Today marked the first day of the California Craft Brewers Association\u2019s fifth-annual California Craft Beer Summit. An industry conference for Golden State brewers, it is likened to a localized version of the national Craft Brewers Conference. The latter is an event by the trade organization representing independent U.S. breweries, the Brewers Association, which is also known for putting on the largest annual beer festival and competition in the country, the Great American Beer Festival.<\/p>\n
For this year\u2019s California Craft Beer Summit (taking place today through Saturday), the CCBA worked with brewers guilds throughout the state to put on a California version of GABF. Winners of the inaugural running of the California Craft Brewers Cup were announced this evening. San Diego breweries racked up 37 medals\u201416 gold, 11 silver and 10 bronze.<\/p>\n
Rip Current Brewing took home two golds and a bronze, including a Best of Show for its Breakline Bock. That beer is one of San Diego County\u2019s most award-winning beers, having won at GABF and its international BA-produced counterpart, the World Beer Cup. AleSmith Brewing won the most medals with a gold and four silvers. Resident Brewing took two golds and a silver, while Duck Foot Brewing and Burning Beard Brewing both walked away with two golds.<\/p>\n
The Guild of the Year award, given to the regional guild whose members won the most medals, went to the Sacramento Area Brewers Guild. Brewery of the Year, awarded to the brewing company that nabbed the most wins overall, went to Crooked Lane Brewing out of Auburn.<\/p>\n