Borderlands Brewing Company and Ermanos Craft Beer & Wine Bar’s collaboration brew, “Pima County Stout” placed first in the Stout and Porter category at the Arizona Strong Beer Festival in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday, February 13.
The competition, run by the Arizona Society of Homebrewers (ASH), is a chance for in-state and out-of-state breweries to be judged at Arizona’s largest beer festival. Proceeds from the competition go to support ASH (a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization) which is one of the largest homebrewing organizations in the country.
From the Arizona Society of Homebrewers website:
In 2014, ASH started the Best Strong Beer Competition for breweries pouring at the Arizona Strong Beer Festival during Arizona Beer Week. The first competition was a small event limited to only Arizona Breweries. In 2015, the competition opened up to all breweries and more than doubled in size to over 75 entries. The 2016 competition again exceeded expectations with 118 entries from 45 breweries.
Entries are evaluated in a blind-judging format by an all-star team of ASH judges credentialed by the Beer Judge Certification Program or with other relevant industry experience. The best beers from an initial judging round are selected to compete in a final Best-of-Show round.
Borderlands was the only Tucson area brewery to take home a medal this year. Two varieties of the stout – one made with Exo Roast coffee and one bourbon barrel aged – are currently on tap at Ermanos for $5 before 6pm and $6 regularly. Borderlands will add both brews to their tap room beginning Wednesday, February 17 for about a week.
Borderlands also entered the Citrana and Noche Dulce brews in the competition but did not place for either brew.
For more information, including pictures from the event, check out azhomebrewers.org/strong-beer-fest-comp.
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