Ohio Craft Brewers Win at Great American Beer Festival

Ohio Breweries Earn Awards at Great American Beer Festival

Ohio’s independent craft breweries combine for seven medals.

 Brink Brewing accepts
their bronze medal for Moozie

DENVER – Ohio’s independent craft breweries once again proved the Buckeye State to be a beer destination, tallying seven awards at the prestigious Great American Beer Festival competition. Held annually, more than 1,800 breweries from across the country submitted 9,200 of their best beers in hopes of earning national recognition.

Noble Beast Brewing in Cleveland captured a gold medal for Eau Rouge in the Belgian-style Sour Ale category. The brewery is no stranger to the Great American Beer Festival stage, earning silver and bronze medals for their Murder Ballads Baltic porter in previous competitions.

Streetside Brewery in Cincinnati earned a gold medal for Black Cats in the English-style Brown Ale category, the brewery's first honor in the Great American Beer Festival competition. Black Cats was also honored at the 2023 World Beer Cup, earning a silver award in that contest.

Cincinnati’s seemingly unstoppable Brink Brewing continued their medal streak with a bronze for Moozie in the Sweet Stout or Cream Stout category. Moozie is one of Ohio's most decorated beers, earning three gold and two bronze medals at the annual competition, in addition to a World Beer Cup bronze award in 2018. Brink has won at least one medal in each year of Great American Beer Festival competition since the brewery’s founding in 2017.

Also returning to the medal stand in 2024 were The Brew Brothers of Columbus and Masthead Brewing of Cleveland. In addition to Streetside, breweries earning their first Great American Beer Festival awards include Three Tigers Brewing of Granville and Wandering Monsters Brewing of Cincinnati..

Since 1987, 63 Ohio craft breweries have combined to win 209 medals – 72 gold – at the Great American Beer Festival.

"If you're making a map of top American craft beer destinations, Ohio has to be on it," said Mary MacDonald, executive director of the Ohio Craft Brewers Association. "Breweries are crafting award winning, world-class beer in all corners of our state, while making positive impacts on the communities they serve."
 
2024 medal-winning Ohio craft beers:

• Noble Beast Brewing (Cleveland)
  • Eau Rouge — Belgian-style Sour Ale — Gold medal

    

    Streetside Brewery's Black Cats brown ale
      with its gold medal

• Streetside Brewery (Cincinnati)
  • Black Cats — English-style Brown Ale — Gold medal
• The Brew Brothers (Columbus)
  • Toasty — English Mild or Bitter — Bronze medal
• Brink Brewing (Cincinnati)
  • Moozie — Sweet Stout or Cream Stout — Bronze medal
• Masthead Brewing (Cleveland)
  • IPA for Aliens — West Coast-style India Pale Ale — Bronze medal
• Three Tigers Brewing (Granville)
  • Brother Sam — Oatmeal Stout — Bronze medal
• Wandering Monsters Brewing (Cincinnati)
  • Triple Chocolate Viator Obscura — Chocolate Beer ë Bronze medal

Founded in 2007, the Ohio Craft Brewers Association is a nonprofit guild that exists to promote, preserve and unify Ohio’s craft brewing industry. We aspire to be recognized as the industry leader at both state and national levels for preserving the art of making high-quality, unique craft beer; to serve as the unified voice for craft brewers across the state; to advocate on behalf of the Ohio craft beer industry; to contribute to systemic, local community development by driving economic and job growth, while creating experiences that bring people together; to promote safe, responsible enjoyment of Ohio craft beer; and to serve as a beacon for local production and manufacturing through craft beer, resulting in diverse choices for consumers.

Birra Moretti Brings Back 20L Kegs to U.S. Market

Award-winning Italian lager now available for draught

STAMFORD, Conn., Oct. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- US Beverage, LLC, (USB) one of America's leading beverage companies, announced today that Birra Moretti, the world-renowned Italian lager will now be available in 20L slim kegs in the U.S. "After acquiring the import rights to Birra Moretti in 2023, USB has seen double-digit growth for the brand month after month across the U.S.," said Tim Ruehl, Brand Manager. "As a result of the continued success and increasing demand for Birra Moretti bottles, we are proud to announce the return of Birra Moretti Draught to U.S. bars and restaurants." Birra Moretti, which was founded by Luigi Moretti more than a century ago, is a world-renowned Italian lager beer brewed with the highest quality traditional ingredients and craftsmanship since 1859. The production process has remained unchanged, as only the best raw materials are sourced to create the award winning Birra Moretti. The special blend of high-quality hops gives Moretti a unique taste and fragrance, enhancing its perfectly balanced bitter taste. Birra Moretti (4.6% ABV) is a Euro Pale Lager style with a crisp, balanced and earthy taste. It is available nationwide through the U.S. Beverage network. About United States Beverage United States Beverage LLC (USB) is a leading independent beverage company in the United States, specializing in imported and U.S. craft beer, and specialty beverages. US Beverage provides sales, marketing and distribution services for a diverse portfolio which includes UINTA Brewing Co., acquired by USB in 2022, as well as a global portfolio of premium brands such as Moosehead Lager, Erdinger, Malibu® Splash sparkling malt beverages, Captain Lawrence, Innis & Gunn, the Damm portfolio of brands: Estrella Damm Lager, INEDIT, DAURA and DAURA IPA, Czechvar, Dewey Crush, Superior Cerveza, Birra Moretti, Dragon Stout, Alfa Beer, Sagres, Krusovice, Zagorka, and Zajecarsko. USB is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut. Visit www.unitedstatesbeverage.com

