GABF 2022 Awards - OC Beer!

(Cover Photo by Brewers Association and Great American Beer Festival)

Awards are out!

Congrats to the OC Breweries on this 40th GABF, 36 years of competition! We took 11 medals this year, 2 more than last year.

This year’s GABF had 9,904 entries by 2,154 breweries, judged by 235 judges, aided by 300+ volunteers, over 9 days.

OC’s Barrel-aged juggernauts, Bottle Logic and The Bruery, shared the two top stops this year, reclaiming what made them a household name in the category.

California taking the cream ale and strong hazy categories in a sweep. Flashpoint and Brewery X win their first GABF medals, Docent shows their poise with coffee, Beachwood HB keeps up their streak, and Radiant keeps reminding us to not overlook the Haze.

RIIP places once again for Black the Riiper and remain OC’s IPA king by also taking hardware in the most entered category. Likewise, Bearded Tang shows they still got it by taking two medals as well.

To add more to it, OC swept the Alpha King Challenge held at Rock Bottom Brewery in Denver, CO yesterday, Oct 7th, 2022. First Place to Radiant's Dig This Crazy Scene Double IPA, Second to Santa Ana River's More Hops Than Brains Double IPA, and Third to Brewery X's Slap & Tumble Double IPA.

Here’s the complete list of OC GABF winners. Let’s hear it for OC!

#gabf2022 #enbeerment #ocbeer

Gold (3)
Coffee Stout or Porter (76 Entries): Super Tonic, Docent Brewing, San Juan Capistrano
Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer (133 Entries): Flesh to Stone, Bottle Logic Brewing, Anaheim CA
Scotch Ale (44 Entries): Full Malted Jacket, Beachwood BBQ & Brewing, Huntington Beach

Silver (5)
Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer (133 Entries): Ivoire, The Bruery, Placentia
American Cream Ale (115 Entries): Carlos Danger, Bearded Tang, Stanton
Juicy or Hazy Strong Pale Ale (153 Entries): So Into You, Radiant, Anaheim
German Wheat Ale (209 Entries): Kristal Weizen, Bearded Tang, Stanton
American-Style India Pale Ale (423 Entries): Dankster Squad, RIIP, Huntington Beach

Bronze (3)
Historical Beer (59 Entries): Churchill Browns, Flashpoint, Huntington Beach
Bohemian-Style Pilsener (186 Entries): Battlesnakes, Brewery X, Anaheim
American Black Ale or American Stout (62 Entries): Black the Riipper, RIIP, Huntington Beach

(Cover Photo by Brewers Association and Great American Beer Festival)

Full list of winners here.

Data Points to Closures, Oktoberfest Cancelled

Data Points to Closures, Oktoberfest Cancelled 

So, Stay Home and Support when Possible! 

Some Breweries Will Close During this Current Situation,
Data Indicates

 

Oktoberfest in Munich has been cancelled. That will mean the celebrations here locally will have to wait until 2021 as well. If that doesn’t concern you and give credence to how serious the situation is, I don’t know what will. Some hard numbers, perhaps? Earlier this month on April 22, 2020, the Brewers Association released survey results where association members, including breweries, indicated how they are affected by this current situation. The results are upsetting to say the least. However, seeing what has already transpired and knowing what could happen gives us the ability to change course.

According to the survey results, found here, Economist for BA Bart Watson outlines what the 455 sample of respondents had to say. “A majority of breweries do not think their business can last three months given current conditions, suggesting thousands of closings,” Watson predicts.

The survey reveals a massive reduction in sales and the economic impact from having to layoff staff. Although there are some innovative approaches such as the impromptu “drive-thru” beer pick up, delivery, and on-line ordering, the results indicate that is not sustainable without draft sales.

When the sample was asked how long their business could remain in operation with the current social distancing orders in place: 2.5% will close now, 12.7% 1 to 4 weeks, 46.4% 1 to 3 months, 25% 3 to 6 months, 8.3% 6 months to a year, and only 5.1% more than a year.

Watson writes: “As of writing, there are about 8,150 active breweries in the country. If 2.5% of those breweries close, that would mean about 200 closures, 12.7% about 1,035 closures, and 46.4% about 3,785. Based on recent trends, it was likely that 4-5% of the breweries in the country would have closed in 2020 prior to this shock, so while some percentage of these closures and potential closures reflect business that were already struggling, most are brought on solely by this event.”

For a palatable reference point closer to home, apply those percentages to OC, with 50 operating breweries with some brands having a second location with brewing on premise. 12.7% is about 6 brewery closures. This does not include our wonderful mead producers or distilleries.

Although the CARES Act offered some relief, the survey also specifies what some future Acts should include, mainly direct grants and tax incentives. One very reasonable one would be a Spoiled Beer Tax Credit especially since so much beer is going to end up in the drain.

Oktoberfest Will Have to Wait 'Till 2021 in Munich

The cancellation of this year’s Oktoberfest is more than likely a foreshadowing of what’s to come here. Locally, The Phoenix Club in Anaheim, Old World in Huntington Beach, and others rely on the revenue brought in by their very own Oktoberfest celebrations. It is my hope if they indeed do cancel this year’s celebrations that they are able to be creative and find a way to celebrate while still adhering to the social distancing orders.

Knowledge is power. We’ve collected data. We turned that data into information. We can use that information to gain knowledge. Now, more than ever we need the assistance of everyone to make sure we see all our breweries, mead producers, distilleries, pubs, bars, and eateries on the other side of this timeline. Let’s hope the proper influencers show themselves to the powers that be in public office for the assistance our friends need.

Given these data points, we still have plenty of opportunity to change the course of history. Yes, stay home. Keep adhering to the advice of the medical professionals. Don’t be upset or angry about possibly not being able to celebrate Oktoberfest. Instead, see how you can support those establishments in the coming months. Continue to help your local breweries, especially those that may not have as much clout as others.

Cheers, stay safe, stay home, and thank you for your support!

-Gilbert “Charlie” Perez, Advanced Cicerone®