Winner’s Circle: International Craft Producer of the Year and Award-Winning Beers Made With Riverbend Malt

Winner's Circle

It’s time once again to give a shout-out to the Riverbend customers who have taken home hardware at recent industry competitions. We are honored to support the makers of some of the world’s finest beers and spirits!

Craft Producer of the Year

To start this Winner’s Circle, we couldn’t be happier to congratulate Chattanooga Whiskey for some exceptional distilling.  This Tennessee-based distillery scored the title of Craft Producers of the Year, not only here in the US as awarded by American Whiskey Magazine but, over the pond, in London, was recognized by the 2023 Icons of Whisky Awards as well. Way to go, folks! 

2023 World Beer Cup Winners

The May 10th, 2023, awards ceremony, known as “the Olympics of beer,” is the most prestigious beer competition in the world. We couldn’t be happier to congratulate Monday Night Brewing for securing the silver in the Mixed-Culture Brett Beer category with Barrel Farm, and Hi-Wire Brewing who also took home a silver in the Best Experimental Beer category for their Japanese Dry Rice Lager. Other winners who snagged bronze medals include Lenny Boy Brewing Co for their Spaghetti Handshake Italian-Style Pilsner and New Belgium Brewing for their Voodoo Ranger Juice Force IPA (this IPA also won the Gold in 2021 at the GABF). See the complete list of winners here.  

The 2023 Florida Brewers Cup

In March, several of our brewery customers in The Sunshine State took home medals at the 2023 Florida Brewers Cup. Here’s a proper congratulations to Gulfport Brewery for grabbing the gold with their hazy, crushable Hippie Oasis. Red Light Red Light won gold for Mixed Culture Brett Beer with their New Wave Biere de Garde, and Deadwords Beer won the gold for Best Saison with Harvest Moon.

Bringing home the silver, Grand Central Brewhouse⁠ took home two medals, one for Speed Wobble and one for their Grodziskie. The Brutalist claimed silver with their West Coast IPA. Perfect Plain Brewing Co was a double winner, receiving a silver medal for Yachtside and the bronze for their Czech Pils. ⁠Alga Beer Co grabbed some hardware for the second year in a row for their Neighborhood Beer. Other winners include Green Bench Brewing⁠, Hourglass Brewing, King State Beer, and Woven Water Brewing.

2023 South Carolina Brewers Cup Award Winners

Also, back in March, an array of Riverbend malt supporters won medals at the SC Brewers Cup. The awards ceremony took place as a part of the 2023 SCBG Conference and Trade Show at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, where more than 200 representatives from breweries and affiliate industries were present. New Groove Brew was a two-time winner, scoring gold hardware with Rainbow Lake Modern IPA and silver for their specialty beer, Pageantry Pils, and Kite Hill Brewing scored gold hardware for their French Pilsner, That Girl from Alsace. Other winners included Peak Drift Brewing, Plankowner Brewing Co, and The Southern Growl. 

The 2023 World Beer Championships

The World Beer Championships (WBC) was founded by the Beverage Testing Institute (BTI) in 1994 as the first international beer competition in the United States. Our customer Fireforge Crafted Beer earned three medals in the 2023 WBC. Day on the Lake Pilsner, Game Time Decision American Light Lager (both made with Riverbend Cumberland Pilsner malt), and Novemberfest Märzen got the Gold “exceptional” distinction by scoring more than 90 in the Beverage Testing Institute’s rating system! ⁠

Hickory Hops Festival 

Hosted in Hickory, North Carolina, the Hickory Hops Festival hosts more than 50 local and regional breweries annually. This year, One World Brewing snagged the gold with their Pre-Prohibition Pilsner made with 100 percent Riverbend malts, as well as a gold for Citra Bomb and bronze for Legacy Lager. 

2023 Good Food Awards

The Good Food Awards are committed to honoring exceptional crafters who produce quality beer while demonstrating a deep commitment to sustainability, as well as environmental and social responsibility. Each year they receive more than 2,000 entrants from all over the United States. Say hello to the 10-time winner, Fullsteam Brewery! For 2023, they take home this honorable distinction for their Wheat Ale, Biscuit.

Has your beer #madewithRiverbend won a competition? Local, regional, national, or international— we want to hear about it! Submit your beers here to be featured.