The 2020 U.S. Open Beer Championship just announced this year’s winners. In all, the judging panels evaluated about 6,000 beers that represented 140 different styles. Panels in three different locations (Ohio, Georgia, and Ontario) judged the beers. Below, we share the list of Washington breweries that brought home medals, as well as the complete list of winners.
Typical Caveat: Not every brewery submits beer for this or any competition. This is not an evaluation of every beer on the continent. We do not know which breweries did or did not submit beer. Likely, your favorite IPA did not win a gold medal because it was not in the competition.
A Banner Day for Reuben’s Brews and Icicle Brewing
Of the 18 medals Washington breweries won this year, nine were awarded to Reuben’s Brews of Seattle. Reuben’s Brews submitted beer from three different facilities — the main brewery, the taproom brewery, and the small-batch brewery. The competition considered each of these a unique entity.
Combined, Reuben’s Brews won more medals than any other brewery. In other words, Reuben’s Brews was the most-awarded brewing company, having submitted beer from three separate facilities.
sponsor
sponsor
sponsor
sponsor
sponsor
sponsor
sponsor
sponsor
sponsor
sponsor
Icicle Brewing also had a great showing this year, securing a total of four medals. Two medals for the brewery at the pub and two medals for the production brewery.
Sweeping the Pale Ale Category
Washington breweries swept the American Strong Pale Ale category.
sponsor
sponsor
sponsor
sponsor
sponsor
sponsor
sponsor
sponsor
- Gold: Half Cocked – 54-40 Brewing – Washington
- Silver: Big Juicy – No-Li Brewhouse – Washington
- Bronze: Bits and Bobs – Reuben’s Brews (Taproom Brewery) Washington
Reuben’s Brews took home two of the three medals in the International Style Pale Ale category:
- Gold for Mind the Gap IPA
- Bronze for Moreish IPA.
Congrats to Deschutes
This year’s Grand National Champion (the most-awarded brewery) was Deschutes Brewery. The venerable brewery in Bend, Oregon brought home a total of five medals — three gold and two silver. Deschutes is the first three-time Grand Champion winner in the U.S. Open Beer Championship’s 12-year history, having earned the distinction in 2009 and 2011.
Top 10 Breweries in the 2020 U.S. Open Beer Championships
- Deschutes Brewery – Oregon (five medals)
- Monday Night Garage – Georgia (four medals)
- Narrow Path Brewing – Ohio (three gold medals)
- Barnaby Brewing – Alaska (four medals)
- Reuben’s Brew Taproom – Washington (nine medals, three breweries)
- Amsterdam Brewing – Ontario
- Big Sexy Brewing – California
- Main & Six Brew Company – Florida
- Spearfish Brewing – South Dakota
- Wellington Brewery – Ontario
Washington’s Winners
Classic Irish Dry Stout
Bronze: Dry Stout – Reuben’s Brews – Washington
English Barley Wine
Gold: Decline – Icicle Brewing Pub – Washington
Juicy or Hazy Strong Pale Ale
Gold: Fresh Hop Double Crush – Reuben’s Brews – Taproom Brewery – Washington
New England/Juicy IPA
Gold: Alpenhaze Hazy IPA – Icicle Brewing – Washington
Ameican-Style Black Ale
Silver: The Old Man & The Cat – Boundary Bay Brewing – Washington
American Strong Pale ale
Gold: Half Cocked – 54-40 Brewing – Washington
Silver: Big Juicy – No-Li Brewhouse – Washington
Bronze: Bits and Bobs – Reuben’s Brews (Taproom Brewery) Washington
International Style Pale Ale
Gold: Mind the Gap – Reuben’s Brews (Small Batch Brewery) Washington
Bronze: Moreish – Reuben’s Brews – Washington
German Kolsch
Gold: Kascadia – 54-40 Brewing Company – Washington
French / Belgian Ale
Bronze: Lifeguard – Icicle Brewing Pub – Washington
Gose
Gold: Gose – Reuben’s Brews – Washington
Munchner Helles, Light
Bronze: Helles – Reuben’s Brews (Taproom Brewery) Washington
Vienna
Bronze: Brick West Vienna – Brick West Brewing – Washington
Barrel-Aged Fruit Sours
Gold: Farm to Oak Nectarine/Plum – Reuben’s Brews (Small Batch Brewery) Washington
Brett Beer
Gold: Tropical Funk – Reuben’s Brews (Taproom Brewer) Washington
Session IPA
Silver: Kickstand – Icicle Brewing Production – Washington
The Complete List of 2020 U.S. Open Beer Championship Winners
