Story by Kendall Jones, via Washington Beer Blog.
The awards just keep coming for Reuben’s Brews. The Ballard-based brewery recently brought home more hardware from one of the nation’s most prestigious beer competitions. This time, Reuben’s Brews earned four medals at the U.S. Open Beer Championship and tied for 4th place on the list of “Top 10 Breweries 2014.”
Reuben’s Brews collected a gold medal for the Roggenbier, a silver medal for the American Brown, a silver for the Auld Heritage, and a bronze for the Dry Irish Stout. All that hardware added up to a 4th place finish in the Top Breweries competition. This is the second time Reuben’s Brews finished in the top 10: in 2013 the brewery placed 6th on the list of Top 10 Breweries.
Other Washington medal winners included Valholl Brewing (a bronze medal for Golden Warrior and a silver medal for Poulsbo Abbey Wit), and Pike Brewing (silver medal for Kilt Lifter).
The U.S. Open Beer Championship is recognized as one of the biggest brewery competitions in the world and the only one to include both professional and amateur brewers. More than 3,000 beers brewed by 300 breweries in 20 different countries competed this year.
“We were very excited to hear how well we did this year,” says Adam Robbings, co-founder and head brewer at Reuben’s Brews. “It’s fantastic to be recognized in such a large competition with so many great breweries. We’ve won some nice recognition so far, but this is definitely the highlight!”
Reuben’s Brews was the only Washington brewery to make the Top 10. The diminutive Ballard brewery found itself sitting with some impressive company: Grand National Champion honors went to Wormtown Brewery in Worcester, Massachusetts, with Stone Brewery and Deschutes Brewery tying for second.
The Top 10 Breweries, as determined by the U.S. Open Beer Championship:
Wormtown Brewing – Massachusetts
Stone Brewing – California
Deschutes Brewery – Oregon
Reuben’s Brews – Washington
Blue Point Brewing – New York
Sprecher Brewing – Wisconsin
Black Tooth Brewing – Wyoming
Rahr & Sons Brewing – Texas
Boston Beer Company – Massachusetts
Green Bench Brewing – Florida
Peticolas Brewing – Texas
Big Island Brewhaus – Hawaii
Lakewood Brewing – Texas
2014 United States Open Medal Winners
Golden or Blonde ale
GOLD – Sweetwater 420 – Sweetwater Brewing – Georgia
SILVER – High Road Everyday Ale – Badger Hill Brewing – Minnesota
BRONZE – Golden Warrior – Valholl Brewing Company – Washington
English Summer Ale
GOLD – Twilight Summer Ale – Deschutes Brewery – Oregon
SILVER – This Season’s Blonde – Aspen Brewing Company – Colorado
SILVER – Lil Sunshine Golden Ale – Latitude 42 Brewing – Michigan
BRONZE – Nerd Alert – Monday Night Brewing – Georgia
English Pale Ale
GOLD – Ballast Point Pale Ale – Ballast Point Brewing – California
SILVER – Horseshoe Bend Pale Ale – Grand Canyon Brewing – Arizona
BRONZE – Shooter Pale Ale – City Star Brewing – Colorado
IPA
GOLD – Ethos – Tallgrass Brewing Company – Kansas
SILVER – Hoptical Illusion – Blue Point Brewing – New York
BRONZE – Devil’s Triangle – Florida Beer Company – Florida
