One of Riot Brewing Co.’s inaugural products landed the Chemainus brewery a bronze medal in the 2023 Canadian Brewing Awards.
Lipslide Lager claimed third place in the Kellerbier/Zwickelbier category during the awards June 3 in Halifax.
“It’s actually the first time Lipslide’s ever won,” said Riot’s co-owner Aly Tomlin. “It’s awesome because it’s a core beer.”
“Being recognized by our peers is important and showing the quality of work our team does here,” added co-owner Ralf Rosenke. “If it can help some sales, it’s always a good thing, too.”
The awards are held at a different location each year. The Halifax ceremony was supposed to be live-streamed so the Riot Brewing team could watch, at least, but that didn’t happen.
“We found out because we had friends at the ceremony who texted us,” said Tomlin.
Lipslide Lager is named after a classic skateboard trick called the Lipslide, a move perfected by Rosenke during his youth.
The Kellerbier/Zwickelbier category features some of the best Canadian and German malts. Lipslide finishes with a slight hop spiciness for a brightness of flavour that captured attention from the judges.
More than 300 breweries came together at the Canadian Brewing Awards to compete for coveted medals in each of the 59 style categories.
Riot Brewing opened its doors in November 2016 and this is the third time it’s been rewarded with a medal at the Canadian Brewing Awards.
Good Vibrations Classical Pilsner won silver at the 2017 Canadian Brewing Awards in Ottawa and Vortex Robust Porter also took silver in 2018 in Halifax.
Other major awards for Riot Brewing include: gold for Working Class Hero Dark Mild and bronze for Breakfast of Champions Coffee Lager in collaboration with Drumroaster Coffee of Cobble Hill during the 2018 World Beer Cup in Nashville, Tennessee; and bronze for Working Class Hero Dark Mild at the 2022 Canada Beer Cup in Toronto.
Related story: Chemainus brewery sips from the World Beer Cup with two awards
With the Cowichan Craft Beer and Food Festival not happening again until next year, there are no other special events planned for Riot this year.
“We’re just going to be here all summer, with bands Fridays and Saturdays on the patio,” said Rosenke.
Riot Brewing products are available on-tap and in cans at its Chemainus Village Square location as well as at liquor stores and other establishments in the Cowichan Valley.
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