Smuttynose Brewing Co. won Best of Show honors at the 7th Annual Festival of Wood and Barrel-aged Beer last weekend in Chicago.
The New Hampshire brewery claimed top honors with its its Farmhouse Ale, a saison aged in a neutral oak barrel with Brettanomyces Claussenii. Runner-up was Goose Island Beer Company Bourbon County Brand Stout, an imperial stout aged in 6 to 13-year-old Heaven Hill bourbon barrels.
The festival attracted 1,500 drinkers, who sampled more than 135 beers from 53 different breweries, representing 18 states.
The winning beers:
Classic Stout/Porter (8 entries): Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery, Pullman Brown (Brown Porter)
Strong Stout/Porter (20 entries): Goose Island Beer Company, Bourbon County Brand Stout
Barleywine (9 entries): Piece Brewery & Pizzeria, Barrel aged Mooseknuckle Barleywine
Classic Styles (11 entries): Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Lil Opal
Strong Pale Beer (14 entries): Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, Demon Sweat
Strong Dark Beers (19 entries): Allagash Brewing Company, Odyssey
Experimental Beers (20 entries): Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, Cappatown
Wild Beers (33 entries): Smuttynose Brewing Company, Farmhouse Ale