BEST BREW—David Griffiths, Ladyface Ale Companie brewmaster, gets cozy with a keg of his award-winning beer. Ladyface Ale Companie of Agoura Hills has won a gold and a bronze medal at the 2010 Los Angeles International Beer Competition that took place recently at the Fairplex in Pomona.

In blind tastings, the young microbrewery from the Conejo Valley brought home medals in its first year of operation.

“We’re now brewing a number of new ales and can’t wait to take them to the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colo., this September,” said brewmaster David Griffiths, 31.

The gold medal winner was Blind Ambition in the Belgian Abbey Style category. This Belgianstyle amber ale carries a mediumbodied malt structure with faint undertones of chocolate and an amber copper hue. It has low bitterness and moderately strong alcohol.

The bronze medal winner was Chesebro IPA in the Other Strong Ale or Lager category. Named for local Chesebro Canyon and deep amber in color, this Double IPA has a floral aroma of grapefruit, pine and tropical fruits. Full bodied with subtle malt tones, it is brewed with 11 different hop additions and is moderately bitter. The emphasis is on hop flavor and aroma and a long, hoppy finish.

The beer competition is organized and run by the Los Angeles County Fair and is registered with the Beer Judge Certification Program and the Brewers Association. In past years, the public has been able to sample the winning beers at the L.A. County Fair in the fall.

Ladyface Ale Companie, established in 2009 along with its restaurant Ladyface Alehouse & Brasserie, brews La Blonde, La Blanche Wit, Blind Ambition, Trois Filles Tripel, Ladyface IPA, Chesebro IPA and Picture City Porter as well as seasonal and special occasion ales such as Bluebelly Barleywine and Dérailleur bière-de-garde.

The Conejo Valley’s only microbrewery and gastropub, Ladyface produces approximately 800 barrels of beer per year.

For more information, visit www.ladyfaceale.com.