Iron Hill stout takes silver

IN 1997, just three years after it was founded, Delaware-based Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant won a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival, in Denver, for its Lodestone Lager.

That launched a phenomenal 17-year run that continued last week at the world's largest beer competition with yet another medal, its 38th - a silver for its Russian Imperial Stout.

Overall, Philly-area breweries scored a dozen medals at the fest, including:

* The first medal for fledgling Neshaminy Creek Brewing Co., in Croydon. The brewery, whose Trauger Pilsner was Joe Sixpack's Beer of the Year in 2012, won gold for its Churchville Lager.

* A bronze for Troegs Sunshine Pils, the brand's fourth medal in the past five years. Locally made pilsners have earned 16 medals since 1999.

* Two medals for Yards, including a bronze for its unusual Poor Richard's Tavern Spruce, based on a recipe from Benjamin Franklin.

Other winners:

GOLD:

Troegs Troegenator Double Bock, bock.

Stewart's Stumblin' Monk, Belgian-style strong specialty ale.

SILVER :

McKenzie Brew House Dark and Stormy, wood-aged sour.

Yards Brawler, English-style mild.

Sly Fox Grisette, Belgian- and French-style ale.

Flying Fish OktoberFish, American-style amber lager.

Iron Hill Russian Imperial Stout, imperial stout.

Dogfish Head Midas Touch, specialty honey beer.

Hammer Baltic Porter, stout made by King of Prussia's Rock Bottom Brewery.

BRONZE:  

Yards Poor Richard's Tavern Spruce, indigenous beer.

Troegs Sunshine Pils, German-style pilsner.

Sly Fox Oktoberfest Lager, Vienna-style lager.