BOULDER, CO —American craft brewing’s global success story continued at the Stockholm Beer and Whisky Festival and the European Beer Star Competition. Brewers Association (BA) Export Development Program (EDP) members participated in both competitions again this year, winning a total of 37 awards.
Notable successes:
- Lagunitas Brewing Company won the Best Beer at the Festival award for their New Dog Town Pale Ale at the 2011 Stockholm Beer and Whisky Festival.
- Pelican Pub & Brewery won six awards-two gold, three silver and one bronze-at the 2011 European Beer Star competition.
The prestige of international success has helped American craft brewers promote their brands at home, increasing sales and brand awareness. This is why the BA works to educate the American craft beer community on opportunities that exist in the international market place and how best to take advantage of them through the EDP.
2011 Stockholm Beer and Whisky Festival
The Stockholm Beer and Whisky Festival, one of Europe’s largest trade and consumer shows, drew an impressive field for its annual competition. There were a record 1,200+ competition entries, with 27 Brewers Association Export Development Program members entering 100 beers. BA EDP members received 12 awards in nine different categories.
Lagunitas Brewing Company of Petaluma, Calif. won the competition’s first-ever Best of Festival award for its New Dog Town Pale Ale.
“We can’t believe our New Dog Town Pale Ale won the Best Beer at the Festival! We are very proud of our ‘Mondo Ultra Mega Super Premium Pale Ale’ and have watched it assault folks’ palates in the coolest way. We are proudly out of style when it comes to the Beer Judge Certification Program guidelines… Maybe they need to add a ‘Modern Ales’ category,” said Ron Lindenbusch, chief marketing officer at Lagunitas Brewing Company.
More than 34,000 visitors celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Stockholm Beer and Whisky Festival. The event and competition are an annual part of the EDP’s schedule.
2011 European Beer Star Competition
The eighth annual European Beer Star is one of the most recognized beer competitions in the world, committed to the traditional European art of brewing. The competition evaluates beers purely on sensory criteria. Brewers from 39 countries submitted 1,113 beers, an increase of 16 percent from last year, including 125 beers from 32 BA EDP members. Nineteen BA EDP members won 30 awards in 18 different categories in the competition.
“Europe is the home for much of the world’s beer culture, so it is truly an honor for Pelican beers to be recognized at the European Beer Star. The many rich brewing traditions of Europe have always inspired the brews of the Pelican Pub & Brewery,” said Darron Welch, brewmaster and owner of Pelican Pub & Brewery.
BA EXPORT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WINNERS
2011 Stockholm Beer and Whisky Festival
Best Beer at Festival 2011 (The gold winner who received the highest rating of overall score from the panel of judges-a new award for 2011)
Lagunitas Brewing Company, New Dog Town Pale Ale
Category British Style (4.8%-5.9%)
Gold: 90 Shilling, Odell Brewing Co.
Category: Ale Modern Style (4.8%-5.9%)
Bronze: Caldera Pale Ale, Caldera Brewing Company
Category: Ale Modern Style 6% and above
Gold: New Dog Town Pale Ale, Lagunitas Brewing Company
Silver: Modus Hoperandi, Ska Brewing Company
Bronze: Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale, Stone Brewing Co.
Category: Wheat Beer max 5.9%
Silver: Flying Dog In Heat Wheat, Flying Dog Brewery
Bronze: Sierra Nevada Kellerweis, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Category: Porter/stout max 5.9%
Silver: Sierra Nevada Stout, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Category: Porter/stout 6% and above
Gold: Big John, Goose Island Beer Co.
Draft:
Category: Draft Light Lager to Medium max 5.9%
Bronze: Samuel Adams Boston Lager, Boston Beer Company
Category: Draft Semi-dark, dark lagers max 5.9%
Bronze: Samuel Adams Octoberfest, Boston Beer Company
2011 European Beer Star Competition
Brewery | Beer | Category | Award |
Alaskan Brewing Co. | Alaskan Amber | Red and Amber Lager | Gold |
Alaskan Brewing Co. | Alaskan Oatmeal Stout | Sweet Stout | Silver |
Ballast Point Brewing Company | Sculpin IPA | India Pale Ale (IPA) | Gold |
Boston Beer Company | Samuel Adams Holiday Porter | Porter | Bronze |
Boston Beer Company | Samuel Adams Honey Porter | Specialty Honey Beer | Gold |
Boston Beer Company | Samuel Adams Utopias 2011 | Wood and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer | Gold |
Brewery Ommegang | Three Philosophers Quadruple | Belgian-Style Strong Ale | Silver |
Brewery Ommegang | Ommegang Witte | Belgian-Style Witbier | Silver |
Caldera Brewing Company | Old Growth Imperial Stout | Imperial Stout | Gold |
Deschutes Brewery | The Dissident | Belgian-Style Fruit Lambic | Gold |
Deschutes Brewery | Black Butte Porter | Porter | Gold |
Deschutes Brewery | Obsidian Stout | Dry Stout | Silver |
Dogfish Head Craft Brewery | Midas Touch | Specialty Honey Beer | Bronze |
Epic Brewing Company | Hopulent IPA | Imperial India Pale Ale | Bronze |
FiftyFifty Brewing Co. | Imperial Eclipse Stout | Wood and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer | Silver |
Firestone Walker Brewing Company | Union Jack | India Pale Ale (IPA) | Bronze |
Firestone Walker Brewing Company | Double Jack | Imperial India Pale Ale | Gold |
Flying Dog Brewery | Gonzo Imperial Porter | Imperial Stout | Bronze |
Matt Brewing Co | Saranac Pumpkin Ale | Herb and Spice Beer | Gold |
Moylan’s Brewery & Restaurant | Ryan Sullivan’s Imperial Stout | Imperial Stout | Silver |
Odell Brewing Co | Odell Myrcenary | Imperial India Pale Ale | Silver |
Oskar Blues Brewing Co. | Dale’s Pale Ale | English-Style Pale Ale | Bronze |
Pelican Pub & Brewery | Stormwatcher’s Winterfest | Ultra Strong Beer | Bronze |
Pelican Pub & Brewery | Tsunami Stout | Dry Stout | Gold |
Pelican Pub & Brewery | Kiwanda Cream Ale | English-Style Golden Ale (Summer Ale) | Gold |
Pelican Pub & Brewery | Surfer’s Summer Ale | English Style Bitter | Silver |
Pelican Pub & Brewery | India Pelican Ale | India Pale Ale (IPA) | Silver |
Rogue Brewery | Smoke Ale | Smoked Beer | Silver |
Stone Brewing Co. | Stone Levitation Ale | English-Style Pale Ale | Gold |
Uinta Brewing Co. | Labyrinth Black Ale | Ultra Strong Beer | Silver |
To date, the EDP has successfully promoted its members’ beer in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Philippines, Scandinavia, Singapore and the United Kingdom.