The next time you’re at the Issaquah Brewhouse, double-check your order – you may be drinking a national award-winner.

The brewery’s Issaquah Smoked Frog Porter recently took home top honors in the 2009 U.S. Beer Tasting Championships, scoring the Grand Champion award in the spice/smoke beer category.

“It’s absolutely a big deal for us,” said Brett Joyce, president of Rogue Ales, owner of the Issaquah Brewhouse. “We’re very proud of the product we’re making, and this just solidifies the fact that we’re doing a great job.”

Joyce lauded much of the praise on the brewery’s “brewmaster,” and said that his ability to craft award-winning beers has helped the brewhouse to make its name in the community.

The brewery entered with the Smoked Frog Porter last winter, and won the regional Northwest Grand Champion award that sent it to the national stage.

Winners from the national competition were announced late last month.

In total, the Issaquah Brewhouse has nine awards from the U.S. Beer Tasting Championships – and a wall filled with others.

And the judges are no amateurs – they’ve developed a palate for beer that lets them know exactly what to look for in the taste, and where certain flavors will hit the tongue.

“It’s very technical, so they use certified judges,” Joyce said. “That’s why contests like this are so great. It’s always more important if someone objective and independent makes the decision.”

Customers and employees alike have been celebrating the win, and Joyce said that, especially during a time when the economy is down, this sort of award is certainly not bad for business.

“I think it validates what we’re doing,” Joyce said. “One of our missions is to make world-class products, and this third-party verification really shows us that we’re doing something right.”