(LANSING, Mich)—Ten Michigan breweries were awarded medals this week at the 2018 World Beer Cup competition—regarded as “The Most Prestigious Beer Competition in the World.” The event concluded the Craft Brewers Conference & Brew Expo America in Nashville, TN. The conference and competition are presented by the Brewers Association (BA), the not-for-profit trade group dedicated to promoting and protecting America’s small and independent craft brewers.
First held in 1996, this year's competition was the largest yet with 8,234 different beers submitted for consideration by 295 judges. Over 50 countries were represented by 2,515 different breweries. The awards are divided into 101 categories of traditional beer styles. Gold, silver and bronze are awarded in each category. This year 302 total awards were given, out of a possible 303 (no gold medal was awarded in the International Style Pilsener category).
In all, Michigan received four (4) Gold, three (3) Silver and three (3) Bronze medals. It should also be noted that Michigan received both Gold and Bronze medals in the “Old Ale or Strong Ale” category (from among 47 total entries). The following awards were presented to Michigan breweries:
GOLD
New Holland Brewing Company (Holland) — Pilgrim's Dole
Category 85: Old Ale or Strong Ale (47 Entries)
Silver Harbor Brewing Company (St. Joseph) — Shipfaced
Category 86: Barley Wine-Style Ale (79 Entries)
Territorial Brewing Company (Springfield) — BC Light
Category 35: Light Lager (72 Entries)
Tilted Axis Brewing Company (Lapeer) — Dark O' The Moon
Category 1: American-Style Wheat Beer (53 Entries)
SILVER
American Harvest Brew Pub at Schoolcraft College (Livonia) — American Harvest Kolsch
Category 52: German-Style Koelsch (125 Entries)
Griffin Claw Brewing Company (Birmingham) — Oblivous
Category 32: Aged Beer (45 Entries)
Speciation Artisan Ales (Comstock Park) — Genetic Drift with peaches
Category 25: Brett Beer (58 Entries)
BRONZE
Arbor Brewing Company (Ypsilanti) — Faricy's Irish Stout
Category 88: Classic Irish-Style Dry Stout (64 Entries)
Bastone Brewery (Royal Oak) — The Roman Wolf
Category 62: Belgian- and French-Style Ale (34 Entries)
Black Lotus Brewing Company (Clawson) — Ninja Pirate Barleywine
Category 85: Old Ale or Strong Ale (47 Entries)
The Michigan Brewers Guild is the network of innovative and passionate brewers that serves as the recognized advocate for the Michigan craft beer industry. The mission of the Guild is to promote and protect the Michigan craft beer industry with an overarching goal to help craft beer acquire 20% of the market by 2025.
Michigan’s thriving brewing industry conservatively contributes more than $144 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $600 million. In terms of overall number of breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #6 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State.”
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