Hoosier Brewers Take State Honors

July 9, 2012

News Release

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Indianapolis' own Bier Brewery earned the Brewers of Indiana Guild Championship Brewery Trophy for the second straight year after amassing four first-place beers.

Tom Wallbank of Zionsville won the title of "Homebrewer of the Year" for the first time after accumulating three first-place wins. He has been brewing since 1995.

"I've never done this well," Wallbank said. "I've not been brewing too much this year, so I was very excited and very surprised."

The other two big awards handed out are the Best of Show trophies that go to the highest-rated of the 23 gold medal winners in both professional and homebrew categories. The professional Best of Show award went to Upland Brewing Co. for its Flanders Red Ale, while Shawn Kaus took home the homebrewer award for his Holla Jala Jalapeno Cream. As a result, Kaus will have his winning recipe brewed and served at the Broad Ripple Brew Pub.

The 14th annual Indiana State Fair Brewers' Cup set another record for entries this year with 1,124. More than 80 judges from all over the country tasted and rated the beers over two days. Silver and bronze medals were also awarded in each of the categories, which range from American Ales to Spice/Herb/Vegetable Beer.

For the first time this year, the Indiana State Fair Brewers' Cup was a qualifying event for the Masters Championship of Amateur Brewing (MCAB). This means that the first-place winners in each of the 23 different homebrew categories are qualified to compete in the MCAB championship competition, which will take place next year. Qualifying events are considered the biggest and best in homebrew competition, so the MCAB championship is considered a "champions' championship," featuring the best home brewers from across the country.

For more results, information and photos, visit www.brewerscup.org.

About Indiana State Fair

The Indiana State Fair is the state's largest multi-day event celebrating Hoosiers' spirit and agricultural heritage. Nationally recognized for offering great entertainment, showcasing youth, interactive agriculture education programs, premiere facilities and a variety of unique, fun foods, the Indiana State Fair has been an annual tradition for generations of Hoosiers since 1852. The 2012 fair is the "Year of Dairy Cows," showcasing Indiana Dairy farmers. For more information, please visit www.indianastatefair.com.

Source: Indiana State Fair