Dark Side Of Winter 2025
Awards
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 Ö;hi (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