Small and Independent American Breweries Recognized on Global Stage
Boulder, CO • November 22, 2016—The Brewers Association (BA)—the not-for-profit trade group representing small and independent craft brewers—is pleased to announce that 21 American craft breweries, all members of the Brewers Association’s Export Development Program (EDP), won 31 awards in 22 different categories at the 13th annual European Beer Star, the internationally renowned beer competition.
“Small and independent craft brewers are putting American beer on the global map,” said Bob Pease, president and CEO, Brewers Association. “There’s a growing thirst from beer lovers around the world for bold, quality beers from American craft brewers and we’re thrilled to support these brewers in their efforts to bring their products to a new, worldwide audience.”
American craft breweries that were honored include:
| Brewery | Beer | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Allagash Brewing Co | Red | Belgian-Style Fruit Sour Ale |
| Allagash Brewing Co | Saison | Belgian-Style Saison |
| Deschutes Brewery | Mirror Pond Pale Ale | Traditional Style Pale Ale |
| Deschutes Brewery | Obsidian Stout | Dry Stout |
| Epic Brewing Co | Epic Imperial Stout | Imperial Stout |
| FiftyFifty Brewing Co | Totality | Imperial Stout |
| FiftyFifty Brewing Co | Eclipse | Wood and Barrel Aged Strong Beer |
| Firestone Walker Brewing Co | Bretta Weisse | Sourbier |
| Firestone Walker Brewing Co | Feral One | Wood and Barrel Aged Sour Beer |
| Firestone Walker Brewing Co | Krieky Bones | Belgian-Style Fruit Sour Ale |
| Flying Dog Brewery | The Truth Imperial IPA | Imperial India Pale Ale |
| Lakefront Brewery | Lakefront Eastside Dark | Bohemian-Style Schwarzbier |
| Moylan’s Brewing Co | Midnight Ritual | Herb and Spice Beer |
| No-Li Brewhouse | No-Li Spin Cycle Red | English-Style Bitter |
| Oskar Blues Brewery | Mama’s Little Yella Pils | Bohemian-Style Pilsner |
| Pelican Brewing Co | Beak Breaker | Imperial India Pale Ale |
| Pelican Brewing Co | Kiwanda Cream Ale | English-Style Golden Ale / Summer Ale |
| Pelican Brewing Co | MacPelican’s Wee Heavy | Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy |
| pFriem Family Brewers | Pilsner | German-Style Pilsner |
| Port City Brewing Co | Optimal Wit | Belgian-Style Witbier |
| Rahr & Sons Brewing Co | Oktoberfest | German-Style Märzen |
| Red Brick Brewing Co | Laughing Skull Amber Ale | English-Style Bitter |
| Redrock Brewing Co | Gineva | Herb and Spice Beer |
| Reuben’s Brews | Crikey IPA | New Style India Pale Ale |
| Reuben’s Brews | Robust Porter | English-Style Porter |
| Sierra Nevada Brewing Co | Sierra Nevada Pale Ale | Traditional Style Pale Ale |
| Sierra Nevada Brewing Co | Sierra Nevada Torpedo | Traditional India Pale Ale |
| Ska Brewing | Buster Nut Brown | English-Style Brown Ale |
| Ska Brewing | Steel Toe Stout | Sweet Stout |
| Track 7 Brewing Co | Panic | New Style India Pale Ale |
| Worthy Brewing Co | Lights Out Stout | Sweet Stout |
The distinguished competition includes 57 judging categories and solely evaluates beers brewed in a traditional European manner. This year, a record number of 2,103 beers from 44 countries were evaluated by an international panel comprising of 124 beer and brewery experts. Gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded to the three best beers in every category and granted for authentic beers of impressive taste and quality that fulfill a great sensory experience. Medals were presented at a ceremony at the BrauBeviale fair in Nuremberg, Germany.
American craft beer is in high demand internationally. In 2015, American craft beer export volume increased by 16.3 percent, totaling 446,151 barrels and worth an estimated value of $116 million. While growth has been seen across all major markets, the most notable growth was in Western Europe, which saw a 33.4 percent increase in exports. Ireland and the Netherlands, in particular, were two of the fastest growing markets in 2015. Exports are expected to increase in years to come as more importers and distributors implement proper storage and handling infrastructure including refrigerated shipping and storage.
The EDP, which generates exposure for American craft beer through trade shows, festivals, seminars, media outreach and competitions, among other activities, was initiated in 2004 with funds from the United States Department of Agriculture Market Access Program (USDA MAP). There are now approximately 100 small and independent brewers exporting their beers from the U.S., by EDP estimates.
For more information about the European Beer Star Awards and a complete list of the 2016 American craft brewery winners, visit the European Beer Star website. Learn more about the Export Development Program on the Brewers Association website.
Contact: Abby Berman Cohen (on behalf of the Brewers Association), 646.695.7044
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About the Brewers Association The Brewers Association is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The Brewers Association (BA) represents more than 70 percent of the brewing industry, and its members make more than 99 percent of the beer brewed in the U.S. The BA organizes events including the World Beer CupSM, Great American Beer Festival®, Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America®, SAVOR℠: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience, AHA National Homebrewers Conference, National Homebrew Competition and American Craft Beer Week®. The BA publishes The New Brewer magazine and its Brewers Publications division is the largest publisher of contemporary and relevant brewing literature for today’s craft brewers and homebrewers.Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com and about homebrewing via the BA’s American Homebrewers Association. Follow us on Twitter.
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