TATAMAGOUCHE, N.S.
As if winning eight awards two days after getting married wasn’t enough to celebrate.
Not only did Christiane Jost and newlywed hubby Matt Kenny of The Tatamagouche Brewing Company claim eight titles on Sunday at the Atlantic Canadian Beer Awards in Halifax, one of those just happened to include a gold medal for Bliss – a beer they created specifically for their nuptial celebrations.
“We shouldn’t play favourites but I think that was my favourite award,” Jost said, while still catching up on her rest following a drawn-out weekend of celebrations. “Very special. Just another unexpected celebration.”
Jost and Kenny were married Friday night at the Fox Harbour Golf Resort and Spa and then had their reception Saturday night at the brewery in Tatamagouche.
Given their busy weekend, the couple had debated on whether they should attend the beer awards in Halifax but by the time Sunday rolled around - and given they had already purchased tickets - they decided to plunge ahead.
“A little bit tired but nothing like hair of the dog to rally the troops,” Jost chuckled.
The Tatamagouche Brewing Company was first opened in June 2014 in a converted butcher shop and library along the main street of Tatamagouche.
Last year they claimed four titles at the Atlantic Beer Awards. This year’s haul came totally unexpected.
“It was a huge surprise. Huge surprise,” she said. “Every year we just hope for one… It was very special.”
Besides the award for their Bliss beer, which won in the sour beer category, the couple also claimed three other gold awards including for their Giantess Barleywine in the North American Style Specialty Ale category; Square One Saison for European style specialty ale and also for Feronia in the experimental beer group.
In the silver grouping, they won the German Style Specialty Ale category with their North Shore Lagered Ale and in the North American Style Specialty Ale class for their Dry Hopped Lagerhosen.
Their Soaked Berliner Weisse, meanwhile, won a bronze in the sour beer category.
And, to top it all off, Tatamagouche Brewing was also named Atlantic Canada Brewery of the Year.
“It was a big weekend for sure,” Jost said. “They don’t get too much bigger.”
Facts:
The 2018 Atlantic Canadian Beer Awards had 52 Breweries and Cider Houses competing throughout Atlantic ACanada with 376 submissions being evaluated by 26 judges for 15 different categories.
2 Crows Brewing of Halifax claimed a gold medal for Beer of the Year with their Forever Young selection.
Tatamagouche Brewing Company’s products are available at the NSLC, private wine and beer stores and at other licensed venues.
Atlantic Canada has the most breweries per capita for any region in Canada with over 120 and counting.
The Tatamagouche Brewing Company's Giantess Barley Wine, Bliss Mixed Fermentation Saison, Square One Saison, and North Shore Lagered Ale are available at the Brewery itself on 235 Main Street, Tatamagouche or online at www.tatabrew.com.
