About the Los Angeles (LA) International Beer Competition
Celebrating its 19th year, the LA International Beer Competition recognizes the finest in beers. Held at the LA County Fair, the event welcomes competition from any licensed brewery or brewpub. All beers entered must be available for sale to the general public. A distinguished panel of judges evaluate the beers in a broad range of style categories. Three medals – Gold, Silver, and Bronze – are possible in each category although some medals may not be awarded.
LA International Beer Competition 2019 Winners
Here are the winners for this year’s competition. Congratulations to all the medal winners – especially my local breweries, Artifex Brewing, Lost Winds Brewing and Pizza Port San Clemente!
2019 Best of Show: El Segundo Brewing Company, Old Jetty
1 -American-Style Wheat Beer
Gold Medal: Eppig Brewing, Meister N. German Wheat Beer
Bronze Medal: Stanley Park Brewing, Stanley Park Brewing Sunsetter
2 -American-Style Wheat Beer with Yeast
Gold Medal: Scotty’s Bierwerks, American Dark Wheat
Silver Medal: Lengthwise Brewing Company, Harvest Moon Wheat Ale
3 -American-Style Fruit Beer
Gold Medal: Four Peaks Brewing Co., Peach Ale
Silver Medal: Four Sons Brewing, Vacation
Bronze Medal: TAPS Brewery, Smooth Razz
4 -Fruit Wheat Beer
Gold Medal: Sprecher Brewing Co., Grapefruit Radler
Silver Medal: Garage Brewing Co., Mango Hefeweizen
Bronze Medal: Garage Brewing Co., Sweet Orange Wit
5 -Belgian-Style Fruit Beer
Gold Medal: Dust Bowl Brewing, Twisted Monk
Silver Medal: Brewyard Beer Company, Tropico
Bronze Medal: Brewheim, Brewheim Bramble on Saison
Honorable Mention: Flix Brewhouse -Chandler, Wit with Fruit
7 -Field Beer
Gold Medal: Bartlett Brewing Co. (Bartlett Hall), Layer Bar
Silver Medal: Barley Forge Brewing Co., The Patsy
Bronze Medal: Smoking Cannon Brewery, Paxton
8 -Chili Beer
Gold Medal: Rock Bottom Brewery -Nashville, Jalapeno Lager
Silver Medal: River Rat Brewery, Tabasco Barrel Aged Imperial Milk Stout
9 -Herb and Spice Beer
Gold Medal: Danville Brewing Company, Oatmeal Raisin Cookie
Silver Medal: Inland Warf Brewing, Winter Warmer
Bronze Medal: Absolution Brewing Co., Cerveza de Champurrado
10 -Pumpkin Spice Beer
Gold Medal: Twin Creeks Brewing Company, Twin Creeks Imperial Pumpkin Ale
Silver Medal: Papa Marces Cerveceria, Pumpkin: The Musical
Bronze Medal: Rahr & Sons Production Team, Pumpkin Ale
11 -Chocolate or Cocoa Beer
Gold Medal: Belching Beaver Brewery, Mexican Chocolate Peanut Butter Stout
Silver Medal: Riip Beer Company, Flannels and Flip Flops
Bronze Medal: Urban Roots Brewery & Smokehouse, Chocolate Moustache
12 -Coffee Beer
Gold Medal: Rahr & Sons Brewing Company, Iron Joe
Silver Medal: Tricia LaRue, Cabra Loca Espresso Milk Stout
Bronze Medal: Phantom Ales, Kona Coffee Lager –Hazelnut
13 -Specialty Beer
Gold Medal: Eppig Brewing, Count Maltula Cereal Imperial Milk Stout
Silver Medal: Indian Joe Brewing, Ham for the Holidays
Bronze Medal: Garage Brewing Co., Kumquat Brut IPA
Honorable Mention: Moonraker Brewing, Hollow Bones
14 -Rye Beer
