Breaking News - Cleveland Brewery Wins International Award
February 22, 2000 -- Crooked River Yuletide Ale Ranked Among World's Finest Beers
February 17, 2000 (Burton Upon Trent, England)- Cleveland's Crooked River Brewing Company is keeping company with some very upscale peers in the international beer industry these days. Brewers large and small from all over Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and America recently entered their finest brews at the prestigious Brewing Industry International Awards competition at Britain's brewing capital, Burton Upon Trent, England. The competition is so fierce and so exclusive that it is often referred to as the "Oscars" of the brewing world. Crooked River Yuletide Ale, the Cleveland brewery's winter seasonal offering, was selected from a field of hundreds of beers to receive either a gold, silver or bronze medal at the award ceremony in London on April 11th .
The judges have determined all rankings and champions, but their combined decisions are known only to a specially appointed "codemaster." Only the top three beers in each category were nominated for an award and none of the finalists will know which medal they've won until the awards are presented at the April ceremony. Crooked River Yuletide Ale is competing in the "International Specialty Beers Competition (other beers)" category. The other finalists in the category are "Chocolate Stout" from Young & Co. Brewery PLC of London and "Alaskan Smoked Porter" from the Alaskan Brewing Company of Juneau, Alaska.
"We're thrilled to be recognized as one of the world's best, " said Crooked River Brewmaster Stephan Danckers. "This is a victory for Crooked River, it's a victory for Cleveland's brewing reputation and it's certainly a victory for the U.S. beer industry which is showing the world that American breweries do offer world class beers, " continued Danckers. The craft beer industry in the U.S. is credited with reviving many lost beer styles and for winning renewed respect for the U.S. beer industry from peers the world over. In fact, U.S. breweries will receive eight awards in the competition, second only to the U.K. brewing industry, which dominated the competition with thirty-three awards. Finland received three awards and Germany received only one. In all, fifty-eight beers received nominations for awards in various style categories.
Contest judges are beer industry professionals who are never told which brands they are sampling and judging. Each beer is assigned a code number and bottles and cans show no branding whatsoever. The judges are not allowed to taste or judge their own company's beers, nor even those of their respective brewing groups. Only expertise and experience might identify what's in the glass.
"The Brewing Industry International Awards were established in the late 19th century, they now confer the international marque of excellence on a winning brewer, the brewing team and the brand, " said a statement on the competition's website. "To lift one of the championship trophies represents the pinnacle of achievement in each respective beer style - excelling in the all-important context Of commercial worth, " the statement continued.
Crooked River Chairman David Snyder and Crooked River President Christopher Livingston plan to travel to London to accept the brewery's award on April 11th. "It's one thing to win high awards at an American beer competition, but it's even more special to compete head to head against the best the world has to offer and still come away a winner, " said Snyder. "Of course we want to win the gold medal, but we'll feel honored to bring home any award from this competition, " continued Snyder.
Crooked River Yuletide Ale is available for a short time between Thanksgiving and the Christmas holiday season. 1999 supplies have sold out and the brand will not return until November 2000. However, Crooked River Brewing Company produces a full line of award-winning beers that are available year 'round, including Crooked River Select Lager (89-points "highly Recommended by Beverage Testing Institute), Crooked River ESB (Silver medal winner, 1999 Great American Beer Festival), Crooked River Kolsch Ale (Silver medal winner, 1998 World Beer Championships) and Crooked River Robust Porter (Gold medal winner, 1997 Great American Beer Festival). In addition, Crooked River produces a number of seasonal beers such as Crooked River Irish Red Ale (Silver medal winner, 1996 Great American Beer Festival), Crooked River Doppelbock, which is available on draft each spring; Crooked River Island Hops, a summer wheat beer; and Crooked River Erie Nights Pumpkin Brew (Gold medal winner, 1999 Great American Beer Festival) is available each fall. Crooked River also produces Stadium Lager and Expansion Draft to honor the Cleveland Browns football team. The company also brews Crooked River Ballpark Draft, which is sold exclusively at Jacob's Field, home of the Cleveland Indians.
Crooked River Brewing Company is owned and operated by Cleveland based Snyder International Brewing Group. SEE3G also owns and operates Cincinnati's Hudepohl-Schoenling Brewing Company and the Frederick Brewing Company of Frederick, Maryland.
For more information on the Brewing Industry international Awards, visit the website at www.brewingawards.org
Contact: Paul Abrams (513) 241-4344
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