Bust a Nut!

BELLINGHAM, WA – Chuckanut Brewery claimed the title as America’s best Small Brewpub and Small Brewpub Brewer of the Year 2009, winning four metals: two gold and two silver this weekend at the 28th Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colo.

Chuckanut Dunkel won a Gold medal in the European Style Dunkel Category, in topping a field of 21 entries. Chuckanut Vienna Lager also won a Gold medal in the Vienna Style Lager category, in beating a field of 25 entries. Chuckanut German Pilsner won a Silver medal in the German-Style Pilsener, in a field of 48 entries. Chuckanut Schwartzbier also won a Silver medal in the German Style Schwartzbier, in a field of 34 entries. Breweries are awarded points based on medals won, and these points are tabulated for the results of the 2009 GABF Brewery of the Year Awards. The GABF Judges awarded Chuckanut Brewery the 2009 Small Brewpub and Small Brewpub Brewer of the Year based upon the medals won. Chuckanut Brewery is the first brewery in the history of the Great American Beer Festival competition to win a Small Brewpub of the Year award with all Lager Style Beers.

The Great American Beer Festival is the largest and most prestigious competition for American craft beers. This year’s competition featured 3,308 beers from 495 breweries. A panel of 132 professional judges from 10 countries, worked over a three-day period during the week of the festival, to award brewers prestigious gold, silver and bronze medals in 78 beer categories, establishing the best examples of each style in the U.S. These awards are among the most coveted in the beer industry and heralded by the winning brewers.

Brewmaster Will Kemper and Head Brewer Josh Pfriem specialize in making quality driven, consistent, well-crafted traditional German lagers and English ales. The Chuckanut Dunkel (Gold Medal) is a deep reddish-brown color, capped by an impressively sturdy tan head, with a slightly sweet nutty palate and complexity. The Chuckanut Vienna Lager (Gold Medal) is light bronze, with a delicate malt aroma and a slightly caramelized and toasted malt character, finishing clean and crisp. The Chuckanut German Pilsner (Silver Medal) is golden, dry, sharply bitter, with a flowery, noble hop flavor and aroma. The Chuckanut Schwarzbier (Silver Medal) is dark, with a smooth roundness that combines a snappy bitterness with dry, coffee-like roast flavors on a light to medium-bodied frame.