Durango Dark wins silver at World Beer Cup

Durango Dark Lager won the silver medal in the American-style dark lager category at the World Beer Cup last weekend in Chicago.

Durango Dark (5.8 percent ABV, 20 IBUs) was the only locally brewed beer to win a medal. The Durango Brewing beer has long been one of my favorite locally brewed session beers.

The World Beer Cup is a highly prestigious competition, probably second only to the Great American Beer Festival, and even that's arguable.

Full Sail Session Black took the gold in Durango Dark's category.

The winner's list shows a few trends. California has really stepped up over the last few years.

I guess it was inevitable that the nation's most populous state would eventually produce as many or more good beers than any other state. And it's worth remembering that the craft brewing revolution started in California with Anchor Brewing and later Sierra Nevada.

Congrats to Durango Brewing on its medal.

Ska triumphs at beer awards

Ska Brewing Co. went all Michael Phelps at the 2009 North American Beer Awards, winning three medals, including two gold medals.

The winners at the 2009 North American Beer Awards, held June 2-5, were:

*Modus Hoperandi IPA, Gold, American-style India Pale Ale
*ESB Special Ale, Gold, Best Bitter
*Buster Nut Brown Ale, Bronze, English Brown Ale

Ska President Dave Thibodeau pointed out in a news release that both gold medal winners, the Modus and ESB, are available in cans. Ska has been pushing the cans hard, and sales of the cans are overtaking bottles.

Modus is Ska's newest year-round release.

Silverton Brewery won Gold for its Ice Pick Ale in the Strong Bitter ESB category. Why is Southwest Colorado so bitter?

The full list of winners is available here.

Steamworks brings home Aussie medals

Steamworks Brewing Co. recently earned five medals at the Australian International Beer Awards.

The Durango brewery’s Colorado Kölsch and Conductor Imperial IPA earned silver, while Steam Engine Lager, Backside Stout and the seasonal Spruce Goose each garnered bronze.

The contest featured 1,140 beers from 39 countries. The results were announced on March 19.

Congratulations to Steamworks.