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B.O.R.I.S. the Crusher Oatmeal Imperial Stout wins Ohio's only gold medal
By Rick Armon
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Tuesday, Oct 14, 2008
Thank goodness for Akron's Fred Karm.
If it weren't for him and his Hoppin' Frog Brewery, Ohio would have been skunked at last weekend's prestigious Great American Beer Festival.
Karm, the Hoppin' Frog owner and decorated brewer, took home a gold medal for his B.O.R.I.S. the Crusher Oatmeal Imperial Stout — a big-flavor, high-alcohol beer.
''I was happy to be flying the flag for Ohio,'' Karm said Monday. ''And to get a gold? I was thrilled to death.''
Hoppin' Frog was the only Ohio brewery to win a medal this year. The state traditionally has had multiple winners.
The Great American Beer Festival, held annually in Denver, is considered one of the most respected beer gatherings in the world. This year, the event featured 472 breweries and 2,902 beers competing for awards. The festival also attracted 46,000 beer fans.
B.O.R.I.S. the Crusher beat 43 other entries in the imperial stout category. The style is growing in popularity.
''It's one of the most respected styles among the high-end beer aficionados,'' said
Karm, who attended the event and accepted his medal in person. ''It's a huge feather in my cap.''
Both BeerAdvocate.com and Ratebeer.com have ranked B.O.R.I.S. the Crusher as one of the top 100 beers in the world.
The beer, the best-seller among the Hoppin' Frog lineup, is high-powered with 9.4 percent alcohol.
''That's a great imperial stout. One of the best,'' said Matt Huber, a member of the Society of Akron Area Zymurgists home-brewers club. ''It's a great balance of malt and hops. That's what you need in an imperial stout.
''It's almost like pouring a can of motor oil out. The aroma is just out of this world.''
Karm expects the gold medal to help sales and boost name recognition for the small brewery, which opened two years ago near the Akron Airdock.
He should know. Karm has won 15 medals since 2000 at the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup. His other medals came while brewing for Thirsty Dog Brewing Co.
Hoppin' Frog sales already have been so strong that Karm tripled the size of the brewery and doubled production this year. Hoppin' Frog sells its beer in signature 22-ounce brown bottles with a logo of a green and white frog hoisting a beer mug.
In other festival news:
• Anheuser-Busch Inc. won the large brewery of the year award. Pyramid Breweries and AleSmith Brewing Co. won the midsize and small brewery awards, respectively.
• Olympia, Blatz and Henry Weinhard's Private Reserve won gold, silver and bronze in the American-Style Lager or Premium Lager category.
• Coors Light, Old Milwaukee Light and Keystone Light won in the American-Style Light Lager category.
For a list of winners, go to http://www.beertown.org/events/gabf/.
For details about Hoppin' Frog, including a list of where the beer is available, go to http://www.hoppinfrog.com/.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com.
Thank goodness for Akron's Fred Karm.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Barberton, OH
Posted 07:53 AM, 10/14/2008
mmmmmm...beer.
Posted 08:39 AM, 10/14/2008
Congrats to Hoppin Frog. But Blatz won an award? Seriously? Geez, maybe I have to try that again... Or not.
Akron, OH
Posted 09:41 AM, 10/14/2008
Way to represent.
O-H
I-O !!!!
Posted 07:56 PM, 10/14/2008
Yeah Blatz real good . . . and affordable
Posted 02:03 PM, 10/15/2008
can anyone tell me what stores carry Hoppin Frog beer?