Gold Medal: Pizza Port -Carlsbad, Palapa
Silver Medal: Papa Marces Cerveceria, Ryesilience
Bronze Medal: Burning Beard, Roggen the Lightning
15 -Honey Beer
Gold Medal: Booze Brothers Brewing Co., Honey Bloom
Silver Medal: SLO Brew, Hazy Honey Blonde
16 -Session Beer
Gold Medal: Burgeon Beer Company, Clever Kiwi
Silver Medal: Pizza Port -San Diego, Guillaume
17 -Session India Pale Ale
Gold Medal: Karl Strauss Brewing Company, Mosaic Session IPA
Silver Medal: Holy City Brewing, Paradise IPA
Bronze Medal: Pizza Port -Carlsbad, Ponto
18 -Other Strong Beer
Gold Medal: High Water Brewing, Aphotic Imperial Porter
19 -Experimental Beer
Gold Medal: Arts District Brewing Company, Umbra Tertia
Silver Medal: Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Feral Vinifera
Bronze Medal: Four Sons Brewing, PB&K
20 -Fresh Hop Beer
Silver Medal: Deft Brewing, Patio Hops & Geysers
21 -Historical Beer
Gold Medal: Deft Brewing, DoubleDeft Secret
Silver Medal: South Park Brewing, Skol
Bronze Medal: Dempseys Restaurant and Brewery, How Many Dan’s Does It Take…
22 -Gluten Free Beer
Silver Medal: Willies Superbrew, Sparkling Mango & Passionfruit
Bronze Medal: Willies Superbrew, Sparkling Pomegranate & Acai
23 -American-Belgo-Style Ale
Gold Medal: Rouleur Brewing Company, PUNCHEUR Pale Ale
Silver Medal: Rock Bottom -La Jolla, Epic Joyride WIPA
Bronze Medal: Innovation Brew Works, Cattle Rancher
24 -American-Style Sour Ale
Gold Medal: Smog City Brewing Co., JuneLady
Silver Medal: Almanac Beer Co., Farmer’s Reserve No. 5
Bronze Medal: Lost Winds Brewing Company, Single pHin Sour with Blueberries
25 -Brett Beer
Gold Medal: King Harbor Brewing Company, Ride The Wild
Silver Medal: Cucapa Brewing Co., Bocanegra Wild Ale & Barbera
Bronze Medal: Papa Marces Cerveceria, The Funk For Red October
26 -Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer
Gold Medal: Nebraska Brewing Company, Blanc is the New White
Silver Medal: BJ’s Restaurants & Brewery-Reno, BJ’s Whiskers
27 -Wood and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer
Gold Medal: 3 Punk Ales, Barley Legal
Silver Medal: AleSmith Brewing Company, Cinnamon Vanilla Barrel-Aged Speedway Stout
Bronze Medal: BJ’s Brewhouse, Papa Grande
28 -Wood and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout
Gold Medal: Sprecher Brewing Co., Czar Brew
Silver Medal: PizzaPort -Carlsbad Village, 2018 Strong Ale
Bronze Medal: Riip Beer Company, Death Ditch
29 -Wood and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer
Gold Medal: Angel City Brewery,That Voodoo that Yuzu
Silver Medal: Garage Brewing Co., Gin BarrelGose
Bronze Medal: 42 North Brewing Company, Confucious Wild Ale w/ Apricot
31 -Kellerbier or Zwickelbier
Gold Medal: Hop Dogma, Ol’ Keller
Silver Medal: Woodfour Brewing, New Ridge Lager
Bronze Medal: Urban Chestnut Brewing Company, Zwickel
32 -Smoke Beer
Gold Medal: South Park Brewing, Bread & Smoke
Silver Medal: Pedal Haus Brewery, Rauchbier Märzen
Bronze Medal: Brewyard Beer Company, Smoking Redhead
Honorable Mention: Stone Brewing Co.-Liberty Station, Rogalian
33 -American-Style Pilsner