Imperial IPA
GOLD – Hopulence – Wormtown Brewery – Massachusetts
SILVER – Hoptologist – Knee Deep Brewing – California
BRONZE – Double Battle Axe – Kelsen Brewing – New Hampshire
Bitter
GOLD – Wisco Disco – Stillmank Brewing – Wisconsin
SILVER – Mill Gap English Bitter – Neustadt Springs Brewery – Canada
BRONZE – Ordinary Bitter – Wolf HIlls Brewing – Virginia
ESB
GOLD – Minnesota Special Bitter – Badger Hill Brewing – Minnesota
SILVER – Echo Sierra Bravo – Old Rail Brewing – Louisiana
BRONZE – Calico – Ballast Point Brewing – California
English Mild Ale
GOLD – Sliding Rock Ale – BearWaters Brewing – North Carolina
SILVER – Ever Ard – Neustadt Springs Brewery – Ontario
BRONZE – Mill Race Mild – Grand River Brewing – Ontario
Brown ale
GOLD – Bunyan Badger – Badger State Brewing – Wisconsin
SILVER – County Dark Ale – Wellington Brewery – Ontario
BRONZE – Bald Eagle Brown – RJ Rockers Brewing – South Carolina
Porter
GOLD – Black Butte Porter – Deschutes Brewery – Oregon
SILVER – Port Jeff Porter – Port Jeff Brewing – New York
BRONZE – Double Decker – Brewing Bus Brewing – Florida
Robust Porter
GOLD – Night Watchman – City Star Brewing – Colorado
SILVER – Deadeye Jack – Lonerider Brewing – North Carolina
BRONZE – Velvet Hammer Vanilla Porter – Lake Bluff Brewing – Illinois
Classic Irish Dry Stout
GOLD – Irish Stout – Sprecher Brewing – Wisconsin
SILVER – Kiss my Irish Stout – Lynnwood Brewing – North Carolina
BRONZE – Classic Dry Irish Stout – Reuben’s Brews – Washington
Foreign Stout
GOLD – Worthog Stout – Bootstrap Brewing – Colorado
SILVER – Elda M – No Label Brewing – Texas
BRONZE – White Street Stout – White Street Brewing – North Carolina
American Stout
GOLD – Stumpy Ridge Stout – Black Tooth Brewing – Wyoming
SILVER – Obsidian Stout – Deschutes Brewery – Oregon
BRONZE – LUNA LLENA – Santa Fe Beer Factory – Mexico
Cream Stout
GOLD – Cigar City Brunch – Cigar City Brewpub – Florida
SILVER – Secret Stache Stout – Finch’s Beer Company – Illinois
BRONZE – Sweet Stout – Motorworks Brewing – Florida
Oatmeal Stout
GOLD – Alaskan Oatmeal Stout – Alaskan Brewing Company – Alaska
SILVER – The Poet – New Holland Brewing – Michigan
BRONZE – Blue Point Oatmeal Stout – Blue Point Brewing – New York
Imperial Stout
GOLD – Zhukov’s Imperial Stout – Cigar City Brewing – Florida
GOLD – Stone Imperial Russian Stout – Stone Brewing – California
SILVER – Long, Dark Voyage to Uranus – Sawdust City Brewing – Canada
BRONZE – Black Xantus – Humboldt Brewing – California
Old Ale
GOLD – Jackhammer – Arbor Brewing Company – Michigan
SILVER – Iron Duke – Wellington Brewery – Canada
BRONZE – Brewmaster Strong – Niagara College Teaching Brewery – Canada
Barley Wine
GOLD – Beard Envy – Red Brick Brewing – Georgia
GOLD – Stentorian – Valiant Brewing – California
SILVER – Old Howling Bastard – Blue Point Brewing – New York
BRONZE – Hangman – Lonerider Brewing – North Carolina
Scottish Ale
GOLD – Scotch Ale – Guadalupe Brewing – Texas
SILVER – Kilt Lifter – Pike Brewing – Washington
BRONZE – Scottish Pale Ale – Neustadt Springs Brewery – Canada
