Local Breweries Score Big at World Beer Cup

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Apr 20, 2006 2:35PM

Last week in Seattle, brewmasters from around the world gathered together to have their frothy malts, potent elixirs, and hop-laden potions judged in the 2006 World Beer Cup. We found while reviewing the winners list that:

- we don't drink nearly enough beer

- area breweries accounted for all 10 of Illinois' medals, good enough for sixth place overall among American brewery entries.

We already knew that Chicago had some pretty good breweries, but the proof is in the brewing. These are your medal winning beers:

Piece Brewery & Pizzeria: Worryin' Ale (Gold Medal: Rye Beer Category) ; Top Heavy (Gold Medal: South German-style Hefeweizen/Hefeweissbier)

Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery: Pullman Brown Ale (Gold Medal: Specialty Beer); De Wilde Zuidentrein (Silver Medal: Belgian-style Sour Ale)

America's Brewing Company @ Walter Payton's Roadhouse (Aurora): Just Call Me George (Silver Medal: Baltic Porter)

Emmett's Tavern & Brewing (West Dundee): Emmett's Dunkel Weizen (Bronze Medal: German-style Dark Wheat Ale)

Goose Island Beer Company: Bourbon County Stout (Gold Medal: Wood- and Barrel-aged Beer); Matilda (Silver Medal: Belgian- and French-style Ale); Honker's Ale (Bronze Medal: Classic English-style Pale Ale); Nut Brown Ale (Gold Medal: American-style Brown Ale)

Additionally, Piece Pizza and brewmaster Jonathan Cutler won the World Beer Cup championship for a small brewpub. Rick Nielsen must be proud.

Chicagoist was the first to tell you about the quality of Goose Island Matilda and Bourbon County Stout, so right now we're just patting ourselves on the back just a little bit. Anyhoo, it's easy to get your hands and lips on these beers. Goose Island has obvious retail presence, the suburban brewpubs are easily accessible via Metra, and Piece even sells growlers for take-out. If you're curious, taste for yourself.