The Brewers Association’s Export Development Program (EDP) is pleased to announce member brewery successes in two key European beer competitions – the Brussels Beer Challenge and European Beer Star Awards. Both competitions represent valuable opportunities to promote American craft beer in Europe and beyond.
International competitions continue to serve as key platforms to raise awareness for American craft beer abroad and assist EDP member breweries with generating publicity for their brands in overseas markets. As part of its programming, the EDP helps facilitate U.S. brewery participation and performance in select competitions by covering entry fees and consolidated airfreight shipment to judging sites.
Brussels Beer Challenge
Now in its eighth year, the Brussels Beer Challenge is an annual international beer competition that aims to promote the beer industry in a market that is not only a benchmark for beer, but also home to connoisseurs.

This year, 1,800 beers were judged by 100 internationally renowned beer experts over three days. Participating beers are subdivided into categories based on origin, typology, and style, and then tasted.
Congratulations to the EDP members who were awarded with 45 awards in total: 12 gold, 11 silver, 16 bronze, and 6 Certificates of Excellence.
European Beer Star Awards
One of the most recognized beer competitions in the world, the European Beer Star Awards, took place for the sixteenth occasion in October 2019 and is committed to the traditional European art of brewing. It recognizes high quality, authentic beers that are genuine and distinctive, and is limited to beer categories that originate in Europe.
In the 2019 competition, there was a record-breaking number of beers entered: 2,483 from 47 countries in 67 categories, of which 195 beers were from the United States.

The competition was judged by 145 international beer experts from 28 different countries. Congratulations to the EDP members who secured 25 medals in total: 6 gold, 10 silver, and 9 bronze. Medals were presented at BrauBeviale in Nuremburg on November 13.
The award-winning breweries are listed below — congratulations to all the winners!
Brussels Beer Challenge
Brewery | Beer | Category | Award |
---|---|---|---|
Boston Beer Company | Samuel Adams Boston Ale | Altbier | Bronze |
Boston Beer Company | Samuel Adams Cream Stout | Sweet/Milk Stout | Bronze |
Boston Beer Company | Samuel Adams Octoberfest | German-Style Märzen | Gold |
Breakside Brewery & Taproom | Stay West Ipa | American Ipa (Less Than 6.5 ABV) | Gold |
Breakside Brewery & Taproom | Wanderlust Ipa | American IPA (Less Than 6.5 ABV) | Gold |
Breakside Brewery & Taproom | What Rough Beast | New England IPA | Bronze |
Champion Brewing Company | True Love | American-Style Pilsner | Bronze |
Coronado Brewing | Leisure Lagoon | American Pale Ale | Certificate Of Excellence |
Coronado Brewing | Weekend Vibes | American IPA (Higher Than 6.5 BV | Silver |
Deep Ellum Brewing Company | Local Legend | Sweet/Milk Stout | Bronze |
Deschutes Brewery | Black Butte XXXI | Russian Imperial Stout Barrel Or Oaked Aged | Bronze |
Deschutes Brewery | Obsidian Stout | American Stout | Gold |
Firestone Walker Brewing Company | Lager | American-Style Pilsner | Silver |
Firestone Walker Brewing Company | Mole Merkin | Wood/Barrel Aged (Less Than 10 ABV) | Gold |
Firestone Walker Brewing Company | West Odnar | Oud Bruin (Flanders Brown Ale) | Bronze |
Fremont Brewing | Bourbon Barrel Aged Dark Star | Russian Imperial Stout Barrel Or Oaked Aged | American Revelation- Fermentis Trophy |
Fremont Brewing | Brew 3000 | Barley Wine | Certificate Of Excellence |
Fremont Brewing | Lush | American IPA (Higher Than 6.5 ABV) | Gold |
Indeed Brewing Company | Mexican Honey | Honey Beer | Bronze |
Jack’s Abby Brewing | Brigadeiro | Coffee | Silver |
Lakefront Brewery | Brandy Barrel-Aged Imperial Pumpkin Ale | Pumpkin Ale | Gold |
