In its first competition, Fernie Brewing won medals in 2 out of 3 categories. The Rocky Mountain Genuine Lager won Silver in the European Style Lager Category. Their First Trax Brown Ale won the Bronze in the Brown Ale Category. Fernie Brewing was the only BC brewery outside of the Lower Mainland to win an award at the event.
The Canadian Brewing Awards is a blind tasting
competition to see who brews the best beer in 21
style categories. A panel of 14 Certified Beer
Judges considered 5 Criteria when judging:
appearance, aroma, flavour, mouth-feel and overall
impression.
“We make great beer, and it is nice to be recognized
on a national level”, said Warren Smith, Head Brewer
for Fernie Brewing. “Since moving into our new
brewery, our new water filtration system has
enhanced the flavour of our beers dramatically. We
are extremely pleased with the quality of our brews,
and I guess the judges were too!” Smith admits the
Rocky Mountain Genuine Lager has gone through a bit
of a change, with a new style of yeast, and some
slight changes in the hops and malts. And that
change has paid off big time for the local brewery.
“Not only for winning a medal, but our Lager sales
are up by 62%,” says Sales Manager Murray Pask, “and
to win 2 medals in such highly competitive
categories is outstanding, as almost every
microbrewery brews a lager and a brown ale”.