Gold Medal: Urban Chestnut Brewing Company, Urban Underdog American Lager
Silver Medal: United States Beverage, Moosehead Breweries -Moosehead Lager
Bronze Medal: Old Stump Brewing Co., Torrey Pines Pilsner
34 -International-Style Pilsner
Gold Medal: Knee Deep Brewing Company, Si Señor
Silver Medal: Angel City Brewery, Little Tokyo Super Dry
Bronze Medal: Eppig Brewing, Eppig Special Lager
35 -American-Style or German-Style Light Light Lager
Gold Medal: Danville Brewing Company, Lagerade
Silver Medal: Pedal Haus Brewery, Day Drinker Light Lager
Bronze Medal: Rahr & Sons Brewing Company, Rahr’s Blonde
36 -American-Style Lager or Ice Lager or Malt Lager
Gold Medal: Phantom Ales, Beaver Pointe River Lager
Silver Medal: Trustworthy Brewing Co., Gigil Rice Pilsner
Bronze Medal: Thorn Brewing Company, Barrio Lager
37 -American-Style Cream Ale
Gold Medal: Artifex Brewing Company, Artifexican
Silver Medal: Angel City Brewery, Cream Ale
Bronze Medal: Ballast Point, Ballast Point Lager
38 -American-Style Amber Lager
Gold Medal: El Segundo Brewing Company, Casa Azul
Silver Medal: Brewyard Beer Company, Jewel City
Bronze Medal: Bhramari Brewing Company, Painted Fortune
39 -German-Style Pilsner
Gold Medal: Eagle Rock Brewery, Amwolf
Silver Medal: Brewyard Beer Company, Sparkling Joy
Bronze Medal: Pigeon Head Brewery, Pigeon Head Pilsner
40 -Bohemian-Style Pilsner
Gold Medal: Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co., Paradise Road
Silver Medal: Thorn Brewing, Golden Hills Pils
Bronze Medal: Draughtsmen Aleworks, Czech Please
41 -Munich-Style Helles
Gold Medal: 2kids Brewing Company, Five Finger Discount
Silver Medal: Speakeasy Ales & Lagers, Hail to the Chief Helles
Bronze Medal: Green Flash Brewing, Baja Bound
42 -Dortmunder or German-Style Oktoberfest
Gold Medal: Barley Forge Brewing Co., Grandpa Tractor
Silver Medal: Hansa Brewery, Oktoberfest
43 -Vienna-Style Lager
Gold Medal: Rip Current Brewing Company, Corriente Negra Mexican Lager
Silver Medal: Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co., Danish Red Lager
Bronze Medal: Left Coast Brewing Co., Una Mas
44 -German-Style Maerzen
Gold Medal: 14 Cannons, Marooner Märzen
Silver Medal: Great Basin Brewing Company, Oktoberfest
Bronze Medal: Thorn Brewing Company, Marty Zen
45 -European-Style Dark Lager/Munich-Style Dunkel
Gold Medal: Church Brew Works, Pious Monk Dunkel
Silver Medal: Beachwood BBQ -Long Beach, Dunkle As a Skunkle
Bronze Medal: Pedal Haus Brewery, Tmave Pivo
46 -Dark Lager
Gold Medal: TAPS Brewery, Schwarzbier
Silver Medal: Enegren Brewing, Nighthawk
Bronze Medal: Last Name Brewing, California Black Beer
47 -Bock
Gold Medal: Rip Current Brewing Company, Breakline Bock
Silver Medal: Enegren Brewing, Maibock
Bronze Medal: Point Beer, Point Bock Beer
48 -German-Style Doppelbock or Eisbock
Gold Medal: Bonesaw Brewing, Amputator
Silver Medal: Sprecher BrewingCo., Dopple Bock
Bronze Medal: GameCraft Brewing, Goat Simulator
49 -Baltic-Style Porter
Gold Medal: Rok House Brewing Co., Beowulf Baltic Porter
50 -Golden or Blonde Ale
