Small and Independent Brewers Celebrated Internationally
Boulder, CO • May 30, 2017— Competing on the world stage, three American craft breweries, all members of the Brewers Association’s Export Development Program, won five trophies at the 25th annual Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA), the largest competition for the beer industry in the Asia Pacific region. The competition results were announced at a prestigious presentation dinner in Melbourne, Australia on Thursday, May 18.
“There is an increasing global appetite for American craft beers,” said Bob Pease, president and CEO, Brewers Association. “The EDP program fuels this demand, making distribution and participation in international competitions feasible and seamless. We are thrilled to see such a high volume of EDP members participate and acknowledged in an international arena.”
Presented by the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria in partnership with Federation University Australia, the AIBA attracted record participation with over 1,890 entries, 226 of which were from EDP members, from 358 breweries in 36 countries. The awards, which provide brewers from around the world with a crucial benchmarking opportunity, are open to breweries ranging in size from boutique small volume to large-scale commercial production.
American craft beer winners included:
- Champion International Beer
Feral One (Packaged) – Firestone Walker Brewing Co., USA
- Champion Medium International Brewery
Pelican Brewing Co., USA
- Best Pilsner – Presented by ExpoNet
Pivo Pils (Packaged) – Firestone Walker Brewing Co., USA
- Best Belgian / French Ale
Feral One (Packaged) – Firestone Walker Brewing Co., USA
- Best Specialty Beer – Presented by GABS
Raspberry Stout (Packaged) – Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, USA
The competition was limited to nine major trophies, including the Champion International Beer trophy, as well as 22 category trophies. Beers were judged blind, according to style and were critically and quantitatively evaluated for their commercial excellence, quality attributes and trueness to type. American beers received the second most accolades, following Australia and 34 EDP members participated in the competition.
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 Australian International Beer Awards and a complete list of the 2017 American craft brewery winners, visit the Australian International Beer Awards website. Learn more about the Export Development Program on the Brewers Association website.
Contact: Abby Berman Cohen (on behalf of the Brewers Association)
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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, Homebrew Con, 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.
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