The Brewers Association’s Export Development Programme (EDP) is pleased to announce the success of its American craft brewery members in two prestigious European beer competitions – the Brussels Beer Challenge and European Beer Star Awards, as follows:
Brussels Beer Challenge
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 was the tenth edition of the competition with nearly 1,800 beers from 35 different countries judged by an international jury of 75 independent beer experts, including the Brewers Association’s American Craft Beer Ambassador for Europe, Lotte Peplow. The competition took place in Brussels, Belgium over a three-day period from 30th October – 1st November. Participating beers were subdivided into categories based on origin, typology and style, and then tasted.
Congratulations to the EDP members who were awarded 32 medals in total: eight gold, 13 silver and 11 bronze including Cigar City Brewing’s Maduro Brown Ale which was voted ‘Best American Beer of the Competition.’
Jesse Kercheval, International Manager at Cigar City Brewing comments: “We are very appreciative to have two beers win gold at the 2021 Brussels Beer Challenge. Maduro Brown Ale and Guayabera Citra Pale Ale are two of our favorite recipes, and to have them selected among 1,800 beers from around the globe means the world to everyone at our brewery. Earning the title of Best American Beer for Maduro Brown Ale is quite a feat, and we know that the gold medals will help grow the renown for these beers and for our brewery both internationally and in the U.S. Cheers!”
Ben Roesch, Founder/Brewmaster of Wormtown Brewery, adds: “Wormtown Brewery is honored to have won medals at the 2021 Brussels Beer Challenge, in particular, a gold medal for Be Hoppy. Through the efforts of the Brewers Association’s Export Development Program we are able to enter and compete in the most prestigious competitions in the world. International recognition from industry peers is welcome acknowledgement of the detailed attention and hard work the Wormtown team puts in every day. We look forward to marketing and promoting this win, and exploring the possibility of exporting medal winning beers in the future.”
European Beer Star Awards
One of the most recognized beer competitions in the world, the European Beer Star Awards, took place for the 18th occasion in November 2021 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.
This year’s competition attracted 2,395 beers from 44 different countries judged by more than 120 beer experts, including Steve Parr, Brewers Association Export Development Programme Manager. It took place at the Doemens Brewing Academy, in Gräfelfing, near Munich and judges awarded 213 beers with gold, silver or bronze in 70+1 categories. Congratulations to the EDP member breweries who won 18 medals in total including five gold, four silver and nine bronze.
Lotte Peplow, Brewers Association American craft beer ambassador for Europe, comments: “The strong performance of American craft beer at prestigious, international beer competitions is testimony to its word-class quality and the skill, expertise and creativity of American craft brewers. The standard was extremely high in both competitions and I am very proud of all EDP members who took home medals. American craft brewers have an enviable reputation around the globe for producing innovative, exciting and high-quality beers. Winning medals at international competitions such as Brussels Beer Challenge and European Beer Star underpins that reputation and provides a valuable point of difference in today’s competitive market place.”
Success at international beer competitions helps raise awareness for American craft beer abroad and assists 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.
Congratulations to all the award-winning breweries listed here
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About the Brewers Association
The Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The BA represents 5,500-plus U.S. breweries. The BA’s independent craft brewer seal is a widely adopted symbol that differentiates beers by small and independent craft brewers. The BA organizes events including the World Beer Cup®, Great American Beer Festival®, Craft Brewers Conference® & BrewExpo America®, SAVOR™: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience, Homebrew ConTM, National Homebrew Competition and American Craft Beer Week®. The BA publishes The New Brewer® magazine, and Brewers Publications® is the leading publisher of brewing literature in the U.S. 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® and the free Brew Guru® mobile app. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Press release issued on behalf of the Brewers Association, 1327 Spruce Street, Boulder, Colorado, 80302 USA. www.brewersassociation.org
For further press information: Lotte Peplow : lotte@brewersassociation.org on +44 (0)7973 698 414