Coronado Brewing Co. Brings Home Medal from National Beer Festival

A local microbrewery known for its golden pilsner has added something silver to the lineup.

Earlier this month, the Coronado Brewing Co. was awarded a silver medal at the Great American Beer Festival held Oct. 10-12 in Denver, CO, for its Black Sails IPA, which competed in the American-Style Black Ale category. It was one of 73 entries in the category.

Company president and co-founder Rick Chapman was elated.

“Black Sails is one of my personal favorites and I’m honored it’s been chosen by GABF’s panel of judges as a standout among the great craft beers in the US,” Chapman said on the company's web site. 

Competition is fierce at the annual festival, which is presented by the Brewer's Association. This year's judging panel was comprised of 201 beer experts from 11 countries who evaluated some 4,809 entries. They awarded 252 medals to beer makers throughout the nation. 

[Click here to see the other American brewers who took home medals.]

Black Sails IPA is one of 13 beers on tap at the brewery and restaurant, which also offers Orange Avenue Wit and Coronado Golden.

Brothers Ron and Rick Chapman opened the brew pub in 1996, and got to work producing a variety of West Coast-style ales. They partnered with a local craft distribution company in 2003, and expanded sales out of state in 2010.