A beer crafted by Stoker’s Brewing Co. in Tamaqua was named Best of Show at the Pennsylvania Farm Show.

Stoker’s founder and brewmaster Doug Drost learned Tuesday that his Kindling Kwad Dark Strong Ale earned the ultimate accolade - the king of beers, if you will.

It’s exciting news for Drost, who also took home first place blue ribbons for the Kindling Kwad - and his Plzyenský Drozd Czech Pilsner.

In all, the show received 255 beer entries from 44 Pennsylvania breweries.

“As someone who’s been brewing for almost 30 years now, I am far and away my own worst critic. I approach every beer that I brew with the same artistry and passion of a critically acclaimed chef,” Drost said. “These awards are just the culmination of the amount of the time and effort that goes into all of that.”

The honors fall on the heels of Stoker’s first place win for its Divine Belgian-style beer at last year’s farm show.

Drost explained that customers can choose from 21 different beers made on site at the 36 Mauch Chunk St. brewery.

“Believe it or not, these two beers are not our most popular,” Drost said of the Kindling Kwad and Plzyenský Drozd.

But like last year’s winner, he felt that they needed some love and attention.

“So I entered them in this year’s beer contest,” Drost explained. “And just like last year, I expect to see their popularity rise now.”

The Kindling Kwad, he said, is brewed with the finest Belgian malts, noble hops and dark candi sugars. And with the Best of Show award, the brew will be carted to all parts of the state this year for America250PA events. The group is gearing up for the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026.

His inspiration

Drost said the inspiration for Kindling Kwad came from a poem he wrote and published in 2020. A copy of the poem, “Kindling,” is etched in gold leaf letters on the back side of each 750mL bottle of the beer.

“Now that I’m thinking about it - at 11.0% ABV - it’s quite possible the beer may have been the inspiration for this poem instead,” he quipped.

The Plzyenský Drozd Czech Pilsner, which won the best Czech Lager category, is brewed with 100% imported Czech ingredients including floor-malted Bohemian barley malt and noble Saaz hops. It’s served in half-liter mugs and offered in three traditional Czech pours.

“Each pour has its own unique flavor profile and smoothness due to varying amounts of thick, dense ‘wet foam’ and beer, which we control with our Lukr side-pull draft beer faucet,” Drost said.

His inspiration for the pilsner came from the Bohemian town of Plzen in the Czech Republic. The site is where the world’s first pilsner was made in 1842.

“My paternal family ‘Baba’ emigrated from Czechoslovakia to the United States in the early 1900s,” Drost said. “The Czech Republic is the largest consumer of beer per capita in the world, and some say that Schuylkill County may very well hold that same distinction within the state. Some things are just meant to be, I guess.”

Drost admitted that it’s “nice” to be recognized by peers, but said it’s the “love and support” he feels from customers that matters the most.

“I said it before, and I’ll say it again. Without them, there are no awards. Without them, there is no Stoker’s Brewery,” he explained.

And that’s why, he said, the ribbons and awards are for his customers - especially those who have been asking him to enter Stoker’s beers in competitions.

“This year’s ribbons will join last year’s, right above the serving area where everyone can see them,” Drost noted.

Dedication

He also dedicates his ribbons to the late English beer journalist, Michael Jackson, who he met after finishing brewing school at Siebel Institute in Chicago.

After telling Jackson about the influence his books had on his life, Drost said Jackson signed a copy of his “Beer Companion” book.

It read, “To Doug, Brew great Belgians!”

The words, Drost said, still resonate with him today.