It is organized by an organization representing beermakers across the country and is open to breweries worldwide, but the majority of the entrants – and winners – of the North American Brewers Association’s (NABA) annual beer and cider awards hail from the western U.S. Though this competition has been going since 2010, few San Diego brewing companies throw their beers into the ring. Which makes it all the more impressive to see 11 beers with local ties medal at this year’s event.
A pair of San Diego operations earned multiple accolades, headed by Athletic Brewing, which racked up seven medals (one gold, three silver and three bronze), sweeping the Light Non-alcoholic Beers category while coming a gold shy of running the Dark and Hoppy Non-alcoholic Beers categories. Meanwhile, North Park-based TapRoom Beer Co. nabbed a pair of golds in two of the most hotly contested categories – American-style India Pale Ale and Hazy or Juicy Strong Pale Ale – plus a bronze in West Coast Pilsner.
Last year, local brewing companies brought home just five medals, with Athletic notching a silver and a bronze, and Mother Earth Brew Co. (which earned a gold this year in the Double or Imperial India Pale Ale category) securing a pair of golds.
The following is a list of local winners from this year’s competition…
GOLD (4)
American-style India Pale Ale: Citra Starburst, TapRoom Beer Co. (North Park)
Double or Imperial India Pale Ale: Big Mother Triple IPA, Mother Earth Brew Co. (Vista) *
Hazy or Juicy Strong Pale Ale: PB Haze, TapRoom Beer Co. (North Park)
Light Non-alcoholic Beers: Wits Peak, Athletic Brewing (Miramar)
SILVER (3)
Dark Non-alcoholic Beers: Atlética, Athletic Brewing (Miramar)
Hoppy Non-alcoholic Beers: FreeWave Hazy IPA, Athletic Brewing (Miramar)
Light Non-alcoholic Beers: Ripe Pursuit, Athletic Brewing (Miramar)
BRONZE (4)
Dark Non-alcoholic Beers: All Out Extra Dark, Athletic Brewing (Miramar)
Hoppy Non-alcoholic Beers: Run Wild IPA, Athletic Brewing (Miramar)
Light Non-alcoholic Beers: Athletic Lite, Athletic Brewing (Miramar)
West Coast Pilsner: Cold Summer, TapRoom Beer Co. (North Park)
* Mother Earth was founded in Vista and operates a tasting room there, but its winning beer was physically brewed at the company’s facility in Nampa, Idaho
A complete list of winners from the 2024 NABA International Beer & Cider Awards is available online.