It’s particularly exciting when a brand-new brewery wins a medal, a sign of more great things to come. This year, Sacramento’s newest brewery, Alaro Craft Brewery received a gold medal with their very first IPA ever brewed at the largest and most respected commercial beer competition in the world, the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) competition and the only Gold medal to be brought back to Sacramento.
The GABF recognizes the most outstanding beers produced in the United States and hands out awards for 102 different beer style categories and competition is fierce, especially for an IPA. This year, the judges received nearly 8,500 entries from roughly 2,400 breweries in the United States and the winners were announced September 22 at the Great American Beer Festival awards ceremony held at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado.
Alaro Craft Brewery, at less than three months old, barely had beer ready before the cutoff to enter the competition, making them the youngest brewery to ever win a Gold Medal at the Great American Beer Festival. And they won it with their house beer, the Castillo IPA for a Gold medal in the English IPA beer-style category. Alaro Craft Brewing describes this award-winning beer as a classic IPA that showcases the nuances and balance that put the IPA on the map. Made using the perfect combination of American & English Pale Malts for a gorgeous copper color & solid malt-backbone, finely balanced with wonderful flowery, earthy, citrus & herbal hop aromas and flavor from the skillful use of a variety of hops.
“We were blown away! It was a huge honor to receive such a prestigious award amongst so many great breweries and I am proud to be bringing it home to Sacramento!” said Ray Ballestero, President at Alaro Craft Brewery.
Located in midtown Sacramento in the time honored space that once was Rubicon Brewing, Alaro Craft Brewery focused on well designed, well executed, elegant beers pair with their seasonal, local, sustainable, and craft menu. Featuring a diverse selection of creative dishes from tapas-style small bites to full-bellied burgers that border on sublime, team Alaro has curated one of the most unique restaurants on the Sacramento midtown grid.
The 2018 GABF competition winners were selected by an international panel of 293 expert judges from 8,496 entries, received from 2,404 U.S. breweries, plus 101 Pro-Am and 49 Collaboration entries.
“The 32nd edition of the GABF competition yielded a remarkable turnout of the country’s most exemplary beers,” said Chris Swersey, competition manager, Great American Beer Festival. “I’m continuously impressed by contenders’ talent and passion and would like to extend congratulations to this year’s winners for their excellence in brewing.”
