Beer Awards
Golden Tap Awards 2009 Winners Announced
On Saturday night at a gala event at beerbistro in Toronto, the 2009 Golden Tap Awards winners were announced, representing the best in beer and brewing in Ontario.
Four Editor’s Circle awards were also handed out, recognizing significant achievements in the Ontario beer industry. The Editor’s Circle awards were determined by a panel of Bar Towel members and associates. They went to:
- Cask Ale Crawl, a weekend long event held in Toronto earlier this year that featured cask ale being served at 6 different bars across the city
- Rob Creighton & Grand River Brewing, for Rob's long participation on the Bar Towel forum and the brewery's quick rise to being one of the best in the province
- Derek Hyde & Amsterdam Brewing, for their Strong Spring Bock, the first high-profile collaboration between a homebrewer and a commercial brewer in Ontario
- Jim Brickman, founder of Brick Brewing, for his pioneering contribution to the Ontario craft brewing industry
And finally, the Ontario Craft Brewers presented a surprise award to Cass Enright, founder and president of The Bar Towel, recognizing 10 years of support for the province's craft brewing scene
Won Gold Medal at the 2009 Canadian Brewing Awards
Grand River Brewing is pleased to announce that its Russian Gun Imperial Stout won a Gold Medal at the 2009 Canadian Brewing Awards. This year the national brewing awards were presented in Toronto on September 24 2009. Bob Hanenberg, President, Rob Creighton, Head Brewer and Peter Collins, Assistant Brewer were in attendance to receive the brewery’s award. Over 280 beers were submitted for judging in 14 categories from more than 100 Canadian national and craft breweries.
The brewery received in August 2009 a Special Golden Taps Award at a gala event at Beerbistro in Toronto. The Golden Tap Awards are voted by beer drinkers and represent the best in beer and brewing in Ontario. The brewery received one of the four Special ‘Editor’s Circle’ awards determined by a panel of Bar Towel members and associates. The Award was presented to Rob Creighton ( Head Brewer) and Grand River Brewing for Rob’s long participation on the Bar Towel forum and the brewery’s quick rise to being one of the best in the province.
The brewery also won a Gold Medal for its Galt Knife Old Style at the Ontario Brewing Awards held in April 2009 plus a People Choice for a winter seasonal – Curmudgeon India Pale Ale.
The LCBO recently selected the brewery’s Town Hall Lager which is available in select LCBO stores within 100 km of the brewery. The Highballer Pumpkin Ale will also be available shortly in the LCBO stores and at the brewery for October and November.
2009 Ontario Brewing Awards
Grand River Brewing is pleased to announce that it won a Gold Medal at the 2009 Ontario Brewing Awards for its Galt Knife Old Style. The Awards were presented at the Bier Markt on the Esplanade in Toronto on Tuesday April 14 2009. The brewery also received two people’s choice awards for its new Curmudgeon IPA in the specialty division and the Galt Knife Old Style.
This lager was named after the brewery’s beautiful building that once was the home of the Galt Knife Company. This deep gold lager is brewed in the style reminiscent of pre-prohibition beers that were brewed with full bodied malts and shows a distinct character in the finish. The pale malt forward beer presents a full bodied creamy taste at the beginning and finish with a complex and enjoyable hop bite.
2008 Canadian Brewing Awards
Grand River Brewing won Silver for the Ploughman’s Ale at the 2008 Canadian Brewing Awards.
Rob Creighton and Bob Hanenberg receiving Silver at the 2008 Canadian Brewing Awards
Golden Tap Award Winners
On Saturday evening - August 23 2008 at a gala event at beerbistro in Toronto, the 2008 Golden Tap Award winners were announced. Grand River Brewing won the "Best Beer of the Festival" for its new Bumbleberry Wheat.
Best Beers of Canada 2008
Grand River Brewing has the following beers rated in the top 50 beers in Canada according to RateBeer:
- Rank #38 Plowman’s Ale
- Rank #43 Jubilation Spiced Ale (seasonal)
- Rank #46 Mill Race Mild
