Just a quick entry on the U.S. Open Beer Championships that were held in Atlanta, Georgia, on July 4, 2011.   Beers from professional breweries and homebrewers competed  and were judged on 50 different beer sytle categories.  Here is a list of the winners among professional breweries.  I just reviewed the Deschutes Hop Henge Imperial IPA which, as you will see, won for best imperial IPA.  Not surprisingly, the winners' circle was dominated by West Coast brewers. 

The top 10 breweries based on the number of beers placing first (3 points), second (2 points) or third (1 point) are:
 
1. Deschutes Brewery, Oregon     
2. Cigar City Brewing, Florida        
2. Grand Teton Brewing, Idaho            
4. Boston Beer Company, Massachusetts       
5. New Belgium Brewing, Colorado             
6. Full Sail Ales, Oregon 
7. Sprecher Brewing,  Wisconsin 
8. Neustadt Brewing, Canada     
9. Montana Brewing, Montana         
10. August Schell, Minnesota
10. Capital Brewing, Wisconsin