Vancouver’s Luppolo Brewing Co. was the big winner at the 2018 Okanagan Fest of Ale this past weekend in Penticton, picking up coveted Best in Show honours for its Tart Wild Ale with Plum, as well as winning for Best Sour Beer.
Thousands of craft beer and cider fans descended on the South Okanagan Events Centre for the 23rd annual edition of Fest of Ale.
The difficult job of determining top honours for the Judges’ Choice awards fell upon a panel of nine industry experts, including Growler contributors Joe Wiebe, Jan Zeschky and Rebecca Whyman.
Among the winning beers was Cinders Red Rye by CrossRoads Brewing (Best Amber/Dark Ale), Park Life Passion Fruit Ale by Bomber Brewing (Best Fruit Beer), Humans IPA by The Parkside Brewery (Best IPA), Hit the Deck Hazy IPA by Fernie Brewing Co. (Best Specialty IPA), Fashionably Late by Moon Under Water Brewery (Best Pale Ale), Los Muertos Cerveza Negra by Bad Tattoo Brewing (Best Pilsner/Lager/Kölsch), Pamela by BNA Brewing Co. (Best Saison), Sublime Pineapple Hefeweizen by Moody Ales (Best Wheat Ale), Nightwatch Coffee Lager by Lighthouse Brewing (Best Specialty Beer), Péché Mortel Imperial Espresso Stout by Brasserie Dieu du Ciel (Best Stout/Porter) and Dad Bod by BC Tree Fruits Cider (Best Cider).
“We were thrilled to once again have such an esteemed panel of judges here with us at the festival,” says Warren Everton, Okanagan Fest of Ale judging chair. “They had a difficult job tasting and evaluating 122 different beers and ciders to determine the best entries in 12 different categories and then to agree on the overall Best in Show award. The winners represent an amazing collection of the best beer and ciders around. These are well worth keeping an eye out for at your local liquor store, restaurant or tap room.”
Dead Frog’s Blueberry Blast Kettle Sour took home the People’s Choice Award for Best Beer, while Broken Ladder Pears & Peaches Sparkling Cider by BC Tree Fruits Cider won for Best Cider.
Okanagan Fest of Ale is a non-profit event supporting local Penticton charities. Since 1996 the Okanagan Fest of Ale Society has gifted over $637,000 in net proceeds back to the community. For more information on the Okanagan Fest of Ale, visit FestOfAle.ca or follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