Strong Scottish Ale
GOLD – Iron Thistle – Rahr & Sons Brewing – Texas
SILVER – Old Chub – Oskar Blues Brewery – Colorado
BRONZE – Wallace, WeeHeavy – The Fort Collins Brewery – Colorado
Irish Red Ale
GOLD – Irish Goodbye – Peticolas Brewing – Texas
SILVER – Rollin Dirty – Brew Bus Brewing – Florida
BRONZE – Irish Red – Rapp Brewing – Florida
American Amber / Red
GOLD – Red Giant – Big Island Brewhaus – Hawaii
SILVER – Parallel 49 Gypsy Tears Red Ale – 2×4 Brewing – California
BRONZE – Cameron’s Auburn Ale – Cameron’s Brewing – Ontario
Imperial Red Ale
GOLD – G’Knight Imperial Red Ale – Oskar Blues Brewery – Colorado
SILVER – Red Hoppocalypse Imperial Ale – APOCALYPSE ALE WORKS – Virginia
BRONZE – Velvet Hammer – Peticolas Brewing – Texas
American Pale Ale
GOLD – The Public – DC Brau Brewing – Washington DC
SILVER – Cardinal Pale Ale – Nebraska Brewing – Nebraska
BRONZE – 8-Bit Pale Ale – Tallgrass Brewing – Kansas
American IPA
GOLD – Be Hoppier – Wormtown Brewery – Massachusetts
SILVER – Holy Humulus IPA – Big Island Brewhaus – Hawaii
BRONZE – Johnny Hash – Sweetwater Brewing – Georgia
American Brown Ale
GOLD – Paradigm Brown Ale – Kelsen Brewing – New Hampshire
SILVER – American Brown – Reuben’s Brews – Washington
BRONZE – Watership Brown – Red Hare Brewing – Georgia
American-Style Black Ale
GOLD – Malevolent – Nickel Brook Brewing – Ontario
SILVER – Stone Sublimely Self Righteous Black IPA – Stone Brewing – California
BRONZE – Black Falls – White Street Brewing – North Carolina
BRONZE – Cowboy in Black – LoneRider Brewing – North Carolina
Altbier
GOLD – ALTitude Red Ale – Front Range Brewing – Colorado
SILVER – Rauch Katze – Jeffrey Jantz – New Mexico
BRONZE – AMB Common – Appalachian Mountain Brewery – North Carolina
German Kolsch
GOLD – Full Circle – New Holland Brewing – Michigan
SILVER – Keene Kolsch – Elm City Brewing – New Hampshire
BRONZE – Green & Gold Kolsch – Widmer Brothers Brewing – Oregon
German Wheat
GOLD – Yuengling Summer Wheat – D.G. Yuengling & Son – Pennsylvania
SILVER – Weihenstephan Vitas – Weihenstephan – Germany
BRONZE – Dragons Breath – Bayern Brewing – Montana
German Hefeweizen
GOLD – Bliss – Arbor Brewing Company – Michigan
Silver – Hefeweissbier – Weihenstephan – Germany
BRONZE – WaterKeeper – Sweetwater Brewing – Georgia
BRONZE – Howling Wolf Weisse Bier – Grand Teton Brewing – Idaho
French / Belgian Saison
GOLD – Wild Flowers – Elevation Beer Company – Colorado
SILVER – ALS Farmhouse Fundraiser – Wormtown Brewery – Massachusetts
BRONZE – Homesteader Farmhouse Ale – Front Range Brewing – Colorado
Belgian Pale Ale
GOLD – The Citizen – DC Brau Brewing – Washington DC
SILVER – Criterion – Valiant Brewing – California
BRONZE – White Hatter – New Holland Brewing – Michigan
French / Belgian Ale
GOLD – Biere de Miele – Wormtown Brewery – Massachusetts
SILVER – Cuvee du Trolles – Brasserie Dubuisson Frères – Belgium
BRONZE – La Dame du Lac – Lakewood Brewing – Texas
Belgian Dubbel
GOLD – Texas Honey Ale – Belgian Style – Guadalupe Brewing – Texas
SILVER – Mons Dubbel d’Abbaye – Belgh Brasse – Canada
