Swift Current's Black Bridge Brewery took home a nationally-recognized gold medal award over the weekend in the nation's capital.

At the Canadian Brewing Awards, hosted in Ottawa, the southwest brewery took the top spot in the Imperial Stout category, beating out Quebec brewery 'Le Trèfle Noir Microbrasserie', and Vancouver's 'Bomber Brewing'.

Co-owners Kari and Clayton Stenson were unable to attend, fittingly, due to conflicting brewing schedules back home in Swift Current. However, during their busy schedule, Kari took the time to reflect on the honour of the award.

"We're very proud to be a part of the brewing industry in Canada - especially the prairie provinces. We're all kind of trying to create names for ourselves and bring attention to the prairie provinces' beer quality," she said. "There were a few winners in Manitoba, a few here in Saskatchewan, and quite a few awards won in Alberta too. We're all pretty proud of the attention we're getting in the central part of Canada."

As news spread after the duration of the awards, Kari explains the support flooded in from friends, family and customers.

"We've had a lot of friends and family texting and emailing, wishing us congratulations. Also through social media, everyone seems to be really proud of us, commenting and saying how excited they are," she said. "We're being recognized for the products we're making and it's great because we're from Swift Current and we're pretty proud people here so for us to get our name recognized nationally is amazing."

The brewery's Folklore Imperial Stout, pictured below alongside Clayton Stenson, was the award-winning beverage behind the gold medal award.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo courtesy of Black Bridge Brewery's Facebook page