Gold Medal: Beachwood BBQ -Huntington Beach, Foam Top
Silver Medal: Great Basin Brewing Company, 39 North Blonde Ale
Bronze Medal: Deft Brewing, Bay Park Blonde
51 -German-Style Kolsch
Gold Medal: HopSaint Brewing Company, Kolsch Enough
Silver Medal: Mike Hess Brewing, Claritas
Bronze Medal: Faultline Brewing, Kolsch
52 -English-Style Summer Ale
Gold Medal: Deft Brewing, DeftHopt Golden
Silver Medal: Rock Bottom -La Jolla, San Diego Sunset Blonde
53 -Classic English-Style Pale Ale
Gold Medal: Alosta Brewing Co., Elias
Silver Medal: The Stalking Horse, West Pico Pale
Bronze Medal: Sprecher Brewing Co., Hop on Top
54 -English-Style India Pale Ale
Gold Medal: Boqueron Brewing, Boquerón Brewing Co. CrashBoat IPA
Silver Medal: South Park Brewing, In the Meantime
Bronze Medal: Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co., Hoppy Poppy IPA
55 -Australian-Style Pale Ale
Gold Medal: HopSaint Brewing Company, Pure Intention
56 -International-Style Pale Ale
Gold Medal: Garage Brewing Co., Garage Pale Ale
Silver Medal: South Lake Tahoe Craft Beer, Angora IPA
Bronze Medal: Burgeon Beer Company, Canopy Tour
57 -American-Style Pale Ale
Gold Medal: Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co., Figueroa Mountain Mosaic
Silver Medal: BJ’s Restaurants & Brewery-Chandler, BJ’s Piranha Pale Ale
Bronze Medal: Stanley Park Brewing, Stanley Park Brewing Windstorm
Honorable Mention: Alosta Brewing Co., D Street XPA
58 -Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale
Gold Medal: Last Name Brewing, #HungerSucks
Silver Medal: Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Mind Haze
Bronze Medal: Beachwood BBQ -Huntington Beach, Hazer’s Edge
59 -American-Style Strong Pale Ale
Gold Medal: Burgeon Beer Company, Treevana
Silver Medal: Urban Roots Brewery & Smokehouse, Like Riding A Bike
Bronze Medal: Thorn Brewing Company, Relay IPA
60 -American-Style India Pale Ale
Gold Medal: GameCraft Brewing, Pay to Win
Silver Medal: Common Space Brewery, YAY! SAYER IPA
Bronze Medal: Burning Beard, Dankness Visible
61 -Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale
Gold Medal: Knee Deep Brewing Company, Oopsie D’hazy
Silver Medal: Garage Brewing Co., Hazy #8
Bronze Medal: BeachwoodBBQ -Huntington Beach, 28 Haze Later
Honorable Mention: Rouleur Brewing Company, DOPEUR Juicy IPA
62 -Imperial India Pale Ale
Gold Medal: Moonraker Brewing, All Hops on Deck
Silver Medal: Ritual Brewing Co., Ritual Double Dab -DIPA
Bronze Medal: SLO Brew, Still Frothy
63 -Juicy or Hazy Imperial or Double India Pale Ale
Gold Medal: Moonraker Brewing, Girls Just Wanna Have Sun
Silver Medal: Black Market Brewing, Gold
Bronze Medal: Santa Monica Brew Works, Head in the Clouds
64 -American-Style Amber/Red Ale
Gold Medal: BJ’s Restaurants & Brewery-Chandler, BJ’s Oasis Amber
Silver Medal: San Fernando Brewing Company, O’Melveny Red Ale
Bronze Medal: Smog City Brewing Co., Sabre-Toothed Squirrel
65 -Double Hoppy Red Ale
Gold Medal: Pizza Port -Carlsbad, Sharkbite Red
Silver Medal: Wiens Brewing, Dawnrider
Bronze Medal: Scotty’s Bierwerks, American Strong