BRONZE – Abbey Dubbel – Elm City Brewing – New Hampshire
Belgian Tripel
GOLD – The Third Man – Brasserie Saint James – Nevada
SILVER – Calavera Ofrenda 2013 – Cerveceria Calavera – Mexico
BRONZE – Trinity Tripel – Forked River Brewing – Ontario
Belgian Quadrupel
GOLD – Samuel Adams Tetravis – Boston Beer Company – Massachusetts
SILVER – Inspiration – Community Beer – Texas
BRONZE – Axiom – Valiant Brewing – California
Belgian Lambic
GOLD – Lindeman’s Peche – Lindemans Brewery – Belgium
SILVER – Flag Stop Series #2 – Denali Brewing – Alaska
BRONZE – Samuel Adams American Kriek – Boston Beer Company – Massachusetts
Belgian Witbier
GOLD – Weeping Willow Wit – Mother Earth Brewing – North Carolina
SILVER – Poulsbo Abbey Wit – Valholl Brewing – Washington
BRONZE – Whitey – Swamp Rabbit Brewery – South Carolina
American Light
GOLD – Kraftig Light – William K Busch Brewing – Missouri
SILVER – Yuengling Light – D.G. Yuengling & Son – Pennsylvania
BRONZE – Miners Golden – Choc Beer Company – Oklahoma
American Lager / Pilsener
GOLD – Full Sail Session Premium Lager – Full Sail Brewing – Oregon
SILVER – Grain Belt Premium – August Schell Brewing – Minnesota
BRONZE – Bowes Double Dry – Broue Alliance – Canada
American Premium Lager
GOLD – Kraftig Lager – William K Busch Brewing – Missouri
SILVER – Crescendo – Valiant Brewing – California
BRONZE – McCoy – Broue Alliance – Canada
American Amber/California Common
GOLD – American Amber Lager – Santa Fe Beer Factory – Mexico
SILVER – Toasted Lager – Blue Point Brewing – New York
BRONZE – National Common – Red Hare Brewing – Georgia
Bohemian Pilsener
GOLD – Saranac Wild Hop Pils – Saranac Brewing – New York
SILVER – Summer Pils – Sprecher Brewing – Wisconsin
BRONZE – Golden Pilsner – Morgan Street Brewery – Missouri
German Lager / Pilsener
GOLD – Soaring Eagle Pilsner – Feather Falls Casino Brewing – California
SILVER – American Pilsner – Grand Canyon Brewing – Arizona
SILVER – Breggren Beer Pilsen Extra – BERGGREN BIER – Brazil
BRONZE – Couch Lager – Burnside Brewing – Oregon
Munchner Helles, Light
GOLD – Bikini Blonde Lager – Maui Brewing – Hawaii
SILVER – When Helles Freezes Over – Morgan Street Brewing – Missouri
BRONZE – Lake House – Capital Brewery – Wisconsin
Munchner Dunkel / Dark
GOLD – Full Sail Session Black Lager – Full Sail Brewing – Oregon
SILVER – Capital Dark – Capital Brewery – Wisconsin
BRONZE – Sir Dunkle Dark Lager – Berghoff Brewery – Wisconsin
Marzen / Oktoberfest
GOLD – City Fest – Brewzzi City Place – Florida
SILVER – Oktoberfest – Black Tooth Brewing – Wyoming
BRONZE – Oktoberfest – Rahr & Sons Brewing – Texas
Schwarzbier
GOLD – Black Bear – Morgan Street Brewing – Missouri
SILVER – Black Duke – Brewzzi City Place – Florida
BRONZE – Brandy’s Black Lab Lager – Jeff Lewis – Ohio
Bock/Maibock
GOLD – Point St. Benedicts – Stevens Point Brewery – Wisconsin
SILVER – Samuel Adams Double Bock – Samuel Adams Cincinnati Brewery – Ohio
BRONZE – Mele Mai Bock – Big Island Brewhaus – Hawaii
Dopple / Strong Bock
GOLD – The Regulator – Rahr & Sons Brewing – Texas
SILVER – Celebrator Doppelbock – Ayinger – Germany
