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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Trickster’s tops national IPA competition

Rick Bonino

March Madness arrived big-time at Trickster’s today with the news of a major national award.

The Coeur d’Alene brewery’s Juice Box IPA has been named grand champion of the National IPA Championships sponsored by the Brewing News.

“We’re beyond excited here,” owner Matt Morrow said. “We went up against some of the best and won.

“We’re humbled to be in with everybody there. The pedigree of the competition speaks for itself.”

In its 11th year, the competition attracted 158 entries from across the country in the regular IPA category (there also were categories for imperial, session and specialty IPAs). They were divided into three brackets, NCAA basketball tournament style.

Trickster’s took top honors in the weekend’s final round over the winners of the other two brackets, second-place Hazer Beam from Barley Brown’s (Baker City, Oregon) and third-place Boat Shoes from Karl Strauss (San Diego).

Judging was conducted through a series of tastings over the past several weeks in New York, where The Brewing News is headquartered, by panels of “brewers and qualified hop lovers.”

It’s the second New York-based award in the past month for the fruity, Simcoe-focused Juice Box, which is available in 22-ounce bottles and accounts for 70 percent of Trickster’s overall production.

It took a silver medal in February’s New York International Beer Competition, judged by buyers for retailers, restaurants and distributors. Trickster’s American Stout also earned bronze in that competition.

Trickster’s is planning a party for Friday to celebrate the latest victory, though details haven’t been firmed up, Morrow said.

He said Trickster’s is talking with Barley Brown about doing a collaboration beer, and also plans to approach Karl Strauss.