SeeCalifornia.com

Pictured from San Francisco’s 21st Amendment Brewpub are Silver Medal winners in the Session Beer category for their beer, MCA. Session beers are generally no higher than 5% ABV, featuring a balance between malt and hop characters with a clean finish,  allowing consumers to drink multiple beers within a reasonable time period or session, without overwhelming the senses or reaching inappropriate levels of intoxication.

California is indisputably the nation’s leader in production of fine wines but that’s not always been the case with beers. In the recent Brewers Association competition in Golden, Colorado however, California took home the most metals ever, and breweries in our Golden State won the highest honors: Best Mid-Size Brewpub of the Year – Beachwood BBQ & Brewing, Long Beach, CA with Brewer/Brewery Team: Julian Shrago and Ian McCall; and  Best Mid-Size Brewing Company and Mid-Size Brewing Company Brewer of the Year – Firestone Walker Brewing Company Paso Robles, CA with Brewer/Brewery Team: Matt Brynildson Sponsored by Brewers Supply Group left no doubt that California’s moving up in the beer world. Brewers Association holds the largest commercial beer competition in the world with 201 beer experts from  11 countries evaluating close to 5,000 entries.  (See all 2013 California winners)

California accounted for 15% or 145 new breweries of the 948 added in the United States last year. California’s 508 active breweries make up nearly 14% of the national total of 3,699, an all-time record high.