Oregon Beer Awards: A Celebration of Oregon Craft Beer
Oregon craft beer’s prestigious Oregon Beer Awards were announced at yet another sold-out ceremony at Revolution Hall in Portland, Oregon. The event took place on Thursday, April 4th, 2024, marking the 9th annual Oregon Beer Awards. Originally a smaller event held at the Doug Fir Lounge, the Oregon Beer Awards have since expanded into a double-blind judged competition, inspiring similar awards across the country with high standards and Oscar-inspired gala ceremonies.
Highlights of the 2024 Oregon Beer Awards
Despite ongoing industry challenges and record closures, the 2024 Oregon beer Awards saw great success. This year featured 1,088 entries from 124 breweries across the state, only slightly fewer than the previous year’s 1,113 entries from 126 Brewing companies.
- 1,088 entries from 124 breweries
- 84 judges
- 307 flights over 6 days
- Categories judged in multiple rounds
Biggest Winners of the 2024 Oregon Beer Awards
Sunriver brewing Company had an outstanding year, earning 7 bronze medals, 2 silvers, and 3 golds. This performance allowed them to surpass well-known names like Breakside, pFriem, and 10 Barrel to become the 2024 champion in their size category.
Great Notion Brewing had their best showing to date, making a clean sweep in hazy or juicy beers with gold, silver, and bronze medals. They also won a silver in the Imperial/Double IPA category, securing their first-ever title as mid-sized brewery of the year.
Award Categories and Winners
The Oregon Beer Awards spanned several categories with multiple breweries taking home medals. Here is a look at some of the top winners:
Category | Gold Winner | Silver Winner | Bronze Winner |
---|---|---|---|
Pilsner | pFriem Family Brewers | Deschutes Brewery | Sunriver Brewing Company |
Golden, Blonde, and Other Light Ales | Van Henion Brewing | Pelican Brewing | Sunriver Brewing Company |
Hoppy Lagers | Hetty Alice Brewing Company | Level Beer | Sunriver Brewing Company |
Top Breweries of 2024
- Grand Fir Brewing – This new brewery impressed by winning the small brewing company of the year award, capturing 3 golds and 1 silver in various categories.
- nebuleus – Known for their success in mixed-culture and fruited mixed-culture categories, they continued to shine by nearly sweeping the mixed-culture category again this year.
- Breakside Brewery – A consistent performer, Breakside won 9 medals in total, including the most gold medals (4) of any brewery this year.
Notable Wins Across Various Styles
The diversity of styles recognized at the Oregon Beer Awards emphasizes the rich variety in Oregon craft beer production. From IPAs and Pilsners to more experimental beers, the awards aim to highlight the state’s brewing excellence.
2024 OBA Academy Winners
The OBA academy awards recognize non-beer categories and are chosen by the Oregon beer industry at large. This year’s winners include:
- Best New Brewery – Obelisk Beer
- Best Bottle Shop – Belmont Station
- Best Beer Bar or Taphouse – The Beermongers
- Best Brewpub Experience – Fort George Brewery
The Oregon Beer Awards once again proved to be an exciting celebration of Oregon craft beer, with Sunriver Brewing Company and Great Notion Brewing showcasing remarkable achievements. With such diverse and impressive entries, the future of Oregon craft beer looks bright.