Dark Side Of Winter 2025

Awards

Sponsors

Judges

John Aitchison, Cameron Brown, Laurie Ann Gutierrez, Violet Kaplan, Masahiro Kitano, Haci Murat Koska, Sinem Koska, Andrew Leavitt, Guillermo Paramount, Kevin Pratt, Dino Gregor Reti, Ryan Rivas, Tyler Sadler, Joe St. John, David Ziolkowski

Judges - Best of Show

Laurie Ann Gutierrez, Kevin Pratt, Tyler Sadler, David Ziolkowski

By the Numbers

68 Entries 41 Entrants

15 Judges

24 Placing Entries

Table 1: Dark IPA

4 entries

Judges: Masahiro Kitano (Head Judge), David Ziolkowski

1st
Jason Jimenez
Eye Of The Storm (21B2: Black IPA)
2nd
Mike Rascon
Long Beach Homebrewers
Dark Necessities (21B2: Black IPA)
3rd
Ben Sookying
Crown of the Valley Brewing...
Professor Biggs (21B2: Black IPA)

Table 2: Dark Belgian Beer

5 entries

Judges: Ryan Rivas, Joe St. John (Head Judge)

1st
Doug Walker
Inland Empire Brewers
Vivian (26D: Belgian Dark Strong Ale)
2nd
Joseph Ciatti
Midnight Loaf (26D: Belgian Dark Strong Ale)
3rd
Brian Miller
Orange County Mash Ups
Belgian Dark Strong (26D: Belgian Dark Strong Ale)

Table 3: Dark Experimental Beers

3 entries

Judges: Masahiro Kitano (Head Judge), David Ziolkowski

1st
John Aproda
SoCal Cerveceros (SCC)
This Box Is Meowing (34C: Experimental Beer)
2nd
Todd Peterson
Crown of the Valley Brewing...
TroppleSticke Ultbier (34C: Experimental Beer)
3rd
Mike Kennedy & Kerry Kennedy
This Changes Everything (34C: Experimental Beer)

Table 4: Dark Strong European Beers

3 entries

Judges: Cameron Brown (Head Judge), Ryan Rivas

1st
Masahiro Kitano
SoCal Cerveceros (SCC)
Baltz (9C: Baltic Porter)
2nd
Peter Johann
Long Beach Homebrewers
Alm Öhi (9A: Doppelbock)
3rd
Steven Severn
Orange County Mash Ups
Doppelganger (9A: Doppelbock)

Table 5: Dark European Lagers

10 entries

Judges: John Aitchison (Head Judge), Dino Gregor Reti

1st
Jason Jimenez
Tombstone Courage (3D: Czech Dark Lager)
2nd
Ben Sookying
Crown of the Valley Brewing...
Black Thai Fist (8B: Schwarzbier)
3rd
Tom Fontes
SoCal Cerveceros (SCC)
Force Of Rose Park Nature Black Lager (8B: Schwarzbier)

Table 6: Dark British Beers

18 entries

Judges: Laurie Ann Gutierrez, Violet Kaplan, Tyler Sadler, Joe St. John (Head Judge)

1st
Gary Smet
Ace Brewing Society
Brick House (15C: Irish Extra Stout)
2nd
Mark Mattingly
OC Mashups
Brute Squad (13B: British Brown Ale)
3rd
Guillermo Paramount & Carlos Maldonado
SoCal Cerveceros (SCC)
British Brown Ale (13B: British Brown Ale)

Table 7: Dark American Beers

15 entries

Judges: Masahiro Kitano (Head Judge), Haci Murat Koska, Sinem Koska, Andrew Leavitt

1st
Erik Jensen
RCB Holiday Imperial Stout (20C: Imperial Stout)
2nd
Bill Mandel
Inland Empire Brewers
Porter Me Another Please (20A: American Porter)
3rd
Bill Mandel
Inland Empire Brewers
Winter Coffee Break (20B: American Stout)

Table 8: Dark Specialty Beers

10 entries

Judges: Kevin Pratt (Head Judge), David Ziolkowski

1st
Ryan Rivas
SoCal Cerveceros (SCC)
Duality (53A: Specialty Dark Beer)
2nd
Masahiro Kitano
SoCal Cerveceros (SCC)
Go Ma Me (53A: Specialty Dark Beer)
3rd
Curtis Ritter
Ace Brewing Society
Holiday Igniter (53A: Specialty Dark Beer)

Best of Show

Beer

Judges: Laurie Ann Gutierrez, Kevin Pratt, Tyler Sadler, David Ziolkowski

1st
Jason Jimenez
Eye Of The Storm (21B2: Black IPA)
2nd
John Aproda
SoCal Cerveceros (SCC)
This Box Is Meowing (34C: Experimental Beer)
3rd
Erik Jensen
RCB Holiday Imperial Stout (20C: Imperial Stout)

Thank You

Congratulations to All Medal Winners