Cleveland Leads the Nation in Microbrew Awards

(CLEVELAND, OH) - Greater Cleveland microbreweries were awarded more medals at last weekend's Great American Beer Festival than those from any other city. A total of 7 medals were awarded to Northern Ohio breweries in the competition, which is widely considered the most prestigious in the U.S. 400 breweries submitted over 1700 beers to the annual blind tasting.

"We couldn't be more pleased," stated Andrew Craze, president of the Northern Ohio Craft Brewers Association. "We've said for years that Cleveland is a great beer town, worthy of the respect afforded to cities like Boston, Seattle, and Denver. Now we've proven it. There are some great breweries here, quietly making world-class beers." The professional tasters seem to agree. Medals were awarded to Great Lakes Brewing Co., Diamondback Brewing, Willoughby Brewing Co., Crooked River Brewing, and Craze's own Western Reserve Brewing in Greater Cleveland. Liberty Street Brewing in Akron also brought home a medal.

The Great American Beer Festival is held every October in Denver, Colorado. The 1999 festival took place October 7-9 at Currigan Exhibition Hall. Awards are determined in a blind tasting by a professional panel of tasters, comprised of brewers, beer writers, and other industry professionals. A complete list of medal winners can be found online at http://beertown.org/GABF/99gabf/99winners.htm.

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