U.S. Craft Breweries Shine on World Stage

Participants in the Brewers Association's (BA) Export Development Program (EDP) recently won a combined 30 medals from the Stockholm Beer and Whisky Festival and the European Beer Star Competition. EDP is an initiative created to increase the international recognition of U.S. craft breweries and promote the image of U.S. craft beer as a world class brand.

Eighteen U.S. craft breweries participated in the BA-sponsored generic U.S. craft beer booth at the Stockholm Beer and Whisky Festival; this was the fourth time the BA has sponsored the booth at this event. EDP funds were used to ship beer samples from the U.S. to Sweden for the booth and to enter the U.S. craft beer brands into the competition. Out of the 18 companies who submitted beer, eight breweries won medals.

2007 Stockholm Beer and Whisky Festival Winners:

Category: Well Hopped Lager max 5.9% ABV
Silver - Boston Lager, Boston Beer Co

Category: Ale 4.8% to 5.9%
Gold - Harpoon IPA, Harpoon Brewery
Silver - Red Seal Ale, North Coast Brewing Company Inc.
Bronze - 5 Barrel Pale Ale, Odell Brewing Co

Category: Porter/Stout to 5.9% ABV
Gold - Porter, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co
Silver - St Bridgets Porter, Great Divide Brewing Co

Category: Strong Beer 6.0% ABV and above
Gold - Shakespeare Stout, Rogue Ales

Category: Strong Beer 8.0% ABV and above
Gold - 90 Minute IPA, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

In addition to the Stockholm Beer and Whisky Festival, there were 22 U.S. craft brewery medal winners in the European Beer Star Competition. The European Beer Star Awards are one of the industry's most coveted awards, recognizing original and innovative beers. There were 575 entries from breweries in 58 countries. The awards were presented in November at the Brau Beviale trade show in Germany.

2007 European Beer Star Competition Winners:

Gold Medal Winners:
Brewery Ommegang: Hennepin Farmhouse Saison
Boston Beer Co: Samuel Adams Cream Stout, Samuel Adams Holiday Porter, and Samuel Adams Brown Ale
Deschutes Brewery: Obsidian Stout, Bachelor ESB, and Abyss
Harpoon Brewery: Harpoon Octoberfest and Harpoon IPA

Silver Medal Winners:
Boston Beer Co: Samuel Adams Black Lager, Samuel Adams Pale Ale, and Samuel Adams Old Fezziwig
Deschutes Brewery: Black Butte Porter
Great Divide Brewing Co: Titan IPA, and Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout
Left Hand Brewing Co: Milk Stout
Victory Brewing Co: Victory Prima Pils

Bronze Medal Winners:
Alaskan Brewing and Bottling Co: Alaskan Smoked Porter
Boston Beer Co: Samuel Adams Boston Ale, and Samuel Adams Honey Porter
Rogue Ales: Shakespeare Stout
Victory Brewing Co: Victory Storm King Stout

More information about the EDP can be found at: http://www.beertown.org/craftbrewing/edp.html