Craft Brew Alliance Medals at World Beer Cup

Portland, Ore. Craft Brew Alliance (CBA) (NASDAQ: BREW), an independent craft brewing company, today announced that two of its brands earned gold awards, the highest honor, in their categories in the World Beer Cup Awards, one of the largest commercial competitions in the world. The awards were presented at a special ceremony held Friday, April 11 following the 2014 Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America in Denver, Colorado.

CBA World Beer Cup Award Winners

  • Widmer Brothers Brewing’s Hefeweizen earned the Gold in the American-Style Wheat Beer With Yeast Category, which received 25 entries. This is the third time Widmer Brothers Hefeweizen has earned Gold in this category.
  • Redhook Brewery’s Audible Ale earned the Gold in the Classic English-Style Pale Ale Category, which received 30 entries.

“It’s an incredible honor to have our beers and brewers recognized in this highly competitive global event,” said Andy Thomas, Chief Executive Officer for CBA. “On behalf of everyone at CBA, I’d like to recognize our exceptional brewers and their commitment to brewing world-class beers for earning two gold medals for two of America’s original craft breweries. The gold for Widmer Brothers Hefe is a fitting tribute to The Original American Hefeweizen as we kick off a year-long celebration of Widmer Brothers’ 30th anniversary; and the gold for Redhook’s Audible Ale, which is only in its second year, is a great reflection of our passion and commitment to brewing standout new beers.”

Often referred to as “The Olympics of Beer Competition,” the World Beer Cup is considered the most prestigious beer competition in the world. Drawing the highest number of entries to date, this year’s event saw 4,754 beers from 1,403 breweries representing 58 countries—a 21 percent increase in the number of entries and a 75.6 percent increase in the number of breweries competing in the prior World Beer Cup competition.

“Brewing great-tasting, high-quality beers that excite and satisfy beer drinkers is what motivates our brewing teams on a daily basis,” said Scott Mennen, VP of Brewery Operations for CBA. “We are extremely proud of the very talented brewers we have on our team, and while it’s the quality and taste of our beers that drives us, earning two coveted gold awards from this prestigious competition delivers some well-deserved external validation. Today, we are raising our glasses to our world-class brewerseveryone at CBA who continues to help us create exceptional consumer beer experiences day after day.

About Craft Brew Alliance

CBA is an independent, publicly traded craft brewing company that was formed through the merger of leading Pacific Northwest craft brewers — Widmer Brothers Brewing and Redhook Ale Brewery — in 2008. With an eye toward preserving and growing one-of-a-kind craft beers and brands, CBA welcomed Kona Brewing Company in 2010, and then launched Omission beer in 2012 and Square Mile Cider Company in 2013.

When Kurt & Rob Widmer founded Widmer Brothers Brewing in 1984, they didn’t confine their brewing exploration to strict style guidelines. To this day, Widmer Brothers continues to create craft beers with a unique and unconventional twist on traditional styles that are award winning and please a wide range of craft beer lovers. Redhook began in a Seattle transmission shop in 1981 and those colorful roots are reflected in the brand’s personality to this day. The eminently drinkable beers consistently win awards and please crowds across the United States. Kona Brewing was founded in 1994 by the father and son team of Cameron Healy and Spoon Khalsa, who dreamed of crafting fresh, local-island brews with spirit, passion and quality. As the largest craft brewery in Hawaii, Kona personifies the laid-back, passionate lifestyle and environmental respect of the Hawaiian people and culture. Omission beer is the first craft beer brand in the United States focused exclusively on brewing great tasting craft beers with traditional beer ingredients, including malted barley, that are specially crafted to remove gluten. Square Mile Cider was inspired by the fortitude and perseverance of the original Oregon pioneers and reinvigorates this enduringly classic American beverage.