B.C. tops the podium at the Canadian brewing awards

British Columbia has some pretty good beers, according toOn The Coastbeer columnist RebeccaWhyman.

West Coastbreweries tied with Ontario for the most medalsat the15thannual Canadian Brewing Awards,were held in Ottawa on May 27.

B.C. took home 51 of164 medals, withRevelstoke'sMt.BegbieBrewingwinning the coveted "Best Brewery in Canada" award.

Other notable winners from the province includePowellBrewing, which took home four medals, andSteamworks, Off the Railand Bomber Brewing, which claimed three medals each.

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This is the first year that breweries were required to be 100 per cent Canadian-owned to be eligiblefor the awards, a rule that essentiallyhighlightscraftbreweries by makingbigger breweries ineligible, saidWhyman.

The columnist saidthe recognition is welcomed by owners.

"A beer award is an acknowledgment that all of their hard work and the risks taken to enter an industry with lots of competition and small profit margins were worth it they made a really great beer! And the industry, their peers and their faithful supporters recognize, and celebrate, that really great beer,"saidWhyman.

She addedcustomers can use the awards to expand their tasting menu.

"If you're new to beer you can take the list of winners as a to-do list, tasting the local winners in each style category to gain an appreciation for the differences between,for example, classic-style India pale alesand North American-styleIPAs, knowing you are trying very good examples of each style,"Whymansaid.

Here arethe columnist'spicks from the gold medal-winning beers.

SteamworksBrewing's Black Angel IPA

"It's a black IPA, also known as aCascadianDark Ale, which means it is as malty as it ishoppy. Although it is dark in colour, it has angelic citrus notes keeping it light. 7 per cent abv. Available in330mlbottles at liquor stores and theSteamworkstasting room."

PowellStreet Brewing's LazyD'hazeIPA

"It's a Northeast style IPA, which makes it as hazy as the summer days are long. Lots of fruity goodness from Amarillo and Equinox hops, with intense aromas of grapefruit, orange, apricot, melon and berries. 7 per centabv. Available on tap at the tasting room."

StrathconaBrewing's British IPA

"It's a classic English IPA, which means it is more balanced between hops and malts than a Pacific Northwest IPA. Lightly hopped with traditional English hops, it has subtle citrus flavour and a nice dry finish. 6 per centabv. Available in355mlcans and on tap in the tasting room."

With files from CBC Radio One'sOn The Coast