MillerCoors Claims Eight Medals at 2012 Great American Beer Festival

CHICAGO, Oct. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- MillerCoors raked in eight medals this weekend at the Brewers Association's annual Great American Beer Festival (GABF). Miller Lite received silver out of 51 entries in the American-Style Lager, Light Lager or Premium Lager category and Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy took home silver in the Fruit Wheat Beer category.

Tenth and Blake Beer Company, the craft and import division of MillerCoors, had a solid showing by winning five of the company's eight medals, including three gold medals.

"We're thrilled with how our peers and beer fans across America responded to our entries in this year's GABF," said David Ryder, MillerCoors vice president of brewing and research. "Between taking silver with Miller Lite and receiving three gold medals for brands from our craft beer team, MillerCoors continues to prove it has the best and most diversified portfolio in the American beer industry."

The complete list of medals won by MillerCoors at the 2012 GABF:

Gold

• Move Back (The SandLot) – Dortmunder or German-Style Oktoberfest
• Wildpitch (The SandLot) – German-Style Wheat Ale
• Henry Weinhard's Blue Boar Pale Ale (Bliz-Weinhard Brewing) – American-Style Specialty Lager or Cream Ale or Lager

Silver

• Miller Lite (Miller Brewing Company) – American-Style Lager, Light Lager or Premium Lager
• Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy (Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company) – Fruit Wheat Beer

Bronze

• Keystone Light (Coors Brewing Company) – American-Style Lager, Light Lager or Premium Lager
• Mickey's Malt Liquor (Miller Brewing Company) – American-Style Specialty Lager or Cream Ale or Lager
• Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout (AC Golden Brewing Co.) – Wood and Barrel Aged Strong Stout

Since 1996, including medals previously won as Miller Brewing Company and Coors Brewing Company, MillerCoors has won a combined 263 medals at the Great American Beer Festival and the bi-annual World Beer Cup, also hosted by the Brewers Association.

The Great American Beer Festival, held in Denver October 11-13, offered more than 4,300 different beers from 666 breweries, hailing from 48 states, Washington, D.C, and Guam. Known as the signature event in the U.S. brewing industry, its medals are recognized as among the most respected in the business. Once again, more than 50,000 beer enthusiasts attended this year's event.

About MillerCoors
Built on a foundation of great beer brands and nearly 300 years of brewing heritage, MillerCoors continues the commitment of its founders to brew the highest quality beers.  MillerCoors is the second-largest beer company in the United States, capturing nearly 30 percent of beer sales in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.  Led by two of the best-selling beers in the industry, MillerCoors has a broad portfolio of brands across every major industry segment.  The portfolio is led by the company's premium light brands: Coors Light, Miller Lite and Miller64.  Coors Light, the World's Most Refreshing Beer, offers consumers refreshment as cold as the Rockies.  Miller Lite established the American light beer category in 1975, offering beer drinkers a light beer that tastes like beer should.  Miller64 is 64 calories of crisp, light taste that complements a balanced lifestyle. MillerCoors brews premium beers Coors Banquet and Miller Genuine Draft, and economy brands Miller High Life and Keystone Light.  Tenth and Blake Beer Company, the MillerCoors craft and import division, imports Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Pilsner Urquell and Grolsch, and features craft brews from the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, Blue Moon Brewing Company and the Blitz-Weinhard Brewing Company.  MillerCoors operates eight major breweries in the U.S., as well as the Leinenkugel's craft brewery in Chippewa Falls, Wisc., and two microbreweries, the Tenth Street Brewery in Milwaukee and the Blue Moon Brewing Company at Coors Field in Denver.  The MillerCoors vision is to create the best beer company in America through great people changing the way America enjoys beer. MillerCoors builds its brands the right way through brewing quality, responsible marketing and sustainable environmental and community impact.  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.

SOURCE MillerCoors