San Diego Beer News Awards are back!

Last year marked the inaugural San Diego Beer News Awards, a competition voted on by craft-beer fans and members of the brewing industry to recognize outstanding local beers and breweries. After hundreds of nominations and votes, winners were announced via virtual awards ceremonies featuring well known individuals from the county’s craft-beer scene, and local TV, radio and podcast media. It was a tremendous success and a splash of light in a dark, confusing time. This year, the San Diego Beer News Awards are back and will culminate with a real-life, in-person awards ceremony that will be free, open to the public and take place on Tuesday, March 29 at North Park Beer Co.

“Last year’s awards were so much fun, and having such an abundance of support from brewery owners, brewers, brewing company personnel, media and fans of San Diego beer made it extra-special,” says San Diego Beer News Executive Editor Brandon Hernández. “The virtual awards shows we produced were entertaining and engaging, but there’s no substitute for the magic that happens when San Diego’s craft-beer community gets together.

We can’t wait to have everyone in the same place, enjoying our own localized version of the Great American Beer Festival at an outstanding local business. But first, we need everyone to nominate their favorite beers and breweries, then vote to determine the winners.”

Brandon Hernández, Founder & Executive Editor, San Diego Beer News

Like last year, fan nominations will take place on social media throughout the month of January. Each weekday from Tuesday, January 4 to Friday, January 28, San Diego Beer News will publish a post on its Instagram, Facebook and Twitter accounts soliciting nominations in different award categories. Fans will have until January 31 to comment or reply with their nominations, listing any beer that was produced within calendar year 2021. The full nomination posting schedule is as follows:

• January 4-7: West Coast IPA, Hazy IPA, Imperial IPA, Niche IPA
• January 10-14: Hoppy Beer (Non-IPA), Pilsner, German Beer (Non-Pilsner), Belgian Ale, UK / Irish Ale
• January 17-21: Coffee Beer, Sour Ale, Barrel-Aged Sour / Wild Ale, Strong Ale, Barrel-Aged Beer
• January 24-28: Collaboration Beer, San Diego Vanguard Brewer Award, Packaging Art, Interior & Exterior Design, Customer Service

This year’s categories are slightly different from last year’s. Some of the style categories have been adjusted so that individual beers no longer qualify for multiple categories. Some awards were also eliminated while others were added. New awards include Best Packaging Art for can and bottle designs, and Best Expansion Project recognizing standout venues opened by established brewing companies over the past year.

Also new this year is the establishment of the San Diego Vanguard Brewer Award, which will honor longtime members of the local brewing community who have made a positive difference and helped enhance the region as a whole. To be eligible, a brewer must have worked at local breweries for at least ten years. Fans may nominate brewers in this category, but the winner will be decided exclusively by members of the brewing industry.

Once again, Best Brewery Awards will be given to breweries in five distinct regions (North, South, East, West and Central) and the county’s Best New Brewery will be honored. And like last year, there will be separate fan ballots and industry ballots to provide the most authentic snapshot of where San Diego beer is at this point in time.

For the second straight year, Yakima Chief Hops (YCH) is the banner sponsor of the San Diego Beer News Awards, after serving as its sole sponsor for its inaugural run. They will be joined this year by fellow sponsors Arryved, Bottlecraft, BSG, CLTVT, Hoppy Beer Gear and White Labs.

“When Brandon approached me with the idea to start an annual awards program, I thought it would be a fun way to celebrate Sa Diego’s community of brewers. It was fun to be able to announce the awards last year, and I loved how everyone who was part of the virtual show put their own stamp on the award they were announcing,” says YCH West Region Field Marketing Manager Kelly Lohrmeyer. “This community is resilient, creative and amazingly fun. I’m excited to see who takes home medals this year.”

The San Diego Beer News Awards Ceremony will be open to the public and free-of-charge. The ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 29, and feature members of the brewing industry and local media personalities announcing winners in each category. House and guest beers will be available for purchase.

“We are very excited to host the San Diego Beer News Awards,” says North Park Beer Co. founder and Head Brewer Kelsey McNair. “We love hosting events like this that have the potential to fill our space with our industry family. I’ll be looking forward to having beers with everyone and seeing our friends recognized for their achievements by their peers and the craft-beer community.”

Remember to check San Diego Beer News’ social-media accounts to nominate your favorite beers and more. If you miss a day, simply scroll back to a previous day’s post and make your nomination prior to January 31. Online ballots will be accessible via San Diego Beer News’ website and social-media accounts beginning Monday, February 7, and voting will be open through Monday, February 28.

Please save those dates, nominate, vote, attend the ceremony and help make the second annual San Diego Beer News Awards the best they can be!

North Park Beer Co. is located at 3038 University Avenue in North Park