BRONZE – Dominator Dopplebock – Sun King Brewing – Indiana
Baltic Porter
GOLD – Sinebrychoff Porter – Oy Sinebrychoff – Finland
SILVER – Okocim Porter – Browar Okocim S.A. – Poland
BRONZE – Baltic Porter – Elm City Brewing Company – New Hampshire
American Cream Ale
GOLD – El Toro – Fullsteam Brewery – North Carolina
SILVER – Whate Blaze Honey Cream Ale – Wolf HIlls Brewing Company – Virginia
BRONZE – Cameron’s Cream Ale – Cameron’s Brewing – Ontario
American Wheat
GOLD – Rock Ryder – Lakewood Brewing – Texas
SILVER – Harley’s Ol’ One Eye Honey Wheat – City Star Brewing – Colorado
BRONZE – Baaad Boy – 3 Sheeps Brewing – Wisconsin
American Specialty Wheat
GOLD – Snap Shot – New Belgium Brewing – Colorado
SILVER – Samuel Adams Summer Ale – Samuel Adams Pennsylvania Brewery
BRONZE – 16 – Sweetwater Brewing – Georgia
Fruit Beer
GOLD – Red Whitey – Swamp Rabbit Brewery – South Carolina
SILVER – Grape Schism – Soaring Wings Brewing – Nebraska
BRONZE – Blueberry Ale – Wachusett Brewing – Massachusetts
Vegetable beer
GOLD – Samuel Adams Fat Jack – Samuel Adams Cincinnati Brewery – Ohio
SILVER – Carver – Fullsteam Brewery – North Carolina
BRONZE – Honey Jalepeno Blonde Ale – Big Top Brewing Company – Florida
Herb and Spice beer
GOLD – Ewephoria – 3 Sheeps Brewing – Wisconsin
SILVER – Mill Street Vanilla Porter – Mill Street Brewery – Canada
BRONZE – White Mountain Porter – Big Island Brewhaus – Hawaii
Chocolate / Cocoa Beer
GOLD – Samuel Smith’s Organic Chocolate Stout – Samuel Smith Brewery – England
SILVER – Shake Chocolate Porter – Boulder Beer Company – Coloardo
BRONZE – Pistols at Dawn – LoneRider Brewery – North Carolina
Coffee beer
GOLD – Cubano Espresso – Cigar City Brewing – Florida
SILVER – Big RICCS – Tallgrass Brewing – Kansas
BRONZE – Moonlight Drive – Southbound Brewing – Georgia
Rye / Roggen Beer
GOLD – Roggenbier – Reuben’s Brews – Washington
SILVER – Spring Rye – Burnside Brewing – Oregon
BRONZE – RastafaRye Ale – Blue Point Brewing – New York
Smoked / Rauch beer
GOLD – Antigoon’s Revenge – Lakewood Brewing – Texas
SILVER – Rauchbier – Brasserie Saint James – Nevada
BRONZE – Matt’s Burning Rosids – Stone Brewing – California
BRONZE – Smoked Märzen – The Fort Collins Brewery – Colorado
Barrel Aged – Wood / Barrel aged pale beer
GOLD – Saison de Banc Vert – Green Bench Brewing – Florida
SILVER – Innis & Gunn Toasted Oak IPA – Scotland
BRONZE – Batch #1 – Mystery Brewing – North Carolina
Wood / Barrel aged dark beer
GOLD – Barrel Aged Savannah Brown Ale – Coastal Empire Beer – Georgia
SILVER – Innis & Gunn Rum Aged – Innis & Gunn – Scotland
BRONZE – Bourbon Barrel Aged Winter Warmer – Rahr & Sons Brewing – Texas
Wood / Barrel aged strong beer
GOLD – Utopias – Boston Beer Company – Massachusetts
SILVER – Kalamity – Bent Brewstillery – Minnesota
BRONZE – The Trojan Barrel – Cherry Street Brewing Cooperative – Georgia
BRONZE – Melange a Trois – Nebraska Brewing – Nebraska
Wood/Barrel-Aged Strong Stout
GOLD – Silent Night – Mother Earth Brewing – North Carolina
SILVER – The Dogfather – Laughing dog Brewing – Idaho
