Willie’s Superbrew Wins 2018 Brewbound Pitch Slam Competition

Feb. 13, 2019 at 5:16 PM

Massachusetts-based Willie’s Superbrew emerged as the winner of Brewbound’s 2018 Pitch Slam competition, beating out seven other emerging craft brands during the two-day Brewbound Live business conference in Santa Monica, California.

The business pitch competition, sponsored by Craft Brew Alliance, featured eight contestants who delivered pitches during an initial judging round. Five companies advanced to the finals on Day Two of the Brewbound Live event.

The victory for Willie’s Superbrew, which underwent a rebrand and name change in May from Farmer Willie’s, marks a shift in the craft beer sector as entrepreneurs turn to new and innovative offerings as a way to stand out and capture new occasions.

Willie’s Superbrew founder and CEO Nico Enriquez impressed a panel of judges that included CBA director of innovation Karmen Olson, innovation brewmaster Tom Bleigh, Interact Boulder creative director Fred Hart, Wormtown Brewery managing partner Dave Fields, and OMAC Beverage Advisors managing director Ryan Lake.

According to Olson, Willie’s Superbrew’s brand story, healthy ingredients, and strong packaging design propelled the brand to victory.

In the final round, Enriquez competed against a diverse group of beverage companies, including founders and key executives from electrolyte-infused beer maker Sufferfest Beer Company; hard kombucha maker New Motion Beverages; non-alcoholic craft brewer Athletic Brewing Company; and Minneapolis-based craft brewery Indeed Brewing. Contestants who did not advance past the the first round included Cerveza XTECA, South Beach Brewing Company, and Young Lion Brewing Co.

“I think that this challenge, this Pitch Slam, has evolved with the category and more importantly with consumer needs,” Olson said. “We understand now that consumers need something different than they did when craft beer was on fire five years ago.”

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