The Western New York region was well represented at the 2022 New York State Craft Beer Competition Awards Ceremony, which took place Friday night at the Albany Capital Center as part of the New York State Brewers Conference. Seven local breweries combined to win 10 medals in 10 different categories, headlined by Resurgence Brewing, who won gold, silver and bronze medals at the competition.

The competition, the largest state-level competition in the U.S., featured 1,264 entries from 185 breweries in 29 categories. A total of 84 medals were awarded to 56 breweries, in addition to two Governor’s Craft Beer Cups and two Brewery of the Year awards.

For the second straight year, Grimm Artisanal Ales won the most awards with 6 medals (they won 8 in 2021), taking home their second straight Brewery of the Year award in the process, along with Strangebird Beer, who won five medals.

Resurgence led the way with three medal wins; a Gold in Belgian Other (Trappist, Strong, etc.) for Dubbel Talk Belgian Dubbel, a Silver in Coffee, Chocolate, Spice & Other Adjunct Beer (sour) for Ward Rainbow Sour and a Bronze in Light Lagers (Traditional) for Bridge Pilsner.

1927 Brew House @ Santoras nabbed a Gold in Light Lagers (Modern & Contemporary) for Grant Pils and a Bronze in American IPA for Main & Tupper IPA.

Community Beer Works scored a Silver in Experimental for ​Mellow Dreamin’, while Woodcock Brothers also took home Silver in Imperial Stouts and Porters for All the Ships at Sea.

Steelbound Brewery & Distillery took Bronze in Fruit & Vegetable (non-sour) for Buy The Berries Blueberry Wheat, 12 Gates Brewing grabbed a Bronze in Hazy IPA for Moonlight Fog and Windy Brew scored Bronze in Coffee, Chocolate, Spice & Other Adjunct Beer (non-sour) for Lost At Sea.

There is remarkable beer being brewed on the daily right here in our backyard – all you have to do is look. These awards are simply further proof of that.

To see all of the winners from the 2022 NYS Craft Beer Competition, click here.

***All photos courtesy of New York State Brewers Association 

Brian Campbell is co-founder and Brand Manager of the Buffalo Beer League, and writes the weekly Buffalo Beer Buzz column. If you have beer news that should be included in the Beer Buzz, Brian can be reached at brian@buffalobeerleague.com, on Twitter (@buffbeerleague), Instagram (@buffalobeerleague), and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).