BOSTON, April 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Samuel Adams proudly announces that three homebrewers named winners of the 2013 Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest, will see their winning beers hit shelves this month as part of the Samuel Adams 2014 LongShot Variety Six-Pack. The winners, announced at the 2013 Great American Beer Festival last October, are Florida resident Russ Brunner's American Stout and Illinois resident Cesar Marron's Gratzer.  Brunner's and Marron's brews triumphed over nearly 1,000 other entries sent in from homebrewers across the country. In addition to Russ' and Cesar's winning brews, the variety pack will also include Samuel Adams Employee Homebrew Winner Teresa Bury's Pineapple IPA.           

Jim Koch, Samuel Adams founder and brewer, hosts the annual LongShot American Homebrew Contest to recognize the most talented homebrewers in the country. These homebrewers continue to push the boundaries of craft beer, just as Koch did thirty years ago when he first brewed his legendary homebrew, Samuel Adams Boston Lager. America's interest in homebrewing and craft beer is at an all-time high. According to the Brewer's Association, almost 400 new breweries opened in 2013 (which equates to more than one brewery opening each day), bringing the grand total of craft breweries operating in the U.S. to nearly 2,800.  This growth is due to trailblazing craft brewers like Jim Koch who have helped inspire a new generation of passionate homebrewers, like the 2013 LongShot winners. Past LongShot Homebrew Contest winners have gone on to become professional brewers, turning their homebrewing hobby into a career, including Bob Gordash, winner of the 1996 LongShot Contest, and Don Oliver, winner of the 2006 LongShot contest.

Other aspiring homebrewers have a shot at achieving their dream by entering the 2014 Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest. Those interested can check online at www.samueladams.com/longshot for contest rules, regulations and information on purchasing a homebrewing kit. In addition, they can view Jim Koch's video, "The Art of Homebrewing" offering his personal tips on making a successful homebrew. Entries will be accepted this spring and the winners will be announced at the 2014 Great American Beer Festival. 

What Jim Koch, Samuel Adams founder and brewer has to say about the winning brews:

"The popularity of homebrewing in the United States continues to grow at an extraordinary rate. I know the challenges that homebrewers face on a daily basis, and I applaud those who are either just getting started in homebrewing, or have been making delicious beer at home for years.  Every year when judging the Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest, I'm blown away by the creativity and skill of the entrants. Russ Brunner's American Stout, Cesar Marron's Gratzer, and Teresa Bury's Pineapple IPA are exceptional brews and these homebrewers deserve all of the joy and excitement that comes with having their beers shared with craft beer lovers throughout the country."

How they were picked as the ultimate 2013 winning brews and brewers:

A panel of industry judges including Bob Townsend of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Tony Forder of Ale Street News, John Holl of All About Beer Magazine, Norman Miller "The Beer Nut" from Wickedlocal.com, and beer writers Christian DeBenedetti, and Marty Nachel, joined Jim Koch in selecting the consumer winners. Together, they selected the winning brews based on the American Homebrewers Association Beer Judge Certificate Program guidelines. Each beer was carefully evaluated on the aroma, appearance, flavor and mouthfeel according to the style category under which it was submitted.

How to get your hands on the beers:

The Samuel Adams 2014 LongShot American Homebrew Contest variety six-pack is available nationwide in select retail stores for a suggested retail price of $7.99 – $9.99 (price varies by market) beginning in April.  The variety pack will include two bottles each of Russ Brunner's American Stout, Cesar Marron's Gratzer and Teresa Bury's Pineapple IPA.

Tasting notes from the brewers:

• Russ Brunner's American Stout is a big malty Stout with notes of chocolate and coffee that carry through to a velvety finish with notes of roasted cocoa. The richness is balanced by hints of citrus and pine from the American hops that add a subtle bitterness to this deep and satisfying brew. Russ has been brewing for three years, but this was the first recipe he created from scratch.
• Cesar Marron's Gratzer is a light, Polish smoked wheat beer that packs a punch of smoky sweet flavor from the heirloom smoked malt used and spicy and herbal notes from Saaz hops. This beer draws its inspiration from Cesar's fond interest in the unusual, yet traditional, Polish smoked style.
• Teresa Bury's Pineapple IPA is brewed with four different American hops that showcase grapefruit character mellowed and complemented by the tropical fruit notes from the pineapple. Theresa made it a personal challenge to create a beer with a strong hop character that was balanced by the flavors of her favorite fruit, pineapple.

Learn more:

• To enter the contest and to watch the Art of Homebrewing Video visit: www.samueladams.com/longshot
• For Samuel Adams recipes and pairing suggestions visit www.samueladams.com
• For additional information and to locate a retailer visit www.samueladams.com

Samuel Adams, Samuel Adams Boston Lager, Longshot, and American Homebrew Contest are registered trademarks of The Boston Beer Company.

ABOUT THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY:

The Boston Beer Company began in 1984 with a generations-old family recipe that Founder and Brewer Jim Koch uncovered in his father's attic. Inspired and unafraid to challenge conventional thinking about beer, Jim brought the recipe to life in his kitchen.  Pleased with the results of his work, Jim decided to sample his beer with bars in Boston in the hopes that drinkers would appreciate the complex, full-flavored beer he brewed fresh in America.  That beer was aptly named Samuel Adams Boston Lager, in recognition of one of our nation's great founding fathers, a man of independent mind and spirit.  Little did Jim know at the time, Samuel Adams Boston Lager would soon become a catalyst of the American craft beer revolution.

Today, The Boston Beer Company brews more than 50 styles of beer.  It relentlessly pursues the development of new styles and the perfection of classic beers by searching the world for the finest ingredients. Using the traditional four vessel brewing process, the Company often takes extra steps like dry-hopping, barrel-aging and a secondary fermentation known as krausening. The Company has also pioneered another revolution, the 'extreme beer' movement, where it seeks to challenge drinker's perceptions of what beer can be. The Boston Beer Company has been committed to elevating the image of American craft beer by entering festivals and competitions around the globe, and is one of world's most awarded breweries at international beer competitions. As an independent company, brewing quality beer remains its single focus. Although Samuel Adams beer is America's largest-selling craft beer, it accounts for only one percent of the U.S. beer market.  The Boston Beer Company will continue its independently-minded quest to brew great beer and to advocate for the growth of craft beer across America. For more information, please visit www.samueladams.com.

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