The 2022 Oregon Beer Awards recognizing the best in Oregon beer in 2021 were announced at a sold-out ceremony last night at Revolution Hall in southeast Portland. Known as the Academy Awards of Oregon beer, the 2022 OBA’s were a return to form with a raucous crowd excited they made it through the pandemic and can gather to see each other in-person again.

For the third year in a row, Gigantic Brewing’s Ben Love was an MC co-host for the event, but with a new partner. Previous years Love has been joined by Joe Sanders of Old Town Brewing, but in a surprise twist the second host this year turned out to be brewer Natalie Baldwin who was introduced in the opening sketch video (see above.)

This years awards were the second largest number of entries ever, 1,234 beers were entered by 123 distinct brewing companies (including the fresh hop competition held last October), enough to make it the second largest OBA’s ever. As always the OBA’s are a double-blind competition, that means not only do the judges not know what they are drinking but even the servers delivering beers to evaluate. This years judges pool was also the most diverse ever, 72 beer professionals attended judging over 2 weekends in March, some traveling from Conneticut, Montana, Idaho, and Washington.

The 6 Largest Categories in the competition this year:

• IPA with 101 entries

• Fresh Hop IPA and Pale with 76 entries

• Hazy IPA with 73 entries

• Sessionable Hoppy with 68 entries

• Classic North American with 53 entries

• Light German + Bohemian with 51 entries

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE 2022 OBA’S:

Breakside Brewery won 11 medals in the double-blind competition, not including large brewery of the year and excellence in brewing operations for the western region. Despite the big haul of awards, it was mostly their hop forward IPA’s and newly revamped barrel-aging program were doing the heavy lifting this year. Big medals included a gold for Barley Brown’s collab Wanderjack IPA and a bronze for Evan Is My Homie, both in the highly competitive IPA category. Wanderjack pulled off another rare feat by winning 2 golds, one of them for the fresh hop version that was judged and awarded back in October. The barrel-aged stout category was nearly a sweep, Breakside got both gold and bronze for Cute Metal and Space Music which were each winter 2021 recent releases.

10 Barrel Brewing had another stellar year following their standout performance in 2021. This year they claimed 7 medals, including gold for Marionberry Cheesecake in the pastry beer category, and a gold in the barrel-aged beer category for the Portland brewed beer Slice of Heaven.

pFriem Family Brewers won 5 medals in the beer part of the competition, and best brewery in the central region for excellence in brewery operations. They pulled a threepeat with their flagship pFriem Pilsner, winning a gold 3 years in a row. They also nabbed a silver for their other flagship beer the IPA, narrowly blocking Breakside from sweeping the category.

Wayfinder Beer scored 5 medals, plus Best Brewpub Experience award, their best haul ever this year at the Oregon Beer Awards.Their biggest win was a silver medal for Gravity Drop Baltic Porter, but their most surprising was for Corpo Seco Pupmpkin Ale, an unexpected collaboration with Seattle’s Cloudburst Brewing that took most pumpkin beer haters by surprise with it’s nuances and lack of over spicing.

Grains of Wrath Brewing had a big debut onto the Oregon beer competition this year, until recently they weren’t eligible because they are based in Washington. But with a new Portland satellite location and brewery they can now brew and enter beers officially considered Oregonian. That yielded them 4 medals, and they were big enough awards to earn them medium sized brewery of the year. Those 4 medals came in only 2 categories, a silver and a bronze in Dark Hoppy Beers for Perpetual Dawn and Falling Up, and a gold and a silver in Dark German and European Lagers for Frost Hammer helles and Vienna Lager.

Sunriver Brewing had a great year with 4 medals, tying for the fifth most of any brewery this year and the second most for a central Oregon brewery. Those wins came in a variety of categories, which really shows off their mastery of multiple styles and broad overall excellence. Bronze for Tootle’s Marbles in the Red Ales category, bronze for Cocoa Cow in Flavored Beers, silver for Bondi Beach Party in Sessionable Hoppy Beers, and a silver for Wild Series: Gin Fizz in Belgian Beers, German Wheat Beers, and Traditional Brett Beers.

Great Notion Brewing proved their bona fides in hazy NE-style and dessert beers with double gold medals in Hazy IPA and Experimental IPA, finishing things off with a silver in the pastry category. It would be difficult to beat them in these areas that the brewery has absolutely owned since they started, and are getting some of that recognition at the beer awards.

Alesong Brewing & Blending won 3 medals, and kind of 4? This is because their Deschutes Brewery collaboration Maskerade won a silver in the Barrel-Aged Beers category but was made and entered by Deschutes. That only makes their silver in the similar barrel-aged stouts category for Coconut Rhino Suit all the more impressive. Unsurprisingly they killed it in the mixed culture beer category nearly sweeping all three with a silver for Farmhouse Cuvee and a bronze for Touch of Brett ‘21.

