World Beer Awards names Gaspsie beer best American brown ale

A microbrewery in the Gaspsie region is in the spotlight after winning first place in the American brown ale category at the World Beer Awards.

Pit Caribou microbrewery inPerc took home gold for its beer called "Brown ale amricaine."

American brown ale is a style of beer described byCraftBeer.com, as having "roasted malt, caramel-like and chocolate-like characters [with]medium intensity in both flavor and aroma. American-style brown ales have evident low to medium hop flavor and aroma and medium to high hop bitterness."

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The beer hadalready won a gold medal at the International Beer Challenge in Portugal, as well as a bronze medal in 2013 at theNew York International Beer Competition.

ButFrancisJoncas, the owner of Pit Caribou, says this award is the most prestigious yet.

"We'll probably feel a big impact here since we only distribute in Quebec," said Joncas.

"Maybe international distributors who follow the awards will be interested in getting some, but we just got the news so we'll see what happens."

According to Joncas,Brown aleamricaine isa hybrid of an Indian pale ale and a brown ale.

"I think it's the stronger taste of hops that makes the difference, because usually beers like this are more malty than hoppy," he said.

Pit Caribou was founded in 2007.