Salt Lake City (June 6, 2011) - Wasatch's seasonal beer, Summerbrau, won another gold medal at the 17th Annual North American Beer Festival in Idaho Falls, Idaho. This distinctive recognition follows a gold medal in the Dortmunder or German-style Oktoberfest Category at the Great America Beer Festival in Denver last September. "It is really unusual for a beer to dominate a category in two of the largest beer festivals in the United States", Wasatch Beers founder, Greg Schirf, explained "usually awards tend to rotate from one brewery to the next since there can be hundreds of different entries from around the country."
Schirf the granddaddy of the Utah craft beer scene, describes Summerbrau as a European style
Export Lager, extremely drinkable during hot summer evenings. "We have won lots of awards
over the years" Schirf elaborated, "but winning two gold medals back to back is pretty
remarkable and speaks volumes to how wonderful this beer is and how some of the most
respected judges in the country appreciate its outstanding craftsmanship."
Wasatch was also awarded a silver medal for their Little Slammer Golden Ale in the Kölsch
category and their Wasatch Brew Pub was awarded a bronze medal for Summer Twilight in the
Cream Ale category.
Brew partner Squatters Beers won a silver medal for their Wit Bier in the Belgian Wit category.
Squatters Brew Pub was also awarded a silver medal for their Belgian style sour beer called 529
in the Flanders Brown Ale category. This uniquely styled wild, sour ale received its name from the
fact that it has been aged in oak barrels for 529 days.
The North American Brewers Association's (NABA) annual, professional brewing competition has
been held in conjunction with the North American Beer Festival since 1997, with more than
1,200 beers competing and hosting well over 6,000 beer enthusiast.
About (Utah Brewers Cooperative) Wasatch & Squatters Brewery
Greg Schirf Cell: 435.602.9613
In 1986, Greg Schirf, owner and operator of Wasatch Beers and Brewpub (www.wasatchbeers.com) opened Utah's first microbrewery in the resort town of Park City. Jeff Polychronis and Peter Cole founders of Squatters Pubs and Beers opened Salt Lake's original brewpub in 1989, and currently operates three pubs. www.squatters.com In 2000 Wasatch and Squatters merged their microbrewery operations for draft and bottle production creating Utah Brewers Cooperative (www.utahbeers.com). Greg Schirf is operating partner and Dan Burick brew master and general manager overseeing all of Squatters and Wasatch award winning bottle and keg products.
Utah Brewers Cooperative is on schedule to produce 38,000 barrels in 2010 and is the only Utah
brewery represented on the Brewers Association list of the Top 50 Craft Brewing Companies in
the Country. Squatters and Wasatch bottled and draft beers are available in Utah liquor stores,
restaurants, clubs, hotels, resorts, grocery and convenience stores throughout Utah; and other
select locations in the western United States.
All of Wasatch and Squatters award winning beers can be purchased at the brewery BEER STORE, located at: 1763 South 300 West Salt Lake City, Utah
About The North American Brewers Association TM
The North American Brewers Association was founded in late 1996. NABA holds an annual,
prestigious brewing competition. Judges at the annual NABA sanctioned beer awards include
brew masters from major national breweries as well as experts from small, independent
breweries. Also judging are beer journalists and certified judges. Evaluation and judging of beers are conducted in sessions which lead to the award of Gold, Silver and Bronze medals. Since 1997, hundreds of competitors have participated.
Judging is performed in a blind format competition with beers poured in a separate room and
provided to the judges in style flights. Judging in teams of four, minimum, the judges rank order
the top three beers. All proceeds from the Competition are directed to charity as per the
foundation's charter. For additional information contact info@northamericanbrewers.org