Gold was more than a color of beer for Oceanside and Carlsbad breweries that won top honors at the 2024 Brewers Cup of California on Wednesday, March 13, in Sacramento.
Black Plague Brewing of Oceanside and Carlsbad’s Burgeon Beer and Pizza Port Brewing Co. won gold medals at the fourth annual statewide event, held by the Sacramento Area Brewers Guild in partnership with guilds across the state, including the San Diego Brewers Guild.
Black Plague won for Medusa in the Specialty Stout category, Burgeon won for Clever Kiwi in the Session Beer category, and Pizza Port won for Apollyon in the Belgian Pale Strong/Tripel category, according to an event report from the San Diego guild.
A Brewers Cup gold winner is “a world-class beer that accurately exemplifies the specified style, displaying the proper balance of taste, aroma, and appearance,” according to event organizers.
Pizza Port Carlsbad also won silver for its Naughty Listers in the Herb and Spiced Beer category. In addition, Oceanside’s Northern Pine Brewing won bronze for its Sunny Vibes in the Cream Ale category.
Out of more than 1,300 entries in 83 categories from nearly 200 breweries, San Diego County breweries stood out with 26 medals overall, including nine gold, 12 silver and five bronze, according to the San Diego Brewers Guild.
Noting the region’s trademarked moniker as The Capital of Craft, San Diego Brewers Guild Executive Director Erik Fowler said the medals represented a variety of brewers across the county.
“The Capital of Craft strikes again with another impressive showing up in Northern California,” Fowler in the guild’s news release. “I particularly appreciate the geographic diversity of our winners from North County to Central County to East County. It just goes to show you can live in or visit any part of San Diego and find great beer to enjoy.”
The complete list of winners can be found at brewerscupofca.com/2024-winners.