Winning awards for their craft beer is nothing new to Stack Brewing, but winning five awards in about two months is certainly a feather in the company’s cap, said the brewer’s provincial sales manager.
The Sudbury-based craft brewery won four medals at the Ontario Brewing Awards this past weekend, following a gold medal at the Canadian Brewing Awards a few months ago.
At the provincial level, Stack won two gold medals — one in the Strong Belgian Ale category (LaCloche) and one in the Amber Bitter European Beer category (Impact) — and two silver medals — one in the Standard American Beer category (Nickel City) and one in the India Pale Ale category (Expansion Sour IPA). The awards ceremony happened virtually on Nov. 14.
Stack also took home a gold medal at the Canadian Brewing Awards a few months ago in the American Style Black Ale category (Black Rock).
“Impact has won the same category for the past three years, but the other three beers are relatively new in terms of these particular awards,” said Troy Lajambe. “It caps off a huge year for us. To win nothing less than a silver medal with five different beers is a pretty huge feat.”
Winning in the IPA category is pretty huge, because it’s a flooded category, said Stack’s head brewer Brenden MacDonald.
A rookie brewer, MacDonald is a Sudbury boy who recently graduated from the Niagara Brewing School before taking on his position at Stack.
“I altered many of the recipes with what I learned in school, and to see they are placing is nice,” he said.
The team at Stack is now waiting on word from the U.S. Open Beer Championship to see if they have won an award on an international level.
“It’s the next step up in terms of competition, and it’s brewers all over North America and the U.S., so we’re just waiting to see if we get a call,” Lajambe said.
“This is Brenden’s first full year as head brewer, and he came in and completely killed it. We’ve never had five in one year, and it means we’re headed in the right direction.”
Home deliveries have been a real boost for Stack during the COVID-19 pandemic, Lajambe said.
“People are still trying to buy local while staying home,” he said.
With the Christmas season upon us, Stack is going to add a special touch to each home order by gift wrapping each case of beer delivered, he said.
“We think that’s a pretty neat feature that should garner a lot of interest,” Lajambe said. “We’re also bringing back our holiday gift baskets which will contain products from various local businesses.”
