KRBC takes home bronze at GABF

The Kootenai River Brewing Company attributes their recent win at the largest commercial beer competition in the world to using the finest, quality ingredients, not using additives, being more interested in quality than quantity, and then letting their brews bask until perfection.

Brewery owners, Mike and Don Naumann, took home their second bronze medal at the GABF for their McGregor Scottish Ale, winning the coveted Brewing Honor in the Scottish-Style category.

The first bronze was received in 2014 for the dark colored ale with a smooth, light taste and a slight, smoky finish.

The top three winners in the competition’s 96 beer-style categories were announced Oct. 8 at the 2016 Great American Beer Festival awards ceremony held at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO., where more than 60 thousand gathered to taste the finest brews in the world.

Presented by the Brewers Association, the GABF is the largest commercial beer competition in the world and recognizes the most outstanding beers produced in the United States.

This year, 1,752 breweries from 50 states, plus Washington, D.C., participated in the competition, and 7,227 beers were judged from 96 beer categories that spanned 161 different beer styles.

Winners were selected by an international panel consisting of 264 judges made up of beer experts from 12 countries, including the U.S.

“We are very pleased to win this award with our new brewer, Daniel Simpson, who has tweaked the recipe to be what it is now,” said Mike Naumann, co-owner with his brother Don Naumann since 2011.

When asked what makes the Kootenai River brews better than most, Simpson said the brewery uses the best quality products available, does not use additives or preservatives and is not in a hurry when it comes to producing quantity.

“We don’t use additives or preservatives; which takes more time, but the quality is better,” Simpson explained.

“During the fermenting process, all of the yeast has to settle, and you could use a clarifier (an additive), but we choose to let it settle naturally — we take our time.”

Kootenai River Brewing Company is a ten-barrel brewpub, located on the river in Bonners Ferry, Idaho that specializes in gourmet pub food with handmade burgers and Bristol Bay, Alaska wild caught Salmon.

“The innovation, creativity and flavor of American beers was well showcased at this year’s Great American Beer Festival,” said Chris Swersey, competition manager, Great American Beer Festival.

“This was the most competitive competition to date, with a record number of entries. Congratulations to all the winners who truly demonstrated the best of America’s beer culture.”

The brewery has six core beers on draft, plus a seasonal brew, with this month featuring October Rye, November will be Coffee Porter, and Irish Red be served in the Spring.

Always on tap is the Osprey Pilsner, Black Mountain Porter, Grizzly IPA (India Pale Ale), Huckleberry Wheat, Two Tail Pale Ale, Barrel-aged Stout, which is aged for up to six months in a whiskey barrel and the award-winning McGregor Scottish Ale.