The inaugural Canadian Craft Beer and Oyster Pairing Competition was held last weekend as part of the Osoyoos Oyster Festival.
"Beer and oysters have a long history with the growing Canadian craft beer market. We thought this was the perfect time to add a cart beer oyster competition alongside our Canadian Oyster wine competition," said Claire Sear, founder of the inaugural Canadian Craft beer and Oyster Competition. "With over 70 categories for a first-year competition, the judges had to make tough calls and it all came down to the best pairing of the oyster with the beer."
Taking Best in Show was Penticton's Cannery Brewing with their Blackberry Porter.
In the Ale category Parallel 49 Brewing Company won with the Gypsy Tears Ruby Ale and the runner up was Steamworks Brewery Collaboration Ale.
Winner in the Bitter category was R&B Brewing's East Side Bitter and the runner up was Oliver's Firehall Brewing with their Stoked Ember Ale.
In the IPA category Bridge Brewing Company won with Hopilano IPA and the runner up was Tree Brewing's Raw IPA. Winner of the lager category is Moon Under Water Brewery's Creepy Uncle Dunkel with the runner up award going to Stanley Park Brewing for their Belgian Style Pilsner.
Cannery Brewing won the Porter category with the Blackberry Porter with Four Winds Brewing placing as runner up with their Oat Porter. Old Yale Brewing Co. won the Stout category with their Sasquatch Stout and runner up went to Granville Island Brewing for their Shamrock Potato Stout.
The Wheat Beer category went to Tree Brewing for their Mellow Moon Pineapple Hefewiezen and runner up to Lighthouse Brewing Company Wheat Beer.
The Wild Card category went to Four Winds Brewing Triplicity Belgian Tripel and Cannery Brewing took runner up with the Squire Scotch Ale.
Meadow Vista Artisan Farm Winery won the Mead category with Cloud Horse. In the Cider category Tree Brewing won with Dukes Cider and Left Field was runner up with Little Dry Cider.
The Osoyoos Oyster Festival is sponsored by Destination Osoyoos and was created to showcase sustainable oysters from the West Coast and award-winning wines from the Oliver and Osoyoos Winery Association. This year craft beer, mead and cider have been added.
This was another superb year for the Canadian wine and oyster competition. The judges had to make some tough calls and it all came down to the exact pairing of the oyster along with the wine,” said Sear.
There were hundreds of oysters slurped during the competition to ensure the “perfect pairing” was chosen.
2014 Canadian Oyster Wine Pairing Competition winners:
Best of Show: Noble Ridge Vineyard & Winery 2010 “The One” (Sparkling)
Pinot Blanc:
Winner: Gray Monk Estate Winery Pinot Blanc 2012
Runner-Up: Wild Goose Vineyards 2013
Un-Oaked Chardonnay:
Winner: Mt. Boucherie Family Estate Winery 2012
Runner-Up: Gray Monk Estate Winery 2012
Oaked Chardonnay:
Winner: Poplar Grove Winery 2011 Reserve;
Runner Up: Bench 1775 Winery 2012
Riesling:
Winner: Konzelmann Estate Winery 2012;
Runner Up: Monster Vineyards 2012
Pinot Gris:
Winner: Bench 1775 Winery 2013
Runner Up: Gray Monk Estate Winery 2013
Sauvignon Blanc:
Winner: La Frenz Winery 2013
Runner Up: Bench 1775 Winery 2013
Sparkling:
Winner: Noble Ridge Vineyard & Winery 2010 “The One”
Runner Up: Sperling Vineyards Brut 2009
Wild Card: Black Hills Estate Winery Cellar Hand 2012 “Free Run White”