The North American Brewers Association announced Friday that Flix Brewhouse chief brewer Johnathan Gaytan is the winner of its coveted award in 2022.
The craft beer, Loco Lager, also known as Lucha Libre, won the gold medal in the “Lager or Ale of Latin American or tropical style”.
In its twenty-fifth year, the brewers of the NABA contest will be judged against the “best beers, ciders, seltzers and soft drinks in the country and the world,” according to their website.
“He should be identified nationally for anything he does,” Gaytan said of the recipe he created with a former Flix Brewhouse worker during the 2020 shutdown.
The main brewer was looking to create a beer with the potability of Bud Light. A crispy and easy-to-drink adult drink, ideal for a hot day.
Flix Brewhouse is in West El Paso and, unlike other theaters in Borderland, is the only theater with a fully operational brewery.
The West El Paso cinema brews all the beers in-house and, with the winner, gives away 3 beers in its “Core Four” package, which are presented to customers throughout the year.
Gaytan’s beer recipe is the only El Paso winner to win the 2022 Craft Beer Award, and for the 15-year-old veteran brewer, it’s his first national award for a recipe.
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