Harrisburg, PA – Deputy Agriculture Secretary Cheryl Cook announced winners of the first Pennsylvania Farm Show Beer Competition today on the opening day of the 2019 Farm Show. Troegs Independent Brewing Company of Hershey, Dauphin County won Best of Show with its LaGrave Triple Golden Ale. Wet Hop Farmhouse Saison from Wallenpaupack Brewing Company in Hawley, Wayne County won the PA Preferred® Legacy Award, for a beer made with predominantly Pennsylvania-sourced ingredients.

“We are thrilled at the quality and variety of entries for our first statewide beer contest,” Cook said. “This enthusiastic group of craft brewers demonstrates the passion, talent, and drive that has made Pennsylvania number one in the nation. Congratulations to our competitors, and to their customers who will enjoy the taste of their success.”

In early December, expert judges evaluated 152 entries in 14 categories from 28 craft breweries across the state. Entries ranging from Schwarzbiers to Hefeweizens, and Saisons to Stouts illustrated the diverse range and quality of Pennsylvania-produced craft brews and the creativity of the state’s brewers.

Pennsylvania ranks first in the nation for barrels of craft beer produced, at 3.9 million barrels per year. The industry is responsible for more than 60,000 jobs and has a $1.1 billion impact on the state’s economy.

Twenty-three Pennsylvania craft brews have been registered as PA Preferred® Brews since the program launched in September 2017. PA Preferred® Brews are made with primarily locally grown ingredients, including hops and grain from Pennsylvania farms.

Winners of the First PA Preferred® Legacy Award took home a handblown and carved glass trophy, a giant pilsner glass surrounded at the base by images representing the journey craft beer takes from seed to pint.

First, second and third-place winners in each category are:

Pale Lager

1. Sunshine Pils – Troegs Independent Brewing Company, Hershey, Dauphin County

2. Gold Lancaster – Stoudt Brewing Company, Adamstown, Lancaster County

3. Golden Bear Pilsner – Saucony Creek Brewing Company, Kutztown, Berks County

Amber Lager

1. Oktoberfest – Swashbuckler Brewing Company, Manheim, Lancaster County

2. Oktoberfest – The Millworks Brewing, Harrisburg, Dauphin County

3. Red Flannel Logger – Aldus Brewing Company, Hanover, York County

Dark Lager

1. Dark Warrior -- Lavery Brewing Company, Erie, Erie County

2. Black Forest -- Desperate Times Brewery, Carlisle, Cumberland County

3. Xreserve Dopplebock – Saucony Creek Brewing Company, Kutztown, Berks County

Wheat Beer

1. Hefeweizen – Swashbuckler Brewing Company, Manheim, Lancaster County

2. General Pulaskis Gratzer – Two Rivers Brewing Company, Easton, Northampton County

3. Blood Orange Hefeweizen -- Mexitaly Brickoven Brewhouse, York, York County

Pale Ale

1. Luckies Hoppy Pale Ale -- Aldus Brewing Company, Hanover, York County

2. Paideia Pale Ale -- St Boniface Craft Brewing Company, Ephrata, Lancaster County

3. All American Craft Pale Ale – Bent Run Brewing Company, Lander, Warren County

IPA (<7.5% abv)

1. Largemouth IPA – Wallenpaupack Brewing Company, Hawley, Wayne County

2. Unicorns IPA – Saucony Creek Brewing Company, Kutztown, Berks County

3. Sandstone Springs IPA – Bent Run Brewing Company, Lander, Warren County

IPA (>7.5% abv)

1. Fractured Visions – Pizza Boy Brewing Company, Enola, Cumberland County

2. Hazy Galaxy – Desperate Times Brewery, Carlisle, Cumberland County

3. Most Dope Allegheny – Allegheny City Brewing Company, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County

Specialty IPA

1. Pearl O’ My Eye – Bent Run Brewing Company, Lander, Warren County

2. Black Gold Coffee IPA – Rock God Brewing Company, Danville, Montour County

3. Zerolove – Zeroday Brewing Company, Harrisburg, Dauphin County

Stout and Porter

1. Hegemony – St. Boniface Craft Brewing Company, Ephrata, Lancaster County

2. Irish Dry Stout – Swashbuckler Brewing Company, Manheim, Lancaster County

3. Sunnyside Up -- Pizza Boy Brewing Company, Enola, Cumberland County

Belgian-Style

1. LaGrave – Troegs Independent Brewing Company, Hershey, Dauphin County

2. Wet Hop Farmhouse – Wallenpaupack Brewing Company, Hawley, Wayne County

3. Lightweight – Mexitaly Brickoven Brewhouse, York, York County

Kettle Sour

1. Cherishburg -- Zeroday Brewing Company, Harrisburg, Dauphin County

Mixed Fermentation Sour

1. High End Flannel – Levity Brewing Company, Indiana, Indiana County

2. Alphonso -- Pizza Boy Brewing Company, Enola, Cumberland County

3. Wild Elf -- Troegs Independent Brewing Company, Hershey, Dauphin County

Barrel-Aged

1. Oaked Tripel – Saucony Creek Brewing Company, Kutztown, Berks County

2. Maple Bourbon Bangor Slate Balric – Two Rivers Brewing Company, Easton, Northampton County

3. 1st Anniversary Ale – Wallenpaupack Brewing Company, Hawley, Wayne County

Fruit, Herb, Vegetable

1. Sons of the Forest Spruce Tip Ale – Olde Bedford Brewing Company, Bedford, Bedford County

2. Johnny Romeo -- Zeroday Brewing Company, Harrisburg, Dauphin County

3. Fat Jimmy’s Arancia Orange Peel Wheat -- Olde Bedford Brewing Company, Bedford, Bedford County

The Pennsylvania Farm Show draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to our capital city every year for a mid-winter celebration of Pennsylvania agriculture. It is the largest indoor agricultural exposition in the nation, featuring nearly 12,000 competitive exhibits, including more than 5,200 animal competitions, plus 300 commercial exhibits and hundreds of educational, entertaining events. Visitors get a peek into the industry that employs nearly half a million people and contributes $135.7 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy every year.

The 2019 show runs January 5-12 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, except Sunday, January 6, when it runs 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, January 12, when it opens at 8 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. Admission is free, and parking is $15.

For more information about the 2019 Pennsylvania Farm Show, visit farmshow.pa.gov.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Shannon Powers - 717.783.2628

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