Nebuleus beer might be the breakout brewery of this years awards with a gold and bronze medal in their first offical year as a commercial brewery and earning small size brewery of the year. Most people probably haven’t heard of nebuleus, but if you are active in the local beer nerd forums and bottle shares then they are infamous for their mixed culture and fruit sours. While they have been brewing and bottling for awhile now, they became officially licensed to sell in 2021 and move nearly all of their small batch products via instagram. The 2022 OBA’s prove they are worth the hype, managing to snatch the gold in Mixed Culture Beers for sitka spruce, and the bronze in Fruited Mixed Culture for honey haven.

Migration Brewing claimed 3 big medals this year, a bronze for Frankie Imperial Stout, and a gold for Paloma in Experimental and Historical Beers, plus the silver for Fresh Coast IPA won in the fresh hop competition held last Fall.

FULL LIST OF 2022 WINNERS:

Pilsner

🥇GOLD Pilsner by pFriem Family Brewers

🥈SILVER Pils by Heater Allen Brewing

🥉BRONZE Sol Power Pils by Worthy Brewing

Golden, Blonde, and other Light Ales

🥇GOLD Dad Beer by Baerlic Beer Co

🥈SILVER Livin' La Vida Kolscha by Gratitude Brewing

🥉BRONZE Wentworth by the Sea by Breakside Brewery

Hoppy Lagers

🥇GOLD Brainsicle by Sasquatch Brewery

🥈SILVER Project Pilsner by Motueka Gigantic Brewing

🥉BRONZE Terrifica Horror Pils by Wayfinder Beer

Light German and European Lagers

🥇GOLD Frost Hammer by Grains Of Wrath

🥈SILVER Vienna Lager by Grains Of Wrath

🥉BRONZE Kellerbier by pFriem Family Brewers

Dark German and European Lagers

🥇GOLD Black Diamond Dark Lager by Bend Brewing Company

🥈SILVER Dementor's Kiss by 10 Barrel Brewing Portland

🥉BRONZE Hidden Hand černé pivo by Wayfinder Beer

Stout and Porter

🥇GOLD Strand Plain by ForeLand Beer

🥈SILVER Favorable Fortune by Block 15 Brewing Co.

🥉BRONZE Mrs. Pierce's Porter by Thunder Island Brewing Co

Classic UK Styles

🥇GOLD Alewife by Steeplejack Brewing Company

🥈SILVER Velvet ESB by Hopworks Urban Brewery

🥉BRONZE ESB by Breakside Brewery

Classic North American Styles

🥇GOLD Upside Brown Ale by Falling Sky Brewing

🥈SILVER Twheat by 10 Barrel Brewing Co

🥉BRONZE Red Fang Malt Liquor by Wayfinder Beer

Belgian Beers, German Wheat Beers, and Traditional Brett Beers

🥇GOLD Rain Harvester by ForeLand Beer

🥈SILVER Wild Series: Gin Fizz by Sunriver Brewing Company

🥉BRONZE Islands in the Stream by Von Ebert Brewing

Red Beers

🥇GOLD ALTerior Motive by StormBreaker Brewing

🥈SILVER Brits Abroad Red Ale by Away Days Brewing Co

🥉BRONZE Tootle's Marbles by Sunriver Brewing Company

Strong Beers

🥇GOLD Cavatica by Fort George Brewery

🥈SILVER Gravity Drop Baltic Porter by Wayfinder Beer

🥉BRONZE Frankie by Migration Brewing Company

Sessionable Hoppy Beers

🥇GOLD Woodlawn Pale Ale by Breakside Brewery

🥈SILVER Bondi Beach Party by Sunriver Brewing Company

🥉BRONZE Rainbows & Unicorns by Breakside Brewery

India Pale Ale

🥇GOLD Wanderjack IPA by Breakside Brewery

🥈SILVER IPA by pFriem Family Brewers

🥉BRONZE Evan is My Homie by Breakside Brewery

Hazy or Juicy IPA

🥇GOLD Love and Ritual by Great Notion Brewing

🥈SILVER Hazy Perspective by Mountain View Brewing

🥉BRONZE Awesome Sauce by Ascendant Beer Company

Imperial India Pale Ale

🥇GOLD Interpreter IPA by Ruse Brewing

🥈SILVER A Life Beyond The Dream Triple IPA by Oakshire Brewing

🥉BRONZE Hop Pillow by McMenamins Old Saint Francis School

Dark Hoppy Beers

🥇GOLD (2021) Orange Giant Barleywine: Triple Dry Hopped Edition by Ecliptic Brewing

