TAPS Magazine just released the winners of the 2010 Canadian Brewing Awards (Find the full list here). The only Prairie beer on the list are Yukon Brewing’s Red Ale (gold), Bushwakker Brewpub’s Summer Wheat (bronze) and two light beer from Saskatoon’s Great Western Brewing (gold and silver).Congratulations to all three breweries. Yukon’s Red won beer of the year last year (this year won by Thor’s Hammer Barley Wine from Central City Brewery) .

The reason we see no other prairie brewers on the list is because they didn’t enter. I have chatted with a few western brewers over the last couple years about the CBAs and most feel uncertain about the event and so don’t throw in their beer. This is a shame, but I can appreciate their perspective. A few years ago the CBAs had a reputation problem. Their judges were not certified and many sub-standard beer won medals, plus it was a bit Ontario-centric. They have worked to clean up their act around judging in the past couple years, but impressions can be slow to change.

Even this year there are some odd winners on the list, including the truly unimpressive Molson M and Molson Dry as well as the decent but not stellar Sleeman’s Cream Ale. However, on the whole, the medal-winners are a deserving lot. I have sampled many of them and they are top notch brews. The main complaint is the missing breweries, including Dieu Du Ciel, Phillips, Propeller, Half Pints, Paddock Wood, Wild Rose and Alley Kat. Maybe some of these breweries entered and didn’t win, but I am doubtful.

[UPDATE: Troy Burtch, editor of TAPS, commented on this post to say that 4 of the 7 breweries listed above DID enter, and so I have to amend my observation. Clearly many did enter and didn’t win. Okay, that is fair. I remain quizzical at the medal winners list and the exclusions. I realize any competition is a snapshot and lots of factors can shape when a beer scores well and not well. For example an additional consideration that I hadn’t mentioned earlier is the issue of travel shock may affect the results. I wouldn’t mind learning more about the details of the competition organization.]

I strongly support the concept of a national brewing awards, where the best of our craft brewers can test their mettle on a single platform. The CBAs have the potential to be that platform, but I think some work needs to be done. I think the organizers need to do some outreach to convince skeptical breweries of the value of entering. And maybe it might be a good thing to move the event around the country and create some buzz. For example if they held it in Edmonton, I can guarantee both a full roster of skilled, qualified judges and an excited, packed room for the awards ceremonies. Plus it would give regional brewers some incentive to enter. So, think about it TAPS, for the good of great Canadian beer.

Until then congratulations to all the winning breweries. You are proof that Canada offers beer as excellent as you can find anywhere in the world.