“Deemed “the Oscars of the food world” by Time, The James Beard Foundation Awards are the country’s most coveted honor for chefs; food and beverage professionals; broadcast media, journalists, and authors working on food; and restaurant architects and designers.”
So says James Beard, regarding James Beard. Whether or not you’re familiar with the hallowed foodie award, you’ll want to know this: four of the semi-finalist nominees for Outstanding Wine and Spirit Professional are breweries. You can find all the nominees online, but here’s the big four:
• Larry Bell (Bell’s Brewery)
• Sam Calagione (Dogfish Head Brewery)
• Jim Koch (Boston Beer Co.)
• Garrett Oliver (The Brooklyn Brewery)
Nothing’s set it stone yet. On March 22, 2010, the finalists will be announced; we’ve got our fingers crossed for the Fab Four, but only five of the 20 nominees will progress to the final round of judging. Don’t worry, you don’t need to check anywhere else — we’ll keep you updated right here.
All this week on DRAFTMag.com, we’ll be checking in with the nominees themselves to see what it’s like to be on top. Brewers unite!
– Mariah Beckman