The difficult job of determining top honours for Best in Fest – Judges’ Choice at the 2016 Okanagan Fest of Ale fell upon a panel of nine industry experts comprised of Joe Wiebe, Craft Beer Revolution; Jim Martin, Metro Liquor; Mike Garson, Mike’s Craft Beer; Jan Zeschky, beer writer with The Province, Jason van Rassel, beer writer The Daily Beer; Brady Strachan, reporter with CBC Radio; Jeremy Nemanishen, beer writer Craft Beer Vancouver; Stephen Smysniuk, editor of The Growler; and Chelsea Dawn, beer writer Brewtiful British Columbia.

In addition, the People’s Choice Awards were voted for by attendees of the festival. These awards include Best Beer, Cider, Food as well as awards for Best Label Champions and Runners Up from submissions from participating brewers displayed at the event.

The winners received beautiful awards that were created by local artisan Tim Tweed. They are handmade and crafted with passion each as unique as the award winning brews themselves.

The Awards were distributed as follows:

Best in Show, Judges’ Choice Award:

Persephone Pale Ale – Persephone Brewing Company, Gibsons BC

Best in Class, Judges’ Choice Awards:

Pilsner/Golden Lager Bohemian Pilsner – Hearthstone Brewery, North Vancouver BC
Pale Ale/ Persephone Pale Ale – Persephone Brewing Company, Gibsons BC
Wheat Ale/ Smoked Hefeweizen – Steel & Oak Brewing Company, New Westminster BC
Belgian Golden/Saison Old Barn Saison – Fernie Brewing Company, Fernie BC
Amber/Dark Ale A Wee Angry Scotch Ale – Russell Brewing, Surrey BC
IPA /Slingshot Session IPA – Fernie Brewing, Fernie BC
Dark IPA /Disruption Black IPA – Category 12 Brewing, Victoria BC
Dark Lager/ Black Lager – Tree Brewing, Kelowna BC
Belgian Strong /Delirium Tremens – McClelland Imports
Stout/Porter Dry Irish Stout – Ravens Brewing, Abbotsford BC
Blender /Smoke & Mirrors Imperial Smoked Ale – Coal Harbour Brewing, Vancouver
Sour /Sour Raspberry – Old Abbey Ales, Abbotsford BC
Ciders /Calville’s Winter – Twisted Hills Craft Cider, Cawston BC
Fruit Beer/ Tropic Vice Tropical Fruit Ale – Dead Frog Brewing, Aldergrove BC

The People’s Choice Awards, voted for by guests at the event:

Best Beer Tropic Vice Tropical Fruit Ale – Dead Frog Brewing, Aldergrove BC
Best Cider Dominion Craft Cider – Dominion Cider Co., Summerland BC
Best Food Brodo Kitchen, Penticton BC
Label Design Champion Los Muertos Cerveza Negra – Bad Tattoo Brewing Company, Penticton BC
Label Design Runner Up Fat Tug IPA – Driftwood Brewery, Victoria BC
Label Design Runner Up Kingston’s Twist – Twisted Hills Craft Cider, Cawston BC

“We were thrilled to once again have such an esteemed panel of judges” says Warren Everton, Okanagan Fest of Ale Judging Chair. “They had a difficult job tasting and evaluating 106 different beers and ciders to determine the best entries in 14 different categories and then to agree on the overall Best in Show award. The winners represent an amazing collection of the best that BC has to offer, make sure you visit your local liquor stores and try these award winners.”

The 2017 Okanagan Fest of Ale is Set to Take Place – April 7 & 8, 2017!