Mill Beer – Lunn’s Pub Ale
Stout / Porter
Bronze: Big Spruce Brewing– Cereal Killer Stout
Silver: North Brewing – Twinkle Pony Tiramisu Stout
Gold: Breton Brewing – Cocoa Envy Chocolate Porter
Honourable Mention: Pump House Brewery– Muddy River Stout
India Pale Ales
Bronze: 2 Crows Brewing – Second Situation
Silver: Nine Locks Brewing – Fathom Double IPA
Gold: Uncle Leo’s Brewery – Encore IPA
Honourable Mention: PEI Brewing – After Hours: Snowbird Juicy IPA
Experimental Beers
Bronze: 2 Crows Brewing – Dare To Dream
Silver: North Brewing – Des Pêches Rooib
Gold: Tatamagouche Brewing – Feronia
Honourable Mention: Big Spruce Brewing – Thrice
Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer
Bronze: Garrison Brewing – Barrel-Aged Wintervention
Silver: North Brewing – Midnight
Gold: 2 Crows Brewing – Forever Young
Honourable Mention: Propeller Brewing – Barrel Aged Baltic Porter
Sour Beer (*New Category 2018)
Bronze: Tatamagouche Brewing – Soaked
Silver: 2 Crows Brewing – Cool Kid
Gold: Tatamagouche Brewing – Bliss Mixed Fermentation Saison
Honourable Mention: Big Spruce Brewing – Hugs Bunny
Standard Cider & Perry
Bronze: Casa Nova Fine Beverages- Buddy’s Original Craft Cider
Silver: Casa Nova Fine Beverages – 1606 Good Cheer Craft Cider
Gold: Riverdale Orchard Cidery – 2 Scots 3 Apples
Specialty Cider & Perry
Bronze: Yip Cider – Blueberry Picnic
Silver: Meander River Farm & Brewery – Small Lot Rose Petal Cider
Gold: Chain Yard Urban Cidery – Ginxberry
Honourable Mention: Chain Yard – Frostbite