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Just as in the US, independent brewers in the United Kingdom have been reeling from a perfect storm of economic factors. Weve that, “Words to Drink By,” and more.
100 UK Craft Breweries Closed in 2024
The number of independent breweries in Britain (they don’t use the ‘craft’ designation in the UK) declined at its fastest rate in 2024, according to the Society of Independent Brewers & Associates (SIBA – think the Brewers Association, but with a British accent).
According to SIBA, the UK had 1,715 breweries at the end of 2024, 100 fewer than at the start of the year, according to the data released by Siba.
Just as in the US, independent brewers in the United Kingdom have been reeling from a perfect storm of economic factors including rising costs spurred on by inflation and consumers tightening their belts.
Words to Drink By
“Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” – Albert Einstein, German-born theoretical physicist who is best known for developing the theory of relativity
California Brewers Strike Gold at GABF
A win at the Great American Beer Festival competition is a BIG deal. Taking a gold, silver or bronze medal in any one of this year’s beer categories can put a new brewery on the map and reaffirm the brewing skills of industry leaders that sometimes get overlooked.
And in 2024, California breweries won BIG out in Denver.
Let’s start with the biggest awards. Four California breweries won Brewer of the Year awards last year.
Apogee Brewing in Grover Beach earned the 0-250 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year
Everywhere Beer Co. in Orange earned the 1,001–2,000 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year
Riip Beer Co. in Huntington Beach earned the 2,001–5,000 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year
Highland Park Brewery in Los Angeles earned Brewery Group Brewery and Brewer of the Year
(Photo © Brewers Association)
But that was just the beginning…
The 2024 Great American Beer Festival California Gold Medal winners were…
American Black Ale or American Stout
GOLD – Blackside Snap – Riip Beer Co., Huntington Beach
American-Style Brown Ale
GOLD – Who’s That Brown – Tarantula Hill Brewing Co., Thousand Oaks
American-Style India Pale Ale
GOLD – Competition – Highland Park Brewery, Los Angeles
American-Style Pale Ale
GOLD – Timbo – Highland Park Brewery, Los Angeles
Bohemian-Style Pilsener
GOLD – Reality Czeck-style Pilsner – Moonlight Brewing Co., Santa Rosa
Coffee Stout or Porter
GOLD – Dusk Til Dawn – Pizza Port, San Clemente
Contemporary American-Style Lager
GOLD – Baseball – Highland Park Brewery, Los Angeles
(Photo © Brewers Association)
Contemporary Gose
GOLD – 3 Citrus Gose – Culture Brewing Co., Solana Beach
Experimental or Barrel-Aged Cider
GOLD – Rosé Cider – Gowan’s Heirloom Cider, Philo
German Dark Lager
GOLD – Schwarz Wulf – Greywolf Brewing, Norco
Herb and Spice Beer
GOLD – Two Wheeler – Far Field Beer Co., Hawthorne
Imperial India Pale Ale
GOLD – Hoptomic – Morgan Territory Brewing, Tracy
Imperial Stout
GOLD – Indie Roo – Pizza Port, Imperial Beach
International Dark Lager
GOLD – Puesto Negra – Puesto Cerveceria, San Diego
International-Style Pale Ale
GOLD – Smells Like Purple Rain – Riip Beer Co., Huntington Beach
International-Style Pilsener
GOLD – Chillzner – Craft Coast, San Marcos
Italian-Style Pilsener
GOLD – Zombi Shark Fight – Green Cheek Beer Co., Costa Mesa
Juicy or Hazy Imperial India Pale Ale
GOLD – DDH Pillow – Highland Park Brewery, Los Angeles
Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale
GOLD – Professional Human Being – Ambitious Ales, Long Beach
Juicy or Hazy Strong Pale Ale
GOLD – Baseball – Everywhere Beer Co., Orange
Mixed-Culture Brett Beer
GOLD – Proverbial Fork – Olfactory Brewing, San Francisco
Specialty Saison
GOLD – Lucy Loves Rye – Apogee Brewing Co., Orange
Strong Porter
GOLD – Jeff’s Baltic Porter – Green Cheek Beer Co., Oceanside
Tannic Cider
GOLD – Classic Dry – Gowan’s Heirloom Cider, Philo
West Coast IPA
GOLD – Codebreaker – Trademark Brewing, Long Beach
Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer
GOLD – Bass Clef – Audio Graph Beer Co., Los Angeles
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