Poway’s Lightning Brewery Earns Eight Awards in 2012 Beer Competitions

If one is the loneliest number, Jim Crute has nothing to worry about. As owner of Poway’s , he’s taken home 30 nationally recognized awards in just six short years of being open—eight of which were won in the last two months.

“Prost!” said Crute of his win at the Los Angeles International Commercial Beer Competition, where his Electrostatic Ale received a silver medal and bronze medals went to the Thunderweizen and Fair Weather Pale ales and Elemental Pilsner.

In addition to Los Angeles, Lightning Brewery took part in the San Diego International Beer Festival at the San Diego County Fair, where it won three bronze medals for the Thunderweizen and Electrostatic ales and Black Lightning Porter.

At the California State Fair Commercial Brewing Competition, Lightning Brewery scored the highest honor of Best of Show for its Old Tempestuous Ale—beating nearly 500 other entries from 60 breweries nationwide.  

A biochemistry Ph.D. with 20 years of scientific experience under his belt, Crute says he was fully prepared for the research and training that came with the launch of Lightning Brewery.

“What I’ve had to learn is the external management where you’re managing your brand,” Crute said. “Our brand is really great beer at a fair price and, you know what, you’ll probably enjoy it.”

The Electrostatic Ale is particularly close to Crute’s heart, and has been consistently customer-complimented.

“I submit that beer to competitions because I’m behind it and I actually think it tastes great,” he said.

The pilsner is another beer that has stood the test of time.

“That I spent a good five years making it better and better,” said Crute of what he called a “maturing scheme to get the sweetness out of it.”

But he doesn’t do it alone. In fact, his main crew is made up of retired doctors, a veteran journalist and a musician and together they’ve developed a total of 10 unique beers.

“For a little brewery like ours, that’s a really big undertaking,” Crute said. “Each beer was made individually then refined.”

Lightning Brewery beers are available throughout Poway and San Diego County. Click here to find out where they’re available.