Boise beers are the world’s 2nd-best? Idaho wins silver at prestigious ‘Olympics of beer’

Order another cold one, Boise, and start doing arm curls.

Three beers brewed in Idaho won silver medals Wednesday at the World Beer Cup, a Nashville event billed as “the Olympics of beer.”

▪ Boo Koo IPA from Nampa’s Mother Earth Brew Co. — in the International Pale Ale category.

▪ Neckar Coffee Oatmeal Brown from Boise’s Sockeye Brewing — in the Coffee Beer category.

▪ Jagged Shard Imperial Red Ale from Boise Brewing — in the Strong Red Ale category.

Held in conjunction with the Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America each year, the World Beer Cup calls itself “the most prestigious beer competition in the world.” It’s isn’t as well-known as the annual Great American Beer Festival in Denver. But, based on entries, it’s the biggest industry competition.

Boise Brewing has medaled at both. But founder Collin Rudeen says he appreciates a World Beer Cup win slightly more because it’s an international competition.

“It’s the same people that are entering GABF plus people from out of the country,” Rudeen said. “And to say we’ve got the second-best imperial red in the world is cooler than in the country.”

“The net’s cast a little wider,” agreed head brewer Lance Chavez.

This year’s World Beer Cup featured 10,213 beers from 2,376 breweries in 51 countries. Awards were given in 103 style categories. Judges — 272 of them — came from 26 countries.

Want to try the world-class Idaho beers?

Boise Brewing’s Jagged Shard is available only at its downtown tap room at 521 W. Broad St.

But Mother Earth’s Boo Koo IPA? It’s everywhere. At bars, grocery stores and at the brewery’s downtown Boise taproom, 406 S. Third St., and its tasting room in Nampa.

Boo Koo is Mother Earth’s bestselling beer in Idaho, founder Daniel Love says.

Last year at GABF, Mother Earth’s Hop Diggity took silver in the Imperial India Pale Ale category. But Boo Koo hasn’t ever won at that event.

Love felt like the International Pale Ale category was a good fit for Boo Koo at the World Beer Cup instead of, say, the American-Style India Pale Ale division. Not only because “it’s a category that only has 98 entries versus 300,” he said with a laugh, but because of the beer’s vibe and intent.

“Boo Koo is a good West Coast IPA,” Love said, “but typically when I get dinged, and I don’t win, they say it’s not big enough, it’s not aggressive enough.

“But I didn’t make Boo Koo to be aggressive. I made it so everybody likes to drink it.”

Apparently, that includes people — and judges — from across the globe.

For the entire list of World Cup winners, visit worldbeercup.org.