Cleveland's Craft Beverage Scene Shines with Tapster

Jordan Kay Brings Self-Pour Innovation to Lakewood Community; Tapster Tasting Room Empowers Guests to Pour-Their-Own Beer, Wine, Craft Cocktails and More

CLEVELAND, Oct. 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In the heart of Lakewood, Jordan Kay of Tapster Cleveland is redefining how locals experience their favorite drinks. Since opening the doors to Tapster in 2023, Kay has introduced Cleveland to a unique self-pour concept that allows guests to sample a variety of beers, wines, craft cocktails, kombuchas, and more—all at their own pace. But for Kay, the journey to opening his own self-pour tasting room started long before the doors opened in Lakewood. Prior to opening Tapster Cleveland, Kay lived in Chicago for four years and became a regular at Tapster's second Chicago tasting room, located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. What began as a favorite hangout spot quickly became a source of inspiration. Upon his return to Cleveland, the itch to bring the unique self-pour experience to his hometown pushed the 20-something, marketing/PR professional into the driver's seat of his career. He set out on a mission to make Tapster part of the local social scene and, in 2023, he did just that and became Tapster's first franchisee. "Tapster was my favorite bar in Chicago, hands down," said Kay. "I loved the freedom it gave guests to explore new drinks in a laid-back atmosphere. When I moved back to Cleveland, I knew it was just the kind of experience I wanted to share with my hometown." The Go-To Place for Sampling Local Flavor Tapster Cleveland is committed to providing an experience that feels both new and familiar to locals. With 30+ rotating taps that change often, Tapster allows guests to pour as little or as much they want, all while exploring the best beverages Cleveland has to offer. What sets Tapster Cleveland apart is Kay's dedication to reflecting local culture. His vision with Tapster was to provide the community with more than just a bar—he wanted the tasting room to be a reflection of Cleveland's unique culture and a welcoming place to celebrate local talent. Plus, the taps often feature drinks from local breweries, ensuring the offerings speak directly to the community's tastes. "My goal was to make Tapster the place where Clevelanders can come together and try local beverages they may have never heard of before," explained Kay. "It's about discovery, but it's also about supporting local brewers and making Tapster a real part of the neighborhood." Community-Driven and Guest-Focused Tapster Cleveland is much more than just a place to grab a drink. Kay has built meaningful relationships with local vendors artists, and the neighborhood, hosting everything from flash tattoo events to pop-up markets and much more at his Lakewood tasting room. Tapster is also a regular supporter of neighborhood events like street festivals and crawls, ensuring that it remains a vital part of Lakewood's social fabric. "We've embraced the community, and they've embraced us right back," said Kay. "Whether it's through our weekly trivia nights, Daddy & Me Saturday mornings, monthly Book club, local collaborations, or just being part of Lakewood Alive's events, we've found that locals enjoy the individualized approach we take here." A Space for All Occasions More than a tasting room, Tapster Cleveland serves as a vibrant social space where the community comes together to unwind, discover something new they like and make lasting memories. Through partnerships with local food vendors like Spice Kitchen, Orale, Nosh, The Pierogi Lady, Pizza Bagel Lady, and Tradesman Pretzels, Tapster offers food options that reflect its craft roots. It's the perfect venue for any occasion—whether you're hosting a birthday party, engagement party, company happy hour, or baby shower, Tapster provides a welcoming environment with a huge drink selection. For more information about Tapster Cleveland, visit https://tapstertastingroom.com/sublocation/cleveland/ or follow them on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the Tapster franchise opportunity, visit https://tapsterfranchise.com. About Tapster: Tapster is a pioneering force, revolutionizing the social drinking experience. The innovative, self-pour bar concept offers 40-plus taps with a wide variety of beer, craft cocktails, wine, cider, hard seltzer, kombucha, cold brew coffee, and craft sodas. Guests sample a wide variety, at their own pace, and enjoy the welcoming atmosphere. Founded on core values surrounding environment, empowerment, and education, Tapster opened its first tasting room in 2017 and has five locations across the United States. With a proven business model focused on simplicity, profitability, and community engagement, Tapster offers owner-operator franchisees the opportunity to be part of a dynamic brand that is poised to reshape the way people experience and enjoy their favorite brews and cocktails. For more information, visit https://tapstertastingroom.com/ or https://tapsterfranchise.com.

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