Tap It Brewing Co. of San Luis Obispo California Awarded Gold Medal at the LA County Fair

June 26, 2012 - PRLog -- San Luis Obispo, CA - Tap It Brewing Co. of San Luis Obispo announced today that the new Tap It Brewing American Standard Ale was awarded a first place Gold medal in the Session Pale category at the 2012 Los Angeles International Beer Competition at the LA County Fair. The brewery's signature IPA earned a Bronze Award in the competition's American-Style India Pale Ale category.

This beer competition is part of the 90th annual Los Angeles County Fair, opening to the public on August 31. The LA County Fair is the largest in North America and was attended by nearly 1.5 million people last year. Beers were judged against others of similar style as defined by Brewers Association style guidelines.

The Tap It American Standard Ale is an all-American Session Pale Ale hand crafted using premium American ingredients. The beer displays a bright hop flavor and aroma, yet very little bitterness. To achieve this flavor profile, the brewery used no bittering hops. Instead the brewmaster emphasized the hop character with a first wort addition, then whirlpool additions. Each of these processes adds flavor, while yielding minimal bitterness. Hops include Cascade and Zythos, each imparting a distinctive and refreshingly citrusy character, reminiscent of tangerines and grapefruit. This beer is also generously dry hopped, using the same Cascade and Zythos.

Tap It Brewing's IPA is regarded as hoppy in flavor with a smooth aroma and brewed with the avant-garde method of first wort hopping, the technique of adding hops to the kettle before boil. This creates a harmonious explosion of hop aroma and flavor noticeable throughout the tasting experience. Fragrances of tangerine and grapefruit entice the nose. A thick hazy rich head leads drinkers toward an experience rich in citrus and earthy flavors ending with a smooth, sticky finish. The complex floral and citrusy tones from Citra and Simcoe hops welcomes the drinker, while two more hop varietals mate smoothly with four malt varieties.

Tap It Brewing Co. represents San Luis Obispo County's seventh microbrewery. Visit http://tapitbrewing.com for more information on their beers and racing sponsorship programs.