In a field of 6,300 beers representing 117 different styles, six Minnesota breweries took home eight total medals at the 2018 U.S. Open Beer Championship.

Breweries from around the world submitted to this year’s competition, the final round of which was judged at Quarter Barrel Brewery + Pub in Oxford, Ohio. The U.S. Open Beer Championship is unique from other beer competitions because it allows winning beers from the American Homebrewers Association’s National Homebrew Competition to compete alongside those from professional breweries.

After all the style categories were awarded, Peticolas Brewing in Dallas, Texas, was designated the Grand National Champion, with three gold medal beers and two silver medals. Brink Brewing from Cincinnati, Ohio, placed second; Black Tooth Brewing Company from Sheridan, Wyoming, came in third.

In addition to awards in style categories, breweries were awarded for most creative beer names, including Silver Harbor Brewing’s barleywine, Shipfaced, and Columbia Craft Brewing’s sour ale, We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Cucumber.

Among the winning breweries from Minnesota, Spilled Grain Brewhouse in Annandale walked away with a gold medal for False Hope, their wheat wine, in the Aged Beer category. (Wheat wine is defined as a type of American strong ale, akin to a barleywine but with a much larger wheat malt bill.) At 11.1 percent ABV and 53 IBU, False Hope is described as “full-bodied and viscous from the aging process, with bready and fruity notes.”

At 11.19 percent ABV and 52 IBU, Lift Bridge Brewing in Stillwater took home the gold in the Wood/Barrel-Aged Strong Stout category for their Barrel-Aged Silhouette, their popular annual Russian imperial stout release.

Wabasha Brewing, located in St. Paul’s West Side neighborhood, won gold for their Westside Popper Jalapeno Cream Ale in the Chili Beer category. The beer uses fresh smoked jalapenos in the mash to give it a touch of heat and smokiness.

August Schell Brewing, Beaver Island Brewing, and Waconia Brewing rounded out the list, with silver and bronze medals.

Here is the full list of Minnesota brewery winners:

Aged Beer

Gold – Spilled Grain Brewhouse – False Hope

Wood/Barrel-Aged Strong Stout

Gold – Lift Bridge Brewing – Barrel-Aged Silhouette

Chili Beer

Gold – Wabasha Brewing – West Side Popper

American Imperial Pilsner

Silver – August Schell Brewing – Citra Blanc

Peanut Butter/Nuts Beer

Bronze – Waconia Brewing – Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter

Bohemian Pilsener

Bronze – Beaver Island Brewing – Check Pils

Old Ale

Bronze – Spilled Grain Brewhouse – Bearded Man

Oatmeal Stout

Bronze – Beaver Island Brewing – Sweet Miss

Visit the U.S. Open Beer Championship website for the complete list of winners.

Read More at source: The Growler Mag