On Friday April 11, 2014 at the World Beer Cup Award Ceremony in Denver, Colo, the Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant received three huge awards. First was the Gold Award for our Munich Dunkles. Next came a Silver Award for our Maibock. These two were huge and amazing enough, and then came the real shock. The Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant and John Dean, Brewmaster were awarded World Champion Brewpub and Brewer, Large Brewpub Division!
The Gold and Silver Awards signify that our Munich Dunkles was judged the best in the world and our Maibock was judged second best in the world. These beers were brewed right here in Topeka at the Blind Tiger Brewery by John Dean, Brewmaster, and Alvaro Canizales, Head Brewer.
In the “European-Style Dark/Münchner Dunkel” category 34 breweries from three continents entered their version of the traditional Munich Dunkel and the judges declared the Munich Dunkles from the Blind Tiger Brewery to be the best in the world!
In the “German-Style Heller Bock/Maibock” category 34 breweries from four continents entered their version of the traditional Maibock and the judges declared the Maibock from the Blind Tiger Brewery to be the second best in the world!
The World Beer Cup, called “The Olympics of Beer”, is the most prestigious beer competition in the world for all breweries, from the largest to the smallest.
Every two years a highly qualified professional panel of over 200 Certified Beer Judges from over 30 countries, selected for knowledge of beer styles, the brewing process, flavor perception, and industry recognition, honors the top beers in 94 style categories with gold, silver and bronze awards at the World Beer Cup. These awards are recognized around the world as symbols of brewing excellence. The World Beer Cup is the pinnacle of achievement in the brewer’s art for all breweries large and small. Judging takes place in five rounds of blind tasting so that the judges focus on taste, aroma, appearance and adherence to style for each beer, and are not influenced by brand names.
What is a Munich Dunkles? 5.2% ABV, 15 IBUs This dark lager beer is brimming with malt character and flavor. The malt bill calls for more than 50% Munich malt! When they name a malt after your city, you know you’re malty! The color of this beer is like rich mahogany. Noble hops add aroma and help balance the malt sweetness. Low hop bitterness with a clean finish. Don’t be afraid of the dark.
What is a Maibock? 7.5% ABV, 16 IBUs This German spring style bock is golden and bright. Mai means May and Bock means this beer has a kick. After a long winter of dark beers, Germans are ready for a bright golden beer to celebrate spring. Maibock is malty sweet and sneaky strong! We like to have this golden malt bomb on tap April 15th “tax day” each year for some real tax relief. Maibock will on tap within the next few days at the Blind Tiger Brewery, while this batch lasts. It is not on tap now because, as we say, “It’s not beer until John says it’s beer.”
Jay Ives, majority owner of The Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant, said, “The competition is incredibly stiff with amazingly great beers from more than fourteen hundred breweries from all over the world. It is a real tribute to John Dean and Alvaro Canizales that Blind Tiger Beer has been chosen for these prestigious awards. Here we are, a small local organization competing with the big boys of beer, and winning!”
World Beer Cup 2014 Statistics:
- 4,754 Beers entered and judged
- 94 Beer style categories, with 282 total potential awards (281 awarded)
- 1,403 Competing breweries, from 58 countries, and 46 US States
- 22 Countries with winning breweries
- 219 Certified judges from 31 countries, 76% of judges from outside the United States
- 251 Volunteers
The Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant has been brewing and serving great Craft Beer and delicious food at 37th St. and Kansas Ave. in Topeka since May 1, 1995. The Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant is the only Brewpub in Topeka and has a full menu featuring Steak, Pasta, Seafood & Barbeque, and a dozen great tasting Craft Beers on tap – brewed right here.
John Dean has been the Blind Tiger Brewmaster since 1999. The Gold and Silver Awards and World Championship Award this year are in addition to 16 more National and International awards over the previous 14 years! Jay Ives, majority owner of the Blind Tiger Brewery, said, “John Dean is a treasure, brewing is an art and we have Rembrandt!” John Dean is by far the most award-winning brewer in Kansas.
19 National Medals & World Awards received by John Dean and the Blind Tiger Brewery at National and International Competitions in 14 Years:
World Champion Brewpub & Brewer, World Beer Cup 2014, Large Brewpub Division
- Munich Dunkles Gold Award World Beer Cup 2014
- Maibock
Silver Award World Beer Cup 2014 - Capital City Kölsch Gold Medal Great American Beer Festival 2012
- Maibock
Gold Award World Beer Cup 2012 - Capital City Kölsch Bronze Medal Great American Beer Festival 2011
- County Seat Wheat Bronze Medal Great American Beer Festival 2010
- Munich Dunkles Bronze Award World Beer Cup 2010
- County Seat Wheat Gold Medal Great American Beer Festival 2009
- Maibock
Silver Award World Beer Cup 2008 - Smokey The Beer Gold Medal Great American Beer Festival 2007
- Java Porter
Silver Medal Great American Beer Festival 2007 - Maibock
Gold Medal Great American Beer Festival 2006 - Java Porter
Gold Medal Great American Beer Festival 2004 - Tailwind Rye Bronze Award World Beer Cup 2004
- Tailwind Rye Silver Medal Great American Beer Festival 2003
- Raw Wheat
Gold Medal Great American Beer Festival 2002 - Tailwind Rye Silver Medal Great American Beer Festival 2002
- Smokey The Beer Silver Medal Great American Beer Festival 2001
For more information on the World Beer Cup 2014 please see the following: www.worldbeercup.org
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