Lompoc Brewing's Bryan Keilty takes top honors
at StarChefs Rising Stars Artisan Awards
PORTLAND, Ore. - Dec. 7, 2011 - Bryan Keilty, production manager and brewer at Lompoc Brewing, has received the "Rising Stars Artisan Award for Brewers" from StarChefs.com, an online magazine for culinary insiders. Keilty received the honor at the 2011 Portland Rising Stars Tasting Gala and Awards Ceremony Dec. 5 at The Nines Hotel.
The
Rising Stars awards traditionally recognize up-and-coming chefs, pastry
chefs, sommeliers, and mixologists from around the country that
represent future leaders of the national culinary scene.
Portland's pioneering spirit motivated the magazine to include another
four categories: baker, brewer, distiller and coffee roaster.
"The
artisan spirit of Portland inspired us to add four exciting new awards
to our existing group of culinary and restaurateur awards," explained StarChefs CEO/editor-in-chief Antoinette Bruno. "The
last three highlight the outsize national influence, DIY spirit, and
serious ambition of the Portland craft beverage community."
Keilty won out of a list of influential brewers in the Portland craft brewing scene that included Alex
Ganum of Upright Brewing, Alan Sprints of Hair of the Dog, Ben Love of
Hopworks Urban Brewery, and Ron Gansberg of Cascade Brewery.
"I'm
humbled to be accepting this award," states Keilty. "I was honored just
to be included as a finalist among this talented group of people, and
I'm so proud to be a part of this amazing brewing community in
Portland."
Keilty
is a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY. He
spent several years cooking at various restaurants throughout the
country. It was while cooking in San Diego that he developed a series of
successful wine and beer dinners and began homebrewing. He caught the
beer bug and decided to start brewing professionally. He moved to
Portland, eventually landing at Lompoc Brewing, where he
initiated the brewery's barrel-aging program. He ages Lompoc beers in
Bourbon and wine barrels, creating inventive and complex beers and
opening up a whole new slew of possible flavor profiles.
This was the first time StarChefs.com included
Portland in its annual awards. The city joins the ranks of rising stars
in New York, Chicago, Houston and Washington DC.
Rising
Stars are up-and-coming chefs and culinary professionals who represent
the vanguard of the contemporary American dining scene. They have
strong, compelling culinary philosophies, are able to see beyond the
four walls of their restaurant, and are committed to fostering a
culinary community by sharing their knowledge with fellow professionals.
Ultimately, creativity, ambition, exquisite presentation and, most
important, delicious food wins a chef the designation of StarChefs
Rising Star. They are the future of American cuisine.
For a complete list of winners, visit www.starchefs.com.
* thanks to Chris Crabb, Media Relations Specialist for Lompoc Brewing, for keeping us in the loop with the above information! Cheers!
