Adding to its long list of awards for brewery excellence, TAPS Fish House & Brewery was honored in USA Today’s “Top 10 Brewpubs” in the United States, the only brewery west of St. Louis to be recognized in the 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards 2016.
The Orange County-based restaurant-brewery founded in 1999 has three locations: Brea, Corona and Irvine, all of which offer a full-scale menu of high-end seafood and steaks along with a lineup of 30 to 35 beers that reflect the classic brewing traditions of Europe as well as the creativity and innovation of the American Craft Beer scene. All are made on-site by brewers David Huls, Kyle Manns and their impressive brewing team.
The month long competition began with 20 breweries from across the nation which had been nominated by a panel of expert judges from the beer world. Julia Herz (author and craft beer program director for the Brewer’s Association); Jack Muldowney (co-founder of The Hop Review) and Ale Sharpton (beer authority of AleSharpton.com and web show Cruisin’ For A Brewsin’) – selected the initial 20 brewpubs. Then USA Todayopened the competition to popular vote online. TAPS placed six in ranking of the top 10.
Voting ended on February 29, 2016 and the 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards recipients were announced on March 4, 2016. Among the winners, TAPS was the only establishment in the Western United States recognized, making the accolade even more momentous.
Since 2001 TAPS has won 75 medals in beer competitions at the regional, state, national and international levels – thirty being gold medals. Among these are three wins in the last six years for Mid-Size Brewpub and Brewers of the Year at the largest national beer competition – the Great American Beer Festival® (GABF) held annually in Denver, Colorado.
