CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – King’s Bluff Brewery and the Tennessee Valley Brewing Company sent some brews out last month and came back with awards from the USA Beer Ratings competition.

Countries from all over the world participated in this competition that took place in San Francisco, California. According to their website, the beers were judged on three criteria: their quality, the value you get for the money you spend, and the appearance of the beer. Winners were announced on August 10.

The judging is impartial and done based on a point system. For bronze, you have to attain 70-79 points, silver is 80-89, and to get gold you have to score between 90-100. The judges are professionals who have been in the industry for a while.

Tennessee Valley Brewing Company sent out their Vanilla Bean Espresso beer, which received a bronze award.

Eric Brannstrom, co-owner of Tennessee Valley Brewing Company, told Clarksville Now that last year they had also sent an Octoberfest beer which came back with bronze ratings.

“We were pretty excited that we medaled again this year with a different beer,” Brannstrom said.

Brannstrom said that they take a lot of their inspiration and advice from friends who are in the same field, and that they are always trying to improve.

Kings Bluff Brewery sent out their Ryan’s Irish Red which received a silver medal, as well as their Oats…I Did It Again Tropical IPA, Liberty Park IPA, and their Black Feather IPA, which received bronze medals.

“This was our first time entering a commercial brewery competition,” Dustyn Brewer, co-owner of Kings Bluff Brewery said. “We’re really proud of ourselves.”

Brewer accredits this victory to his team. Jessica Atkinson, who works as head brewer, developed the Black Feather IPA, which was her first brew ever.

“It’s such a neat team effort to see everyone take on more than they have to because they believe in this place and they believe in us. It’s a pretty big honor,” he said.

Brewer told Clarksville Now that his team plans on entering more competitions in the future.