The IPA Challenge came to a close with a resounding finish on Saturday afternoon. Resounding for host Il Vicino, at least.

With the annual blind taste-test competition heading into its final round, the three-time defending champion unleashed its Exodus IPA for the home crowd and came away with an overwhelming victory.

The final-round results (number in parentheses is the number given to each beer in the blind taste test):

1. Il Vicino (13): 66 votes

2. Marble (5): 18

3. La Cumbre (6): 17

4. (tie) Chama River (10) and Santa Fe (3): 14

6. 3 Rivers (2): 12

7. Turtle Mountain (14): 11

8. Blue Corn (8): 6

9. (tie) Blue Heron (9) and Mimbres Valley (11): 3

11. (tie) Nexus (4), Tractor (7), and High Desert (12): 2

14. 2nd Street (1): 1

All of that left the overall voting totals as such:

1. Il Vicino: 114 votes

2. Marble: 61

3. Chama River: 38

4. Santa Fe: 35

5. La Cumbre: 32

6. Turtle Mountain: 30

7. 3 Rivers: 24

8. Tractor: 15

9. 2nd Street: 13

10. (tie) Blue Corn, Blue Heron, Nexus: 12

13. High Desert: 10

14. Mimbres Valley: 7

As a disclaimer, E-Rock and I (Stoutmeister) both voted for #5, which turned out to be runner-up Marble.

We will have more tomorrow, with our reflections on the 2012 IPA Challenge, but for now, we have had enough beer for one day and will be calling it an early night.

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister

(p.s. Congrats, Il Vicino!)