While not as high profile as CraftBeer.com’s Best Beards of Craft Beer, a handful of members of the craft beer community recently snagged spots as semifinalists for the James Beard Awards. The James Beard Foundation is a national non-profit organization with a mission to “celebrate, nurture and preserve America’s diverse culinary heritage and future.” The foundation’s annual awards are described, on their website as, “the highest honor for food and beverage professionals working in North America.”
Finalists in the Outstanding Wine, Spirits or Beer Professional category include:
- Sam Calagione | Dogfish Head Craft Brewery | Milton, DE
- Mike, Nick and Simon Floyd | Three Floyds Brewing | Munster, IN
- Garrett Oliver | Brooklyn Brewery | Brooklyn, NY
- Tom Peters | Monk’s Café | Philadelphia, PA
- Sean Lilly Wilson | Fullsteam | Durham, NC
In 2012, the category’s name was changed to recognize beer professionals, which is further proof that craft beer is making a mark in the epicurean food community. However, the description (page 9) of the award has not totally been updated to reflect that a beer industry actually exists, “A winemaker, brewer, or spirits professional who has had a significant impact on the wine and spirits industry nationwide.”
Other craft beer-centric semifinalists include:
Outstanding Bar Program
- The Abbot’s Cellar | San Francisco, CA
- The Bar at the NoMad Hotel | New York City, NY
- The Porter Beer Bar | Atlanta, GA
Rising Star Chef of the Year
- Bryce Gilmore | Barley Swine | Austin, TX
- Jorel Pierce | Euclid Hall Bar & Kitchen | Denver, CO
Final nominations will be announced live on March 18, via twitter, while the James Beard Foundation Awards Ceremony and Gala Reception will be held May 6. Best of luck to all of the nominees who have made the advancement of craft beer their passions and careers. If you’ve read this entire Banter hoping I would eventually reveal the finalist of CraftBeer.com’s Best Beards of Craft Beer, you’ll have to wait until next week.
Andy Sparhawk, the Brewers Association’s Craft Beer Program Coordinator, is a Certified Cicerone® and BJCP Beer Judge. He lives in Arvada, Colorado where he is a homebrewer and avid craft beer enthusiast. On occasion, Andy is inspired to write on his experiences with craft beer, and if they are not too ridiculous, you might see the results here on CraftBeer.com.
CraftBeer.com is fully dedicated to small and independent U.S. breweries. We are published by the Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade group dedicated to promoting and protecting America’s small and independent craft brewers. Stories and opinions shared on CraftBeer.com do not imply endorsement by or positions taken by the Brewers Association or its members.
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