Left Hand Brewing Company | Sawtooth Ale | Strong/Extra Special Bitter | Gold |
Melvin Brewing | 2×4 Double IPA | Imperial IPA | Bronze |
Melvin Brewing | Melvin Ipa | American IPA (Higher Than 6.5 ABV) | Certificate Of Excellence |
New Holland Brewing | The Poet | Oatmeal Stout | Bronze |
North Coast Brewing Co | Laguna Baja | Vienna Lager | Silver |
Pelican Brewing Company | Beak Bender Hoppinated India Pale Ale | Pacific IPA | Bronze |
Pelican Brewing Company | Father Of All Tsunamis | Russian Imperial Stout Barrel Or Oaked Aged | Silver |
Pelican Brewing Company | Kiwanda Cream Ale | Light Bitter Blond/Golden Ale | Bronze |
Pelican Brewing Company | Tsunami Stout | Stout Export | Silver |
pFriem Family Brewers | Druif Blanc | Speciality Beer (Higher Than 7 ABV) | Gold |
pFriem Family Brewers | Ipa | American Ipa (Higher Than 6.5 Abv) | Bronze |
pFriem Family Brewers | Oktoberfest Style | German-Style Märzen | Bronze |
pFriem Family Brewers | Pruim | Speciality Beer (Less Than 7 ABV) | Gold |
Reuben’s Brews | Hazealicious | New England IPA | Gold |
Saranac Brewery / FX Matt Brewing Co. | Utica Club Pilsener | Light Lager | Gold |
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. | Hazy Little Thing | New England IPA | Silver |
Ska Brewing Company | Steel Toe Stout | Sweet/Milk Stout | Silver |
The Bruery | Bakery: Coconut Macaroon | Wood/Barrel Aged Higher Than 10 Abv) | Silver |
The Bruery | Retreat (This Is A Hazy Double Ipa) | Imperial Ipa | Certificate Of Excellence |
The Virginia Beer Company | Elbow Patches | Stout Export | Bronze |
Three Weavers Brewing, Co. | Knotty Double Ipa | Imperial IPA | Silver |
European Beer Star
Brewery | Beer Name | Category | Award |
---|---|---|---|
Jack's Abby Brewing | Citra Brau | New-Style Lager | Bronze |
Rahr & Sons Brewing Company | Regulator | German-Style Dunkler Doppelbock | Silver |
Taxman Brewing Co. | Qualified | Belgian-Style Strong Dark Ale | Gold |
Eppig Brewing | Glitz and Glam | Sour And Fruit Sour Beer | Silver |
Brewery Ommegang | Saison Rose | Fruit Beer | Bronze |
Odell Brewing Company | Friek | Traditional Belgian-Style Lambic, Geuze, And Fruit Geuze | Silver |
Allagash Brewing Company | Allagash Saison | Traditional Belgian-Style Saison | Silver |
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. | Sierra Nevada California IPA | Session Beer | Silver |
Brewery Ommegang | Witte | Belgian-Style Witbier | Bronze |
Odell Brewing Company | Drumroll | New-Style Pale Ale | Bronze |
Odell Brewing Company | Mountain Standard IPA | New-Style India Pale Ale | Silver |
Pelican Brewing Company | Beak Breaker | Imperial India Pale Ale | Bronze |
Firestone Walker Brewing Co. | DBA | English-Style Bitter | Gold |
Reubens Brews | Robust Porter | English-Style Porter | Gold |
Port City Brewing Company | Porter | English-Style Porter | Bronze |
Deschutes Brewery | Obsdian Stout | Stout | Silver |
Deep Ellum Brewing Company | Local Legend | Sweet Stout Milk Stout | Silver |
Left Hand Brewing Company | Milk Stout | Sweet Stout Milk Stout | Bronze |
Wormtown Brewery | Spies Like Us | Imperial Stout | Bronze |
Alaskan Brewing Co. | Smoked Porter | Strong Smoke Beer | Silver |
Indeed Brewing Company | LSD | Herb And Spice Beer | Gold |
Lakefront Brewery | New Grist | Beer With Alternative Cereals | Bronze |
Revision Brewing Company | Barrel-Aged Finite Madness | Wood And Barrel Aged Strong Beer | Gold |
Jack's Abby Brewing | Barrel Aged Framinghammer with Vanilla | Wood And Barrel Aged Strong Beer | Silver |
Pelican Brewing Company | Stormwatcher's Winterfest | Ultra Strong Beer | Gold |
The Brewers Association Export Development Program (EDP) works to inform member breweries about opportunities to sell and promote their beers in targeted global markets as well as educate international trade and media about proper storage and care for craft beer as well as the collective quality and diversity of styles created by small and independent American craft brewers.