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2011 Taste Test Awards: Artisanal Category Winners

We tasted products from around the country to find the best of the best from small-production food artisans. By Cindy Hatcher

Photo: Randy Mayor , Text: Cindy Hatcher

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Best in Beer & Spirits: California

The Bruery Trade Winds Tripel ($11 for 750 ml, available in 21 states)

Patrick Rue, the 31-year-old owner of The Bruery in Orange County, brings an experimental, Californian sensibility to his higher-alcohol, Belgian-style, bottle-conditioned beers: Trade Winds uses rice in the mash, which makes for an especially crisp and refreshing light-bodied beer. A touch of Thai basil and a lemony nose make it a gorgeous accompaniment for fish.

Note: Local laws may mean liquor has to be sourced through distributors in some states.