BRONZE – 20th Anniversary – Red Brick Brewery – Georgia
BRONZE – Kentucky Bastard – Nickel Brook Brewing – Canada
Wood/Barrel-Aged Sour Beer
GOLD – French Oak Rye Sour Brown – Green Bench Brewing – Florida
SILVER – Port Barrel Wee Mac – Sun King Brewing – Indiana
BRONZE – Planete Rouge – Deschutes Brewery – Oregon
Category Special – Aged Beer
GOLD – 2012 Great Scot! – Peticolas Brewing – Texas
SILVER – Auld Heritage – Reuben’s Brews – Washington
BRONZE – Triple Lindy – BIG BEAR BREWING – Florida
Best of Show Organic Beer
GOLD – Samuel Smith’s Organic Cherry Ale – Samuel Smith Brewery – England
SILVER – Foret Saison – Brasserie Dupont – Belgium
BRONZE – Mill Street Organic Lager – Mill Street Brewery – Canada
Out of Bounds Pale Ale
GOLD – Indian Paintbrush IPA – Black Tooth Brewing – Wyoming
SILVER – Insane Rush – Bootstrap Brewing – Colorado
BRONZE – Soul Shine – Starr Hill Brewery – Virginia
Out of Bounds IPA
GOLD – White IPA – Wolf HIlls Brewing – Virginia
SILVER – The Hurricane – Southbound Brewing – Georgia
SILVER – Batch 300 – Dayton Brewing – Ohio
BRONZE – Lorenzini Blood Orange DIPA – Maui Brewing – Hawaii
Experimental Beer
GOLD – Liquid Bliss – Terripan Beer Company – Georgia
SILVER – Vanilla Bean Ascension – Community Beer Co. – Texas
BRONZE – Spring Bloom IIPA: Jerry’s Birthday Batch – Green Bench Brewing – Florida
Specialty / Anything Goes
GOLD – Minorcan Porter – BearWaters Brewing Company – North Carolina
SILVER – Smokey Mountain Schwartz – Appalachian Mountain Brewery – North Carolina
BRONZE – Kiss of the Adder – Neustadt Springs Brewery – Ontario
BRONZE – Beyond – Sprecher Brewing – Wisconsin
Sessions Beer
GOLD – Stone Go To IPA – Stone Brewing – California
SILVER – Wachusett Light IPA – Wachusett Brewing – Massachusetts
SILVER – Zed the Zorcerer – Odd 13 Brewing – Colorado
BRONZE – Big Wave Golden Ale – Kona Brewing – Hawaii
Gluten-Free Beer
GOLD – Shakparo – Sprecher Brewing – Wisconsin
SILVER – Dry Hopped Lager – Green’s Brewery – England
BRONZE – Foret Libro gluten free – DuPont – Belgium
Category Ciders
New World Ciders
GOLD – Traditions Ciderworks 2011 Riverwood Brut – 2 Towns Ciderhouse – Oregon
SILVER – Angry Orchard Green Apple – Boston Beer Company – Massachusetts
BRONZE – The Hatchet – Sonoma Cider – California
English Cider
GOLD – Angry Orchard Tradtional Cider – Boston Beer Company – Massachusetts
SILVER – Ciderboys First Press – Stevens Point Brewing – Wisconsin
Specialty Cider and Perry
GOLD – Ciderboys Peach County – Stevens Point Brewing – Wisconsin
GOLD – Cigar City Cider Homemade Apple Pie – Cigar City Cider and Mead – Florida
SILVER – London Calling – 9041-5522 Quebec – Canada
BRONZE – Angry Orchard Apple Ginger – Boston Beer Company – Massachusetts
Non-Alcoholic Root Beer
GOLD – Saranac Root Beer – Saranac Brewery – New York
SILVER – Sprecher Rootbeer – Sprecher Brewing – Wisconsin
BRONZE – Point Premium Root Beer – Stevens Point Brewing – Wisconsin
Non-Alcoholic Beer
MADD Virgin Craft Brewed Lager – MADD Virgin Drinks – Canada
Buckler – Heineken Nederland – Netherlands
St. Pauli N.A. – St. Pauli Brauerei – Germany