Imperial stouts. Irish stouts. American stouts. These are different things. Image: Erik Skaar

The Washington Beer Awards debuted last year, and returned this month with its second crop of winners.

It's a long list. Mostly because the process of judging beer is nearly as technical as the act of making it. So rather than becoming overwhelmed by the multitude of styles, and what makes a robust porter versus a traditional, or an American stout versus a British version, just consider this list of impressive beers a to-do list of sorts.

If there were an award for best beer name—as there should be in any competition like this—I would bestow it upon Skookum Brewery's Brown and Hairy porter, or perhaps Sound Brewery's Dubbel Entendre.

Mental note: I need to get up to Bellingham, stat, to get better acquainted with Kulshan Brewing Co.

Washington Beer Awards 2014 Winners