2014-07-09

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

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