Brewers Cup Awards 2021 presented by Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild • Photo courtesy Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild
The Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild announced the winners of its second-ever Brewers Cup Awards, a large-scale blind tasting competition open to Minnesota breweries, and breweries from Greater Minnesota scored big.
In a field of 450 beers from 85 Minnesota breweries, breweries outside of the Twin Cities-Metro area claimed top honors in 10 of the 26 beer categories. Among those winners were Chapel Brewing in Dundas (Gold in Czech Lager for Duke’s Pilsner), Pine City’s Three Twenty Brewing (Gold in American Pale Ale for Diddy Pale Ale), and Mankato’s LocAle Brewing (Gold and Silver in American Wild Ale for Sibling and Aromaticity, respectively).
Other winners in Greater Minnesota were Montevideo’s Talking Waters Brewing Company, which took home Gold in Pale Lager for its Festbier; Big Lake’s Lupulin Brewing, which won gold in the Wood Beer category for its Barrel God Cuvée 2020/2021 Blend; and Baxter’s Jack Pine Brewery, which scored gold in the Strong Ale category for its Big Buck Barleywine.
Greater Minnesota’s winning ways extended all the way to the North Shore as two Duluth breweries took top honors: Canal Park Brewing scored gold for its Trekker in the Belgian and Monastic Beer category, while Bent Paddle Brewing Company won gold in the Brown Ale and Porter category and took home the overall Best In Show award for its Roasty Toasty Porter.
“It’s just amazing, I’m so happy that the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild puts on this awards showcase because there’s so much amazing craft beer here in our state,” says Laura Mullen, co-founder and vice president of outreach & marketing. “We’re just so honored to bring the water of Lake Superior to everyone and showcase it in our beer, and to have won four awards, including Best In Show.”
Bent Paddle co-founder Laura Mullen (left) celebrates winning gold and Best In Show at the 2021 Brewers Cup Awards • Photo courtesy Minnesota Craft Brewers Guilde
Pils from Minneapolis’ Venn Brewing and Tonka Lite from Minnetonka’s Unmapped Brewing placed 2nd and 3rd respectively in the Best In Show round.
Beers were judged by 20 judges against BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) guidelines, and the top three in each category, along with the top three overall, were announced at an industry-only awards ceremony on Thursday night.
Leave A Comment