Garrett Announced As 2012 James Beard Awards Semifinalist

Our venerable master brewer is once again a semifinalist in the prestigious James Beard Awards: “Covering all aspects of the industry—from chefs and restaurateurs to cookbook authors and food journalists to restaurant designers and architects and more—the Beard Awards are the highest honor for food and beverage professionals working in North America.”

Somehow beer gets tucked under the “Wine & Spirits” category, but here are this year’s semifinalists for the category:

Outstanding Wine & Spirits Professional
Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, Del.
Ron Cooper, Del Maguey, Single Village Mezcal, Ranchos de Taos, N.M.
Merry Edwards, Merry Edwards Winery, Sebastopol
Greg Engert, Neighborhood Restaurant Group, Alexandria, Va.
Alex Golitzin, Quilceda Creek Vintners, Snohomish, Wash.
Paul Grieco, Terroir, New York City
Ken Grossman, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico
Lance Hanson, Peak Spirits, Hotchkiss, Colo.
David Hirsch, Hirsch Vineyards, Cazadero
Manfred Krankl, Sine Qua Non, Ventura
Jim Koch, The Boston Beer Company, Boston
Steve McCarthy, Clear Creek Distillery, Portland, Ore.
Garrett Oliver, Brooklyn Brewery, New York City
Jorge Ordoñez, Fine Estates From Spain, Dedham, Mass.
Virginia Philip, Virginia Philip Wine Shop & Academy, West Palm Beach, Fla.
Neal Rosenthal, Mad Rose Group, Pine Plains, N.Y.
Jörg Rupf, St. George Spirits, Alameda
Abe Schoener, The Scholium Project, Napa
Eric Solomon, Eric Solomon Selections — European Cellars, Charlotte, N.C.
Sean Lilly Wilson, Fullsteam, Durham, N.C.