First Runner-Up

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Two World Class Ratings
One Exceptional Rating
Total Score: 290 points
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pFriem Family Brewers
707 Portway Ave #101
Hood River, OR 97031

Tel: (541) 321-0490
www.pfriembeer.com

pFriem Family Brewers of Hood River, Oregon proved, yet again, that they are the gold standard for quality – and, as such, have been named our first runner-up for 2021. pFriem’s top-scoring beer was their second highest-scoring beer of all time: Hazy Sabro IPA, which was rated 98. pFriem is known for its mastery of a wide range of styles including fruit lambics, specialty smoked beers and Belgian witbiers, but the brewery also closely follows industry trends and produced this near-flawless hazy IPA. The heavy use of Sabro hops provide delectable papaya, cantaloupe, key lime and pine notes in this World Class brew.

Their next top-scoring offering was an intriguing barrel-aged brew called Vanilla Chai Bourbon Stout. Inspired by a latte, this elegant and high-ABV (11%) stout wowed our judge with its “elegant spicy chocolate muffin” flavor and aroma profile as well as its supreme balance – despite an impressive number of adjuncts and time spent in a bourbon barrel. Ginger, vanilla, gentle chocolate and light bourbon flavors and aromas swirl around this special release from pFriem.

pFriem’s final highest-scoring beer, Big IPA, was stopped short of being called an “imperial IPA” due to its 8% ABV threshold. While not quite the hop bomb that many other DIPAs can claim to be, this brew still erupts out of the glass with tropical aromas of pineapple and tangerine and a similar flavor profile thanks to an excellent hop blend including Nelson Sauvin, Mosaic, Citra and Vic’s Secret.

Rated 98 – World Class

Hazy Sabro IPA
Specialty IPA

One of pFriem’s highest-scoring beers of all time, this hazy IPA highlights the papaya and cantaloupe notes found in Sabro hops.

Rated 97 – World Class

Vanilla Chai Bourbon Stout
Specialty Wood-Aged Beer

A truly elegant and intriguing blend of aromas and flavors all topped off in a bourbon barrel, this sipper is a delight.

Rated 95 – World Class

Big IPA
Double IPA

Stopping short of being massively hoppy, this balanced brew features an exceptional hop blend of Nelson Sauvin, Mosaic, Citra and Vic’s Secret.