Local Craft Brewery Wins Big At World Beer Championships With Homegrown Honey Ale
Oct 14, 2009
(News Release) VICTORIA - Vancouver Island Brewery is celebrating a big win at the World Beer Championships with its locally brewed Spyhopper Honey Brown.
The brewery team at Vancouver Island Brewery recently put Spyhopper Honey Brown up against the world in the 2009 World Beer Championships and is celebrating a bronze medal in the specialty ales category.
“This is a true testament to the quality of our all natural, craft brewed beers and the skill level of our Brewmaster Ralf Pittroff and his brewing team”, said Jim Dodds General Manager at Vancouver Island Brewery. “For a local, small craft brewery to put its small batch beers up against some of the finest beers in the world and win, is a significant achievement and one we are celebrating”.
Spyhopper Honey Brown is the newest member of the Vancouver Island Breweries craft beer family and was recently introduced to help celebrate its 25th Anniversary of brewing fresh, craft beer in Victoria, British Columbia. Spyhoppers medal success may be partially attributed to the use of another locally produced product – Babe’s Wildflower Honey from Babe’s Honey Farm in Saanich, B.C.
“The judges must have enjoyed the local Victoria flavor of this beer. Using honey from Babe’s in our recipe was undoubtedly a key ingredient to our success.” Stated Ralf Pittroff, Vancouver Island Brewery Brewmaster.
The World Beer Championships, founded in 1994, is North America’s oldest international beer competition and is open to any beer from around the world, regardless of distribution. It is a medal-based competition that awards its medals based on proprietary blind tasting methodology and the consumer accepted, 100-point quality rating scale.
Official tasting notes from the competition describe Spyhopper Honey Brown as a brilliant clear amber color. Very pleasant aromas of honeyed raisin toast follow through on a soft, satiny entry to a dryish medium body with a toasted grain, light molasses, and straw-like hops on the relaxed finish. An easy going beer to chill with.
About Vancouver Island Brewery
Vancouver Island Brewery, the Island's original craft brewery, was established in 1984. Locally owned and operated, we began handcrafting ales and lagers in Victoria B.C. with fresh, distinctive, west coast flavours. We begin with the careful selection of the finest quality ingredients. Then with skill and patience we handcraft our family of natural, unpasteurized ales and lagers in small batches to allow their flavours to fully develop. A commitment to using 100% natural ingredients combined with a proud heritage of brewing excellence has been rewarded with customer loyalty and world class recognition. Our premium brands include Spyhopper Honey Brown, Piper’s Pale Ale, Victoria Pilsner, Hermann’s Dark Lager and Vancouver Islander Lager.
Media contact:
Rob Ringma, Sales & Marketing Manager
Vancouver Island Brewery
(250)-686-5257