66 -Imperial Red Ale
Gold Medal: Big Sexy Brewing, Gifted Gunslinger
Silver Medal: Claremont Craft Ales, Happy Days
Bronze Medal: Trustworthy Brewing Co., Brass Jar Hoppy Amber
67 -English-Style Mild Ale
Gold Medal: Pizza Port -San Diego, Skidmark
Silver Medal: Pizza Port -San Clemente, Nerf Herder
Bronze Medal: Flix Brewhouse -Albuquerque, The Brown Basilisk
68 -Ordinary or Special Bitter
Gold Medal: South Park Brewing, Robert Smith’s Smooth
Silver Medal: The Stalking Horse, Minions
Bronze Medal: Firestone Walker Brewing Co., DBA
69 -Extra Special Bitter
Gold Medal: Three Weavers Brewing, Deep Roots
Silver Medal: 2kids Brewing Company,Poppycock ESB
Bronze Medal: Brick Vault Brewery & BBQ, Emory Peak ESB
70 -Scottish-Style Ale
Gold Medal: Beachwood BBQ -Long Beach, Glenlongbeach
Silver Medal: Flix Brewhouse -Chandler, Scottish
Bronze Medal: Eppig Brewing, Granite City Scottish Export
71 -Irish-Style Red Ale
Gold Medal: Four Sons Brewing, O’Sonset
Silver Medal: Alosta Brewing Co., Manky Langer Irish Red
Bronze Medal: Kokopelli Beer Company, Blarney Stone
72 -English-Style Brown Ale
Gold Medal: Fort Point Beer Company, Westfalia
Silver Medal: PizzaPort -Carlsbad Village, shagadellic brown
Bronze Medal: Peter B’s Brewpub, Inclusion Amber
73 -American-Style Brown Ale
Gold Medal: Black Market Brewing, Shakedown
Silver Medal: Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co., Davy Brown
Bronze Medal: Old Stump Brewing Co., Nut Job Brown Ale
74 -American-Style Black Ale
Gold Medal: Claremont Craft Ales, Buddy
Silver Medal: Wiens Brewing, Deprivation
Bronze Medal: Riip Beer Company, Black the Riipper
75 -German-Style Sour Ale
Gold Medal: Mike Hess Brewing, Peach My Other Vice
Silver Medal: Euryale Brewing Company, Halia Sour Cherry Gose
Bronze Medal: Papa Marces Cerveceria, Zest Of Friends
76 -German-Style Altbier
Gold Medal: Stone Brewing Co.-Liberty Station, Space Bar Friends
Silver Medal: Enegren Brewing, Valkyrie
Bronze Medal: Tioga-Sequoia Brewing Company, Firefall Red
77 -South German-Style Hefewizen
Gold Medal: Pizza Port -San Diego, Flying Hawaiian
Silver Medal: Karl Strauss Brewing Company, Windansea Wheat
Bronze Medal: Stanley Park Brewing, Summer Hefeweizen
78 -German-Style Wheat Ale
Silver Medal: Pizza Port -San Diego, Junk In Da Trunkel Dunkel
79 -Belgian-Style Blonde Ale or Pale Ale
Gold Medal: PizzaPort -Carlsbad Village, Twerp
Silver Medal: Bonesaw Brewing, Le Petit Demon
Bronze Medal: Flix Brewhouse -Albuquerque, Pale Full of Bricks
80 -Belgian-Style Witbier
Gold Medal: Four Peaks Brewing Co., White Ale
Silver Medal: Tortugo Brewing Company, Isabela White
Bronze Medal: Pedal Haus Brewery, Biere Blanche
81 -Classic French and Belgian-Style
Gold Medal: Beachwood BBQ -Long Beach, Un Atout
Silver Medal: 2kids Brewing Company, Rocket Powered Geese
Bronze Medal: Dorćol Distilling and Brewing, Coq Hardi Saison
82 -Specialty Saison
Gold Medal: Fort Point Beer Company, Resonance
Silver Medal: Conflux Brewing Company, Ginger Lemongrass Farmhouse Saison
Bronze Medal: Papa Marces Cerveceria, Is It Bretty Yet?
