Island Brewing Company Grabs the Gold
Bourbon Barrel-Aged Big Island Imperial India Pale Ale Gains Gold Medal
A panel of assembled certified beer judges at the Great American Beer festival in Denver, CO confirmed what many locals already know: world class beer is being brewed in Carpinteria. Out of 77 entrants in the Barrel-Aged Strong Ale category, Island Brewing Company’s Bourbon Barrel-Aged Big Island Imperial India Pale Ale came out on top to claim the Gold Medal in the category.
“Our aim to brew fresh and flavorful beers has been steadily winning us fans locally and it’s nice to see that reaffirmed in a celebrated national competition like the Great American Beer Festival,” said owner and brewer Paul Wright. “The Bourbon Barrel-Aged Big Island IPA is a big and flavorful beer, which, after brewing, is then aged for six months in Kentucky bourbon barrels before going into bottles. To win in this heavily contested category is truly an honor and makes all the hard work worth it.”
The 2010 Great American Beer Festival competition drew an impressive field of competitors, with 2010 topping last year’s entries by nine percent. GABF remains the largest commercial beer competition in the world with 3,523 beers vying for medals (compared to 3,308 entries in 2009).
This year’s GABF competition attracted 151 beer judges from 10 countries. Award-winning brewers received prestigious gold, silver and bronze medals in 79 beer categories covering 133 beer styles, establishing the best examples of each style in the U.S.
Island Brewing Company is a microbrewery in Carpinteria with a tasting room overlooking the Santa Barbara Channel. This is the brewery’s third GABF medal, winning two silver medals in previous competitions for its Nut Brown Ale and the Jubilee Ale. Regular staples at the tasting room include the Island Blonde, the Island Weiss, the Paradise Pale Ale, the Island Pale Ale, the Jubilee Ale and the Blackbird Porter as well as one or two seasonal ales and occasional cask ales. The brewery self distributes kegs and 22-oz bottles in restaurants, grocery and liquor stores throughout Ventura, Ojai, Carpinteria, and Santa Barbara.
For more information and to schedule brewery tours contact Island Brewing Company:
(805) 745-8272, paul@islandbrewingcompany.com