A Vancouver beer has been named the first-ever winner of the Canada Beer Cup.
Callister Brewing Company's Wee Laird Wee Heavy Scottish Ale was the 'Best in Show', beating out over 1,000 entries to be named champion. The beer, a smoky and potent Scotch ale (aka a wee heavy), was announced as the winner during a nationally streamed ceremony, with people watching at craft brewpubs across Canada.
Earlier in the evening, the brew won gold in the wood-influenced category.
"HOLY MOLY," Callister's team celebrated on Instagram. "Well, we are feeling pretty stoked and humbled. We managed to take two golds, a bronze and Best in Show at the inaugural @canadabeercup awards!"
Callister's other gold came with their Cuban Taxi Guava Gose; their bronze came for their In Bloom Lambic Style Ale.
Vancouver was well represented at the new awards, with several other awards. Main Street Brewing won a gold for their Naked Fox IPA, while Container Brewing took three awards (silvers for Seawise Giant and Three Legged Bare and a bronze for Seeing Doppel).
Brewhall took a pair of silvers as well (Azedo Tropical Fruit Sour and Slice of Paradise Yuzu Wheat Ale) while 33 Acres brewing took a pair of bronzes (33 Acres of Life and 33 Acres of Darkness).
Settlement Brewing also had some good news when their Good News pale ale took a silver, and Bomber Brewing got a bronze for its Tanada Rice Lager.
Out of the 175 awards (broken down into 10 categories and 70 styles), B.C. breweries took home 46 awards.
The Canada Beer Cup is a new competition created by the Canadian Craft Brewers Association for independent craft breweries. Earlier in October, more than 40 beer experts from Canada and abroad gathered to try out over 1,000 entries.
Of the 70 different styles judged, there was one unique one: Canadian Style Beer, which was open to interpretation but had to celebrate Canada in some way. It was won this year by Sugar Shack from Shacklands Brewing in Toronto.
