San Clemente’s Artifex Brewing Company entered the world’s most prestigious beer competition, the 2016 World Beer Cup (WBC), for the first time. This edition of the World Beer Cup (held every 2 years) saw 6,596 beers from 1,907 breweries representing 55 countries. Entries were judged by an elite international panel of 253 judges from 31 countries. Judges awarded 287 out of 288 total possible awards, reflecting the chance for one gold, one silver and one bronze award in each of 96 beer style categories. The awards were presented at the conclusion of Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America® in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The Brewers Association (BA)—the not-for-profit trade group dedicated to promoting and protecting America’s small and independent craft brewers— introduced the World Beer Cup competition in 1996 to celebrate the art and science of brewing by recognizing outstanding achievement. “Brewing has no boundaries or borders,” said Charlie Papazian, founder, Brewers Association. “The World Beer Cup recognizes the very best in the global community of brewers—their innovation, creativity and the craft of beer and brewing.”
2016 World Beer Cup Winners Announcement – Photo © Brewers Association
Category 96 is designated for American-style Imperial Stouts. The category had 62 entries this year so the competition was stiff. The result was a Silver Medal win for Artifex Brewing for their beer called “HoliDAVE”.
Congratulations to the Artifex Brewing team!
Artifex Brewing HoliDAVE Imperial Stout
Started by co-owners Tom Cordato, Nicholas Cordato, Johnny Johur, and Chris Gort, Artifex Brewing opened in 2014 and is located at 919 Amanecer, Suite A in San Clemente, CA. Last year the team won two medals at the San Diego International Beer Festival (a Bronze Medal for “Bog Trotter” Irish Red and a Gold Medal for “Dark Helmet” Schwarzbier).
Artifex Brewing opened in 2014
Overall, Orange County, California breweries won an impressive 11 beer medals and 1 Champion Brewery award at the 2016 World Beer Cup competition. In addition to Artifex Brewing, winning Orange County breweries were:
- Bottle Logic Brewing (Anaheim)
- “Darkstar November” – Silver Medal in Wood & Barrel-aged Strong Stout Category
- “Cobaltic Porter” – Silver Medal in Baltic-Style Porter Category
- Noble Ale Works (Anaheim)
- “Gosebusters” – Silver Medal in the German-Style Sour Ale Category
- “I Love It!” – Gold Medal in the American-Style India Pale Ale (IPA) Category
- “Nobility” – Bronze Medal in the Imperial IPA Category
- Named Small Brewing Company 2016 WBC Champion Brewery and Brewmaster
- TAPS Fish House & Brewery (Brea)
- “Amend This!” – Silver Medal in International-Style Lager Category
- “TAPS Schwarzbier” – Bronze Medal in German-Style Schwarzbier Category
- “El Moreno” – Silver Medal in the American-Style Dark Lager Category
- The Bruery Terreux (Placentia)
- “Oude Tart” – Silver Medal in the Belgian-Style Flanders Oud Bruin or Oud Red Ale Category
- Tustin Brewing Company (Tustin)
- “Portola Breakfast Stout” – Bronze Medal in Coffee Beer Category.
Congratulations to all these outstanding Orange County breweries!
To see the full list of 2016 World Beer Cup winners, click here.
A detailed analysis of the entries and awards can be found in the 2016 World Beer Cup Fact Sheet.