MillerCoors Breweries Earn Champion Brewery And Three Medals At 2016 World Beer Cup(SM)

CHICAGO, May 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- In the most competitive World Beer Cup to date, MillerCoors continued its long tradition of excellence at the industry's most prestigious competitions.

Regarded as the "Olympics of Beer Competition," the World Beer Cup saw an impressive field of 6,596 entries from 1,907 breweries in 55 countries.

Miller Brewing Company earned top honors as champion brewery and brewmaster in the large brewing company category, with Miller Lite winning a gold award in the Light Lager category and Miller High Life taking silver in the American-Style Lager category. In addition, Blue Moon Brewing Company's Blue Moon First Peach Ale won a gold award in the Fruit Wheat category.

"We are thrilled to receive this recognition from the most competitive World Beer Cup to date," said Warren Quilliam, MillerCoors senior director of brewing and malting. "Day in and day out we work hard to brew the highest quality beer possible. That commitment starts in the barley field and extends to each of our passionate and committed brewery workers. To win three awards plus champion brewery and brewmaster is a testament to their passion, commitment and dedication."

This is not the first time a MillerCoors brewery has earned the title of champion brewery and brewmaster at the World Beer Cup, with Blue Moon Brewing Co. accomplishing the feat in 2008, Coors Brewing Co. in 2014 and Miller Brewing Co. in 2006 and 2004.

Miller Lite also has a celebrated past in the American Style Light Lager category earning previous gold honors in 1996, 1998, 2002 and 2006. In addition, this is the third award for Miller High Life in the American Style Lager category, after winning gold in both 2002 and 2006. The impressive history continues with Blue Moon Brewing, which took home a gold medal in 1998 for Abbey Ale in the Belgian-Style Pale Ale category and a silver medal in 2012 for Blue Moon Vintage Blonde Ale in the Fruit Wheat category. This year's winning Blue Moon First Peach Ale is a recent addition to the Blue Moon family and is a Belgian-inspired Brown Ale with a slightly tart peach note balanced with caramel malts.

Since 1996, MillerCoors has won a combined 291 medals at the Great American Beer Festival and the bi-annual World Beer Cup, both hosted by the Brewers Association. Gold, silver and bronze awards in the competition's 96 beer-style categories were presented May 6 during the World Beer Cup award ceremony at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. This year, 287 medals were awarded to some of the best commercial breweries with winners from 253 breweries. This year's competition saw 6,596 beers from 1,907 breweries representing 55 countries – a 38.5 percent increase in the number of entries from the 2014 World Beer Cup.

About MillerCoors

Through its diverse collection of storied breweries, MillerCoors brings American beer drinkers an unmatched selection of the highest quality beers, flavored malt beverages and ciders, steeped in centuries of brewing heritage.  Miller Brewing Company and Coors Brewing Company offer domestic favorites such as Coors Light, Coors Banquet, Miller Lite and Miller High Life.  Tenth and Blake Beer Company, our craft and import division, offers beers such as Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy from sixth-generation Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, and Blue Moon Belgian White from modern craft pioneer Blue Moon Brewing Company, founded in 1995. Tenth and Blake also imports world-renowned beers such as Italy's Peroni Nastro Azzurro, the Czech Republic's Pilsner Urquell and the Netherlands' Grolsch.  MillerCoors also operates Crispin Cider Company, an artisanal maker of pear and apple ciders using fresh-pressed American juice, and offers pioneering new brands such as the Redd's Apple and Redd's Wicked Apple franchises, Smith & Forge Hard Cider and Henry's Hard Sodas.  MillerCoors seeks to become America's best beer company through an uncompromising promise of quality, a keen focus on innovation and a deep commitment to sustainability.  MillerCoors is a joint venture of SABMiller plc and Molson Coors Brewing Company. Learn more at MillerCoors.com, at facebook.com/MillerCoors or on Twitter through @MillerCoors.

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SOURCE MillerCoors