Best of the West Coast IPA: National Competition returns to Oregon in 2024
As the not-for-profit trade group the Oregon Brewers Guild moves away from beer festivals and public events, they are finding success in beer competitions like the returning Best of the West Coast IPA: National Throwdown. Instead of focusing on only Oregon breweries and events in state, the Best of the West Coast IPA challenges the best breweries in the country to compete in a double-blind competition on one style of beer against our best. Details of the second annual competition have been announced for 2024, with judging taking place in July and an awards ceremony in August.
This competition was established with the goal of identifying and celebrating the best West Coast IPAs being made in the country by a wide range of breweries and brewers. The event focuses on one style of beer only: West Coast IPA. Specifically, between 6 and 8% ABV, this IPA style is characterized by bright clarity to very light haze, with punchy flavors and aromas that generally showcase classic north-western American hop varieties such as Cascade, Centennial, Simcoe, Amarillo or Citra.
With over 200 entries submitted from across the nation in the first year of this competition, the Oregon Brewers Guild expects this number to increase significantly this year as more breweries learn of its existence.
“This beer style is one of the most popular in craft brewing. What could be more exciting than getting its best representations from across the US in a head-to-head competition to see which ones reign supreme?” said Robin Johnson, OBG Board member and head brewer at Deschutes Brewery’s Bend Pub.
Photo from the 2023 Best of the West Coast IPA awards ceremony at TopWire Hop Project
Registration opens June 1 and is open to breweries from all 50 states. Following the approach of many international competitions, judges will award silver and gold medals to qualifying beers in each category. Gold medalists in each category will compete against each other for a Category Championship, and the Category Champions will compete for the Grand Champion/Best in Show IPA award.
All beers entered must be produced on a fully licensed, commercial brewery with a TTB Brewer’s Notice on file. Breweries-in-planning and homebrewers are not eligible. All proceeds from the competition will go to supporting the Guild.
The 2024 competition is limited to 450 beers total. All breweries are limited to a maximum of 3 entries. Multi-site breweries and brewery groups with common ownership are limited to 3 entries total – the same as single-site producers. The fee for each entry is $40 or $100 for 3 beers.
Beers will be judged 7/12/24 – 7/14/24 and the awards ceremony will be held 8/3/24 from 4 – 8pm at TopWire Hop Project in Woodburn, Oregon.
Registration and information links will be emailed to last years’ participants by June 1st with details on competition rules and style guidelines. These will also be available on the Oregon Brewers Guild website, oregoncraftbeer.org.
About the Oregon Brewers Guild
The Oregon Brewers Guild is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote and protect the state’s craft brewing industry and the common interests of its members. Founded in 1992, the Oregon Brewers Guild is one of the nation’s oldest craft brewers associations. For more information, visit http://oregoncraftbeer.org.