Last year's U.S. Open Beer Championship brought big wins from locals like Green Bench Brewing Co. and Cigar City Brewing, and this time around, judges based in England, Canada and the U.S. gave beer makers around the state 14 nods.
Facing off against professional breweries and award-winning homebrewers, Cigar City was dubbed No. 5 in the competition's Top 10, while other Florida-based breweries, including Bradenton's Motorworks Brewing and Florida Beer Company in Cape Canaveral, took home gold, silver and bronze medals. The Pumpkin Stiltskin from Sarasota's Big Top Brewing Company also landed a "Judges Award" for being the ninth most creatively named brew.
In 2014, more than 10 in-state breweries walked away with honors compared to this year's six.
Representing 90 styles, nearly 4,000 ciders and beers were submitted to the annual brewing battle's blind tasting overall, and more than 20 international breweries — ranging from China to the Czech Republic — participated.
Here's the full list of Florida victors:
Imperial IPA
BRONZE - Two Stroke - Motorworks Brewing (Bradenton)
Robust Porter
GOLD - Cacique - Cigar City Brewpub (Tampa)
SILVER - Gaspar's Porter - Florida Beer Company (Cape Canaveral)
Imperial Stout
GOLD - Zhukov's Imperial Stout - Cigar City Brewing (Tampa)
Strong Scottish Ale
BRONZE - Big Sound - Cigar City Brewing (Tampa)
French / Belgian Saison
BRONZE - Les Grisettes - Green Bench Brewing Co. (St. Pete)
Belgian Witbier
SILVER - Florida Cracker - Cigar City Brewing (Tampa)
American Premium Lager
GOLD - Florida Lager - Florida Beer Company (Cape Canaveral)
Chocolate / Cocoa Beer
BRONZE - Popol Vuh - Cigar City Brewpub (Tampa)
Strong Imperial Brown Ale
GOLD - Bolita - Cigar City Brewing (Tampa)
English Cider
SILVER - Kelly's Traditional Hard Cider - Florida Beer Company (Cape Canaveral)
Fruit Ciders
GOLD - Rambunctious - Cigar City Cider and Mead (Tampa)
