Atwater Brewery, Detroit’s largest and fastest growing craft brewer, took first place honors in both of the Lager categories (Light Lager & Pilsner) with its Atwater’s Lager at the recent World Expo of Beer competition in Frankenmuth, Michigan. Over 566 entries competed in the competition, Michigan’s only international competitive beer event.
In addition to Atwater’s Lager winning top honors in the Light Lager and Pilsner categories, the Detroit owned and operated brewer also took third place honors in both categories with its Cash for Gold and Purple Gang Pilsner, respectively. Atwater’s proprietary lager yeast strain is over 20 years old and unique to the brewery.
“Sweeping the lager categories is especially gratifying because our brewery was founded on world-class lagers,” says Atwater owner Mark Rieth. “We brew lagers in an authentic process, a new Atwater tradition consistent with German style heritage dating back hundreds of years. With lagers continuing as the nation’s fastest growing craft beer segment, it feels like the market is coming our way, and winning beer competitions is an important endorsement.”
According to Rieth, lagers present a unique challenge to brewers. “Unlike other styles of beer where you have very complex flavor profiles with different ingredients competing for your palate, lagers require a high flavor purity and absolute smoothness of body. The beauty of the lager – and the difficulty in brewing it correctly – lies in its simplicity. All the flavors come through, as well as the color and clarity, so it needs to be perfectly balanced.”
The World Expo of Beer attracted 15,000 beer aficionados and beers from at least 70 different breweries. This year’s event was the 20th annual World Expo.
In addition to being sold at most craft beer retailers, Detroit customers can sample Atwater lagers as well as its other styles of beer at its two Detroit area tap house and biergarten locations. Atwater in the Park in Grosse Pointe Park is an award-winning venue and was named a ‘Top Ten New Beer Hall in the Nation’ and the number #1 ‘Most Traditional,’ by Jetsetter Magazine. A second Atwater Taphouse and Biergarten was opened last November and is connected to the brewer’s Rivertown location in Detroit. A third location is set to open in Grand Rapids, MI., later this summer.
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