83-Belgian and French-Style Ale
Gold Medal: Flix Brewhouse -Carmel, Super Power Potion
Silver Medal: Ladyface Ale Co., La Grisette
Bronze Medal: Chula Vista Brewery, Sin Paredes
84 -Belgian-Style Lambic or Sour Ale
Gold Medal: Beachwood Blendery, Chaos is a Friend of Mine
Silver Medal: Mraz Brewing Company, Drinking with Friends
Bronze Medal: Mraz Brewing Company, Curator
85 -Belgian-Style Dubbel or Quadrupel
Gold Medal: Imperial Western Beer Co., Figgy Pudding
Silver Medal: Olde Salem Brewing Co., Sabotage
Bronze Medal: BJ’s Restaurants & Brewery-Reno, BJ’s Abbey Normal Quad
86 -Belgian-Style Tripel
Gold Medal: Dempsey’s Restaurant and Brewery, Tres Hombres
Silver Medal: Bluebird Brasserie, What a Trip
Bronze Medal: Burning Beard, Panic at the Nunnery
87 -Belgian-Style Strong Specialty Ale
Gold Medal: Imperial Western Beer Co., Ahoy-Hoy
Silver Medal: Thorn Brewing, Fornication
Bronze Medal: Rouleur Brewing Company, SOLOIST Golden Strong Ale
88 -Other Belgian-Style Ale
Gold Medal: Bluebird Brasserie, Strangely Attractive
Silver Medal: Draughtsmen Aleworks, Mini Monk
Bronze Medal: Riip Beer Company, Mandarina Rustica
89 -Brown Porter
Gold Medal: Deft Brewing, Dawn of the Deft
Silver Medal: Broxton, Maeby
Bronze Medal: Holy City Brewing, PluffMud Porter
90 -Robust Porter
Gold Medal: Founders Brewing, Porter
Silver Medal: Faultline Brewing, London Porter
Bronze Medal: Babe’s BBQ & Brewhouse, Babe’s Pigsleys Porter
91 -Classic Irish-Style Dry Stout
Gold Medal: Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co., Stearn’s Stout
Silver Medal: Pocock Brewing Company, It’s My Island
Bronze Medal: Last Name Brewing, Dropkick Mercy
92 -Export Stout
Gold Medal: Yorkshire Square Brewery, Castle Dangerous
Silver Medal: Stone Brewing Co.-Liberty Station, Brut(ish) Imperial Stout
Bronze Medal: Island Brewing Company, Starry Night Stout
93 -American-Style Stout
Gold Medal: Stone Brewing Co. -Liberty Station, Cimmerian Portal
Silver Medal: Smoking Cannon Brewery, Coehorn
Bronze Medal: Papa Marces Cerveceria, Astout Observation
94 -Sweet Stout or Cream Stout
Gold Medal: Danville Brewing Company, Slippery Rail
Silver Medal: Twin Creeks Brewing Company, Winter Night Milk Stout
Bronze Medal: Great Basin Brewing Company, Outlaw Stout
95 -Oatmeal Stout
Gold Medal:Scotty’s Bierwerks, Oatmeal Stout
Silver Medal: Deft Brewing, Day of the Deft
Bronze Medal: Flix Brewhouse -Albuquerque, Marvelous Oatmeal Stout
96 -Imperial Stout
Gold Medal: Rip Current Brewing Company, Rescue Buoy Imperial Stout
Silver Medal: TriciaLaRue, Anthony’s Pacification Russian Imperial Stout
Bronze Medal: Ritual Brewing Co., Ritual Big Deluxe -Imperial Oat Stout
97 -Scotch Ale
Gold Medal: Bonfire Brewing, Kilt Dropper Scotch Ale
Silver Medal: Pizza Port -San Clemente, Way Heavy
Bronze Medal: Beachwood BBQ -Long Beach, Full Malted Jacket
98 -Old Ale or Strong Ale
Gold Medal: El Segundo Brewing Company, Old Jetty
Silver Medal: AleSmith Brewing Company, AleSmith Private Stock Ale
Bronze Medal: BJ’s Brewhouse, BJ’s Jeremiah Red
99 -Barley Wine Style Ale
Gold Medal: Island Brewing Company, Big Island Barley Wine
Silver Medal: Revelry Brewing Co., Chateau Revelry
Bronze Medal: Tricia LaRue, Barley Wine
100 -Standard Cider & Perry
Gold Medal: Common Cider Company, Blackberry Sangria
Silver Medal: Boston Beer Company, Angry Orchard the Old Fashioned
Bronze Medal: ACE Cider, ACE Pineapple Craft Cider