Thirsty Monk Takes Home Two Medals From 2019 U.S. Open Beer Championship

ASHEVILLE, NC—Thirsty Monk was the proud recipient of two medals at the 2019 U.S. Open Beer Championship on July 9 in Oxford, Ohio. The brewery’s North Carolina location received back-to-back medals in the Belgian and French Ale category, taking home a silver medal for Abby Blonde and a bronze medal for Past Life, a Belgian-Style Amber Ale.

This is the second time Thirsty Monk has medaled at the U.S. Open Beer Championship; in 2018, the Denver brewery won a gold medal in the French/Belgian Ale category for Abby Blonde, and the brewery’s Asheville location took home silver for Screaming Monk Belgian IPA, in the American-Belgo-Style Ale category. Abby Blonde, which is named after brewery owner Barry Bialik’s daughter, also received its first GABF bronze medal last year. 

“When I texted home that Abby Blonde had won another medal, the first question six-year-old Abby asked was Gold or Silver? I’m glad I didn’t have to tell her Bronze though I am super proud of our Bronze for Past Life Amber,” says Barry Bialik, Thirsty Monk CEO.

Abby Blonde is a classic Belgian-style Blonde Ale made with Franco-Belges Pilsner malt, wheat, and traditional sugar. Weighing in at 7.3% ABV, this slightly hazy, golden brew was fermented with Thirsty Monk’s in-house Belgian yeast strain, offering a plethora of flavors including banana and light clove.

Past Life Amber, inspired by Bialik’s legendary past life as a Monk and designed to be his partner Shelley’s “perfect beer,” comes in at an approachable 5.0% ABV. Past Life is a smooth, mellow and malty Belgian-inspired amber ale that welcomes entrancing notes of toasted bread, caramel and dried apricot, apple and pear followed by an earthy hop awakening. 

“Brian and Chris, our brewers in Denver and Asheville, deserve major kudos for bringing home a medal from almost every competition we are entering. I’m proud of them and the entire Thirsty Monk team,” says Bialik.

Both beers are currently available at Thirsty Monk Asheville, Denver and Portland locations.

If you have questions about Thirsty Monk’s recent U.S. Open Beer Championship win, or any other media inquiries about this family of Belgian-rooted breweries and pubs across the country, contact Chea Franz at chea@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT THIRSTY MONK

Founded in 2008, Thirsty Monk Brewery currently operates a family of brewpubs in Asheville, North Carolina (Thirsty Monk Downtown Thirsty Monk Biltmore Park), Denver, and Portland, Oregon. Thirsty Monk’s award-winning, modern-rooted Belgian ales are showcased in the company’s Cicerone-crafted food menus, which include beer style-centric Food Flights and beer-paired burgers. Find the company online at monkpub.com.

Brink Brewing Brings Home Four Awards From 2018 U.S. Open Beer Championship

CINCINNATI, OH— Brink Brewing Company proudly took home four medals last week from the 2018 U.S. Open Beer Championship. Dow Scoggins, director of the U.S. Open Beer and Cider Championships, presented these medals to the brewery last week at their tasting room in College Hill. Brink received three gold medals and one silver, earning them second place in the competition’s Top Breweries of 2018.

Professional breweries and award-winning home-brewers from all over the world sent in 6,300 beers representing more than 110 different styles for the 2018 U.S. Open Beer Championship. Brink Brewing placed first in the English Mild Ale, Brown Ale, and Strong Scottish Ale categories for Hold the Reins, Father G’s Bees, and Duncan Clan, respectively. Additionally, the brewery placed second for their Moozie in the Cream Stout Category.

Hold the Reins is an English Mild, a classic “Session Ale” while still full flavored. Moderate sweetness, a bit nutty with a touch of caramel. Chocolate and roast notes give way to a dry finish. Hold the Reins also recently won Gold at the 2017 Great American Beer Festival®.

