Colorado Makers Represent at the Good Food Awards

Coloradans know that our beautiful state is home to plenty of good food (and booze)—and now we have the hardware to prove it.

The eighth-annual Good Food Awards were announced earlier this week, honoring “outstanding American food producers and the farmers who provide their ingredients.” Six Centennial State companies were recognized in five (of 15) categories:

• Charcuterie: Elevation Charcuterie & Artisan Meats (Denver) for its Calabrese
• Cider: Big B’s Juices, Hard Ciders & Delicious Orchards (Hotchkiss) for its Grand Cru Ciaison and Chester Hoppearcot hard cider
• Cider: Stem Ciders (Denver) for its Colorado heritage blend
• Coffee: Ozo Coffee Company (Boulder) for its Ethiopia Hambela Kirite
• Elixirs: Dram Apothecary (Salida) for its pine syrup
• Spirits: Deerhammer Distilling Company (Buena Vista) for its American single malt whiskey

“We’re super excited about this,” says Justin Hartman, founder/CEO of Ozo Coffee Company. “We value the artisanal craft of all things. Being a part of something that’s highlighting people’s passions in their crafts is exciting for us because that’s what keeps us going on a daily basis.” Ozo submitted a wet-processed Ethiopia Hambela Kirite. (Another coffee roaster, Blueprint Coffee in St. Louis, won for a dry-processed version of the same bean.) The coffee will be available at all four Ozo locations until the limited supply runs out; it costs $24 per pound.

Deerhammer Distilling Company is particularly excited about its Good Food Award-winning product. “Our American single malt is why we started our distillery. That’s what we want to be judged on,” says Lenny Eckstein, Deerhammer’s founder/head distiller. Look out for a hickory-smoked corn whiskey and a bourbon to hit the market this spring and summer.

Winners (view the full list here) can place the Good Food Awards Seal on their product, which lets consumers know “they have found something exceptionally delicious which also supports sustainability and social good.”