🥈SILVER Perpetual Dawn by Grains Of Wrath

🥉BRONZE Falling Up by Grains Of Wrath

Barrel-Aged Beers

🥇GOLD Slice of Heaven by 10 Barrel Brewing Portland

🥈SILVER Maskerade by Deschutes Brewery and Alesong Brewing & Blending

🥉BRONZE Rye Whiskey Barrel Aged Imperial Brown by pFriem Family Brewers

Barrel-Aged Stouts

🥇GOLD Cute Metal by Breakside Brewery

🥈SILVER Coconut Rhino Suit by Alesong Brewing and Blending

🥉BRONZE Space Music by Breakside Brewery

Flavored Beers

🥇GOLD Flora Rustica by Upright Brewing

🥈SILVER Corpo Seco Pumpkin Ale by Wayfinder Beer and Cloudburst Brewing

🥉BRONZE Cocoa Cow by Sunriver Brewing Company

Fruit Beers

🥇GOLD Coconut Brown Ale by Public Coast Brewing Company

🥈SILVER Passionate Envy by 10 Barrel Brewing Co

🥉BRONZE Huckleberry Cream Ale by MadCow Brewing Company

Coffee and Smoke Beers

🥇GOLD Smokey the Beer by Level Beer

🥈SILVER pFriemsters Union Double Maple Pecan Smoked Porter by pFriem Family Brewers

🥉BRONZE McCollough Mocha Stout by 7 Devils Brewing Company

Experimental and Historical Beers

🥇GOLD Paloma by Migration Brewing Company

🥈SILVER Unbearable LIghtness by Breakside Brewery

🥉BRONZE Agrio Morado by 10 Barrel Brewing Co

Pastry or Dessert Beer

🥇GOLD Marionberry Cheesecake by 10 Barrel Brewing Co

🥈SILVER Yeti Sno Ball Fight by Great Notion Brewing

🥉BRONZE Kill the Sun with Coconut, Chocolate and Toasted Almonds by Ex Novo Brewing Company

Specialty India Pale Ale

🥇GOLD Synesthesia by Great Notion Brewing

🥈SILVER Equatorial Haze by 10 Barrel Brewing Co

🥉BRONZE Cosmic Chill by Silver Moon Brewing

American Sour Beers

🥇GOLD Live! ColdFire Brewing

🥈SILVER Pretty Fly for a Cacti Weekend Beer Co.

🥉BRONZE Rose City Sour Cascade Brewing

Mixed Culture Beers

🥇GOLD yessitka spruce Nebuleus

🥈SILVER Farmhouse Cuvee by Alesong Brewing and Blending

🥉BRONZE Touch of Brett '21 by Alesong Brewing and Blending

Fruited Mixed Culture Beers

🥇GOLD Coming to Fruition: Cherry by Oregon City Brewing Co

🥈SILVER Four Play by Upright Brewing

🥉BRONZE honey haven by Nebuleus

Gluten Free and Non-Alcoholic Beers

🥇GOLD Hop Dipped IPA by Deschutes Brewery

🥈SILVER Non-Alcoholic Black Butte Porter by Deschutes Brewery

🥉BRONZE Extra Terrestrial Pub Ale by Mutantis Brewery & Bottle Shop

After the competition Oregon Beer Awards learned that Deschutes NA version of Black Butte Porter was not actually brewed in Oregon, but in Colorado. It was an oversight on the part of the brewery and the silver medal award had to be rescinded as only Oregon brewed beers are allowed. The other two medals for that category remain in place.

Fresh Hop Pale Ales and India Pale Ales

🥇GOLD Fresh Hop Chinook IPA by Breakside Brewery

🥈SILVER Fresh Coast IPA by Migration Brewing

🥉BRONZE Fresh Hop Strata Wanderjack by Breakside Brewery

Fresh Hop Hazy Pale Ales and India Pale Ales

🥇GOLD Strut Your Strata by Deschutes Brewery

🥈SILVER Little Green Bag by McMenamin's Old Saint Francis School

🥉BRONZE Identical Truths by Ruse Brewing

Other Fresh Hop Beers

🥇GOLD Pioneer ESB by Baerlic Brewing Co.

🥈SILVER Fresh Hop Sterling Pilsner by Breakside Brewery

🥉BRONZE Fresh Hop Kolsch by Zoiglhaus Brewing Co.

Best Bottleshop

🏆 John's Marketplace SE Powell Blvd.

Best Beer Bar or Taphouse

🏆 TIE: The Beermongers / Lombard House

Best Brewpub Experience

🏆 Wayfinder Beer

Best New Brewery

🏆 SteepleJack Brewing

Best Branding/Labels

🏆 Upright Brewing

Craft Advocate of the Year

🏆 Christina LaRue

Brewery of the Year: Large

🏆 Breakside Brewery

Brewery of the Year: Medium

🏆 Grains of Wrath Brewing

Brewery of the Year: Small

🏆 Nebuleus Beer

Hall of Fame

🏆 Teri Fahrendorf + Art Larrance + Alan Sprints

Excellence in Brewery Operations

This regional award recognizes the best overall performances by brewing companies in Oregon in one of 4 different areas designated by counties. The winners are independently chosen by the over 300 industry voters that make up the OBA academy.

🏆 Western - Breakside Brewery

🏆 Central - pFriem Family Brewers

🏆 Eastern - Barley Brown's Brew Pub

🏆 Southern - Caldera Brewing