This past weekend in Lexington, KY the finale of their Craft Beer week celebration was the Alltech Craft Brews and Food Fest. With 60 breweries pouring over 200 beers from across the US, the highlight of the festival is the Commonwealth Cup Craft Beer Competition. Beers were judged on appearance, aroma, flavor, body, color, carbonation, foam, clarity, balance, drinkability, technical quality, and overall impression.
The Commonwealth Cup was awarded to the highest rated beer, which this year was awarded to Braxton Brewing Company for their Barrel Aged Dark Charge Mole Stout.
In addition to the Commonwealth Cup three tiers of recognition were awarded: Gold, Silver, and Bronze. A gold medal beer is an outstanding beer that displays the correct balance of taste, aroma and appearance appropriate for the style, and excellent technical merit. Dayton breweries bringing home the Gold are:
Dayton Beer Company – 3 Gold Medals:
Beast of Tadmor Village, Upright Smoked Lager,
Midnight Dream
Hairless Hare – 3 Gold Medals:
Imperial CRV, Barrel Aged Barley Wine, Barrel Aged Cold War
A silver medal beer is an excellent product that displays the correct balance of taste, aroma and appearance appropriate for the style, and a high level of technical merit. The Miami Valley can claim seven silvers:
, Roadside Peanut Butter PorterBitter Hare, 3 Quarter Porter, Kings Reserve, Kickback Kolsch
Heading East, Steel Cut Stout
Alpheaus, Mouth Breather, Waterway, Brewing Charlosta
A great showing for Dayton breweries, especially for Devil Wind to medal, as a rookie brewery. We’re lucky to have such great local beers in the Miami Valley. Hope you get a chance to taste all these award winners soon!
