2004 Georgia Craft Brew Challenge

CELEBRATE GREAT BEER IN GEORGIA!

Held on...
Saturday, November 6, 2004
5 Seasons Brewing Company
Prado Shopping Center
I-285 at Roswell Road, Atlanta, GA
LtoR: Owen Ogletree (head judge), Dennis Lang (5 Seasons owner),
and Ted Hull (GCBC Organizer).  Photo by Fred Scheer.


Saturday, November 6 was a great night to be a beer lover in Georgia.  200 lucky people gathered at Atlanta's 5 Seasons Brewing Company to taste the best beers made in Georgia.  50 delicious beers from Georgia's craft breweries were evaluated by a team of almost 30 beer judges in the morning blind judging session. The public tasting event started at 5 PM, and the winners of the competition were announced at 6 PM.  Owen Ogletree filled the role of head judge and would like to thank all the great volunteers, stewards, and judges.  We were especially pleased to have in our fine panel of judges Fred Scheer (head brewer from Bosco's in Nashville), Keith Klemp (writer for All About Beer magazine), and Bob Townsend (beer columnist for the AJC).  Chris Collier from Covert Hops Society did a marvelous job as head steward too.  The event was organized by Ted Hull and Mark Nelson of Georgians for World Class Beer.  Ted and Mark are the beer guys who drove through the recent law that allows for the sale of strong beers in Georgia.  Thanks, Ted and Mark, for all your great work and devotion to quality beer in Georgia!  And finally, Dave, Dennis, and Glen at 5 Seasons really made the event special with their overwhelming hospitality.  Proceeds from the event benefit Habitat for Humanity.
  
5 Seasons chef David Larkworthy accepts an award for one of the
brewpub's house beers.
Photo by Fred Scheer.
 PARTICIPATING BREWERIES

The Craft Brew Challenge judges were extremely impressed with all the fine beers entered in the competition. Beers at the Craft Brew Challenge were from:  5 Seasons Brewing, Atlanta Brewing Company, Buckhead Brewery Alpharetta, Buckhead Brewery Stockbridge, Cannon Brewpub, Copper Creek Brewing, Dahlonega Brewing Company, Gordon Biersch, Max Lager's, Moon River Brewing, Park Tavern, Rock Bottom, Sweetwater, Terrapin, and Zuma.  GREAT NEWS: Our friend, Crawford Moran, has entered into an agreement to sell Dogwood Brewing, which will allow the Dogwood brands to live on.  As a result, Dogwood had two beers entered in our event at the last minute.

Judges hard at work.
Photo by Ted Hull.
                                                         



2004 GEORGIA CRAFT BREW CHALLENGE WINNERS...

American Style Lagers
1st Place:    ZUMA CANCUN, Zuma Brewery, Atlanta, GA.
2nd Place:    none awarded
3rd Place:    none awarded

European Style Lagers
1st Place:    OKTOBERFEST, Buckhead Brewery, Stockbridge, GA.
2nd Place:    MUNICH HELLES, 5 Seasons Brewing Co., Atlanta, GA.
3rd Place:    MORENA CANCUN, Zuma Brewery, Atlanta, GA.

Belgian Style Ales
1st Place:    OBLIVION TRIPEL, 5 Seasons Brewing Co., Atlanta, GA.
2nd Place:    WILD WACKY WIT, Moon River Brewing Co., Savannah, GA.
3rd Place:    BELGIAN STRONG GOLDEN ALE, Dahlonega Brewing, Dahlonega, GA.

Strong Beers
1st Place:     DOGWOOD BARLEYWINE, Dogwood Brewing Co., Atlanta, GA.
2nd Place:    COPPER CREEK BARLEYWINE, Copper Creek Brewing Co., Athens, GA.
3rd Place:     WINTER BOCK, Gordon Biersch Brewery, Atlanta, GA.

American Style Ales
1st Place (tie):  TERRAPIN CREAM ALE, Terrapin Brewing Co., Athens, GA.
1st Place (tie):  PANTHER PALE ALE, Buckhead Brewery, Alpharetta, GA.
2nd Place:    SWEETWATER BLUE, Sweetwater Brewing Co., Atlanta, GA.
3rd Place:     PEACHTREE PALE, Atlanta Brewing Co., Atlanta, GA.

UK Style Ales
1st Place:    EXODUS PORTER, Sweetwater Brewing Co., Atlanta, GA.
2nd Place:    RED HILLS AMBER, Buckhead Brewery, Stockbridge, GA.
3rd Place:    RED BRICK WINTER BREW, Atlanta Brewing Co., Atlanta, GA.

BEST OF SHOW
1st Place:    OKTOBERFEST, Buckhead Brewery, Stockbridge, GA.
2nd Place:    DOGWOOD BARLEYWINE, Dogwood Brewing Co., Atlanta, GA.
3rd Place:    OBLIVION TRIPEL, 5 Seasons Brewing Co., Atlanta, GA.
Brewtopia Events LLC
www.ClassicCityBrew.com
Georgians for World Class Beer