2006 Brewers Association World Beer Cup

Seattle, Wash. • April 14, 2006 – The 2006 Brewers Association World Beer Cup again proved it is the world's largest and most diverse international beer competition for commercial breweries with its 2,221 entries from 540 breweries in 56 countries.  This year saw a 42 percent growth in entries, 37 percent growth in breweries, 40 percent growth in number of countries represented from 2004 with a record number of entries in 85 beer-style categories. (33.5 percent growth in breweries from 2002)

“The World Beer Cup has become the global stage by which brewers world-wide showcase the quality craftsmanship, flavor and diversity of their beers and in so doing highlight their own achievements and the enduring culture of beer,” stated Charlie Papazian, founder of the World Beer Cup and president of the Brewers Association. “The explosion in competition entries only demonstrates the excitement and passion for beer among brewers and the values appreciated by beer drinkers.”

Breweries from Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, England, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Netherlands, Paraguay, Romania, Russia, Trinidad, USA all received awards at the Brewers Association World Beer Cup Gala Awards Dinner. The Brewers Association presented the 247 World Beer Cup awards in front of more than 950 of the world’s best brewers and their colleagues April 14 at the Washington State Trade & Convention Center in Seattle, Wash.

The night culminated with the presentation of the Champion Brewery and Brewmaster awards in five brewery categories differentiated by size and types. Three of these category winners also won that same category in 2004, the first time these awards were given.  The award for Mid-Sized Brewing Company went to Firestone Walker Brewing Company of Paso Robles, Calif. and brewmaster Matthew Brynildson who also won in 2004.  The award for Large Brewing Company went to Miller Brewing Company of Milwaukee, Wis. and brewmaster Dr. David S. Ryder who also won in 2004.  The award for Large Brewpub went to Russian River Brewing Company of Santa Rosa, Calif. and brewmaster Vinnie Cilurzo who also won this award in 2004.  The award for Small Brewpub went to Piece Brewing Co. of Chicago, Illinois and brewmaster Jonathan Cutler.  The award for Small Brewing Company went to by Brauerei Michael Plank of Laaber, Germany and brewmaster Michael Plank.

These breweries and brewers won the following medals:
World Beer Cup Champion Brewery and Brewmaster
Small Brewing Company
Brauerei Michael Plank
Michael Plank
  
Gold   German-Style Pale Wheat Ale - Plank Leichtes Hefeweizen
Gold   South German-Style Weizenbock/Weissbock - Plank Heller Weizenbock 
Silver  German-Style Dark Wheat Ale - Original Plank Hefeweizen 

World Beer Cup Champion Brewery and Brewmaster
Mid-Size Brewing Company
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Matthew Brynildson

Gold American-Style Pale Ale  - Firestone Pale Ale
Gold American-Style Strong Pale Ale - IPA Nectar
Silver American-Style Extra Special Bitter or Strong Bitter - Firestone IPA
Silver American-Style Pale Ale  - Mission Street Pale Ale
Bronze American-Style Brown Ale - Hemp Ale

World Beer Cup Champion Brewery and Brewmaster
Large Brewing Company Miller Brewing Co. Dr. David S. Ryder
Gold American-Style Lager - Miller High Life
Gold American-Style Specialty Lager - Icehouse
Gold American-Style Light Lager - Miller Lite
Gold American-Style Dark Lager - Henry Weinhard's Classic Dark
Silver American-Style Specialty Lager - OE HG 800
Bronze American-Style Specialty Lager - Milwaukee's Best Ice
Bronze American-Style Premium Lager - Henry Weinhard's Private Reserve

World Beer Cup Champion Brewery and Brewmaster
Small Brewpub
Piece Brewing Co.
Jonathan Cutler

Gold Rye Beer - Worryin' Ale
Gold South German-Style Hefeweizen/Hefeweissbier - Top Heavy

World Beer Cup Champion Brewery and Brewmaster
Large Brewpub
Russian River Brewing Co.
Vinnie Cilurzo

Gold American-Style India Pale Ale - Blind Pig IPA
Gold Imperial or Double India Pale Ale - Pliny the Elder
Gold Other Belgian-Style Ale - Temptation


The World Beer Cup is referred to as The Olympics of Beer Competitions because of its prestigious awards philosophy and panel of expert judges from around the world.   Elite brewers and other industry experts from around the world conducted the blind judging used to determine the awards.  This year 109 judges came from 18 countries: (3) Australia, (1) Austria, (8) Belgium, (3) Canada, (1) Cayman island, (1) Czech Republic, (3) Denmark, (12) Germany, (1) Italy, (4) Japan, (3) Netherlands, (2) New Zealand, (1) Romania, (1) Singapore, (2) Sweden, (8) UK, (55) USA. 

Participating breweries were from the following countries:  Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, England, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, India, Italy, Japan, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Scotland, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad, Ukraine, USA.

Held every two years, the Brewers Association World Beer Cup is a global competition that evaluates beers from around the world and recognizes the most outstanding beers produced today.  In 2004, 1,566 entries from 393 in 40 countries participated. 

The average number of beers entered per category was 26. Category 69: South German-Style Hefeweizen/Hefeweissbier had the highest number of entries. American-Style India Pale Ale category was second with 67 entries.

For more information on the World Beer Cup and the Brewers Association or to view a complete list of winners visit www.WorldBeerCup.org. World Beer Cup 2006 sponsors are:  Barth-Haas Group, Sahm, Ball Corporation, Brigl & Bergmeister, Durst Malz and Siemens AG.

This is from the Brewers Association (http://www.beertown.org)
Check out more at www.beertown.org/events/wbc/winners_list/winners_2006.html