SLO Brew, a craft brewing operation based out of San Luis Obispo, California, emerged victorious at this year’s Great American Beer Festival, nabbing its first GABF medal since moving to its new facility last year. The winning beer was Feelin’ Your Oats, an Oatmeal Stout that took home a Bronze medal in its category. SLO Brew co- owner Rod Cegelski says the recognition is satisfying on many levels and a positive sign of great things to come.
“We are incredibly proud to have to have won a medal at the Great American Beer Festival, especially considering that this is one of our first batches from our new facility,” said Cegelski. “We are just ramping up production and hope this is the first of many medals for our core beers and seasonal brews.”
Feelin’ Your Oats faced tough competition in its category. In total, there were 61 submissions from different breweries, all vying for recognition as one of the best three oatmeal stouts in the USA. Feelin’ Your Oats, with its big, bold, silky, roasty flavor profile, grabbed the attention of the Great American Beer Festival judges and earned enough points to declare it one of the best oatmeal stouts in the land.
With a GABF Bronze Medal under its belt, Feelin’ Your Oats is obviously an amazing beer to savor all by itself. But one must remember that SLO Brew is more than just a place that brews delicious beer- it’s also a restaurant that serves delectable culinary creations, many of which are ideally matched with the flavor characteristics of each beer. Thomas Fundaro, SLO Brew Executive Chef, recommends pairing this complex beer with Brew’s Crab & Artichoke Alfredo Pizza or an Aussie Meat Pie. It also matches up nicely as the base for a Slo Brew Adult Dessert Float and its sweeter, silkier flavor profile makes it a nice match with the Wave Wrangler Gelato and an Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie.
The 2016 Great American Beer Festival competition was the largest to date, with a record 7,227 entries submitted by 1,752 U.S. breweries. GABF competition manager Chris Swersey says the competitive edge of this year’s event was its strongest yet, making victory that much sweeter.
“The innovation, creativity and flavor of American beers was well showcased at this year’s Great American Beer Festival,” said Swersey. “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.”
SLO Brew is located in the heart of downtown San Luis Obispo and is known not just as a place for great beer, but as an all- around entertainment destination. “The Brew”, as locals refer to it, features craft beer, a full service restaurant, and entertainment with its own state-of-the-art music venue. It even has a few extras you don’t normally expect to find when you visit a brewery, like a Whiskey Lounge on the mezzanine level, a creekside patio, and a Fireside Salon.
SLO Brew has been around for quite some time. Founded in 1988, it has grown and matured over the years, expanding its services and relocating to a larger facility to accommodate growing demand. This latest Great American Beer Festival medal is a tribute to the SLO Brew team’s hard work and determination to be the best brewery it can be. We at Great Beer Now salute SLO Brew and its dedicated personnel and look forward to even more GABF recognition in the years ahead.
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