Named after the brewery’s College Hill neighbor, Father George, of Saint Clare Parish who also happens to be a beekeeper; Father G’s Bees features 40 pounds of honey from his harvest. The combination of Maris Otter, chocolate, and caramel malts provide a richness while the honey gives a touch of boozy sweetness to this delectable Brown Ale.

Duncan Clan is a Scottish Ale featuring rich, malty flavors of caramel and toffee balanced by roastiness and a subtle rye spiciness. This true-to-style brew is all about featuring the malt, leaving a very subtle hop presence.

Moozie is a rich Milk Stout. Like a chocolate milkshake without the straw, it features chocolate and coffee notes and is almost chewy thanks to the addition of lactose and flaked oats. This beer also boasts a bronze medal from the 2018 World Beer Cup®, a bronze from the 2017 Denver International Beer Competition and a gold medal from the 2017 U.S. Open Beer Championship after only being open for four months (one of the youngest breweries to place that year).

“Any win at this competition is a great achievement for our team, let alone four medals,” says Co-Founder Founder John McGarry. “We take great pride in our ability to brew high-quality beers across a variety of styles and these U.S. Open medals really validates that. Our Co-Founder and Head Brewer Kelly and his team have shown that dedication to their craft can have results, even though we've only been a business for a short time."

If you have questions about Brink Brewing’s recent U.S. Open Beer Championship win or any other media inquiries, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

Kelly Montgomery (left) and Dow Scoggins.

ABOUT BRINK BREWING

Brink Brewing Co is neighborhood Craft Brewery in the College Hill neighborhood of Cincinnati. Providing quality beers in a welcoming, comfortable taproom. In their one year of operation, they have accumulated an impressive amount of awards including a Gold at the 2017 Great American Beer Festival®, a Bronze at the 2018 World Beer Cup®, seven U.S. Open Beer Competition medals, and two Denver International Beer Competition awards. For more information visit brinkbrewing.com.

Thirsty Monk Takes Home Two Medals From 2018 U.S. Open Beer Championship

ASHEVILLE, NC— Thirsty Monk was the proud recipient of two medals at 2018 U.S. Open Beer Championship, July 10 in Oxford, OH. The brewery’s Denver location took home Gold in the French/Belgian Ale Category for Abby Blonde, and the brewery’s Asheville location took home Silver for Screaming Monk Belgian IPA, in the American-Belgo-Style Ale Category. 

This marks the first year Thirsty Monk has won a medal at the U.S. Open Beer Championship. The Gold medal-winning Abby Blonde and Silver medal Screaming Monk are both now available on draft and in growler fills at all Thirsty Monk locations in Asheville, Denver, and Portland, OR.

Named after the brewery owner’s youngest child, Abby Blonde is a classic Belgian Style made with Franco-Belges Pilsner malt, wheat, and traditional sugar. Weighing in at 7.3% ABV, this slightly hazy, golden brew was fermented with Thirsty Monk’s in-house Belgian yeast strain, offering a plethora of flavors including banana and light clove.

Screaming Monk is jam-packed with citrus and earthy hops, well-complimented by background Belgian fruity esters. Body and bitterness balance to give an experience aggressive enough for the average hop-head and complex enough for an appreciator of Belgian styles. Imagine a monk at the top of a quiet mountain taking sips of his beer and shouting, “I LOVE HOPS!”

If you have questions about Thirsty Monk’s recent U.S. Open Beer Championship win, or any other media inquiries about this family of Belgian-rooted breweries and pubs across the country, contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.

ABOUT THIRSTY MONK
Founded in 2008, Thirsty Monk currently operates four locations in Asheville, North Carolina including Thirsty Monk Downtown, Thirsty Monk Biltmore Park, Top of the Monk Craft Cocktail Bar, and Brother Joe’s Coffee Pub; and Thirsty Monk Denver, CO and now Thirsty Monk Portland, OR. The brewery family has been the recent recipient of several beer awards, including a gold medal in the Belgian-Style Table Beer category in the Best of Craft Beer Awards earlier this year. Find the company online at monkpub.com.