Amstel Light Fires Up the Grill to Host Fifth Annual Amstel Light Burger Bash 2011

NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Amstel Light, a leading imported light beer from Amsterdam, is raising a glass to the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival presented by Food & Wine in honor of their ten year anniversary. On Thursday, February 24th, Amstel Light is giving one lucky fan the opportunity of a lifetime - to get behind the grill at Amstel Light's Burger Bash. In its fifth consecutive year and hosted by celebrity chef, author and talk show star Rachael Ray, this annual competition, set on the white sands of South Beach, is often touted as the "go-to event of the festival." It gathers the best chefs from kitchens all over the nation, giving them the opportunity to show off their unique spin on this American classic in the ultimate burger showdown.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110223/NY53233 )

This year, Amstel Light welcomes Chef Jonathon Sawyer as the brand's official Amstel Light Burger Bash chef. Sawyer, the owner of a top restaurant in Cleveland, OH, who got his start in Miami, FL as a chef at The Biltmore, returns once again to the sunshine state in a face-off with some of the food industry's finest. Sawyer is sure to provide some tough competition for the Burger Bash® roster of celebrity chefs, as Sawyer comes with strong accolades including being named one of the "Best New Chefs of 2010" by Food & Wine.

From January 10 to February 7, Amstel Light fans had the opportunity to upload their original hamburger recipe at www.amstellight.com/burger_bash/ for the chance to win an all-expenses paid two-night trip for themselves and a guest to the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival in Miami and to prepare their winning dish at the Amstel Light Burger Bash, alongside Amstel Light's official Burger Bash® chef Jonathon Sawyer. Additionally, one runner-up was selected to win a one-night trip to Miami, FL with a guest and attend Amstel Light Burger Bash.

"As a long-standing partner and supporter of the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival, we are thrilled once again to give a loyal Amstel Light fan the opportunity to grill up their best burger alongside the country's leading chefs at the Fifth-Annual Amstel Light Burger Bash," said Amanda Hawk, Amstel Light's brand director.

The Grand Prize winner, Danielle Williams and Chef Jonathon Sawyer will go head-to-head in a burger battle with some of the country's top chefs including: Bobby Flay, Masaharu Morimoto, and the 2009 Champion, Spike Mendelsohn.

"It's officially on!," said Jonathon Sawyer, owner of Greenhouse Tavern and Amstel Light's official Burger Bash Chef. "Together with Amstel Light, I selected Danielle Williams' creative and flavorful recipe to compete at Amstel Light's Burger Bash. I'm completely confident that this burger will impress the judges and allow for some stiff competition."

For more details about the Amstel Light Burger Bash and Recipe Contest, visit www.amstellight.com.

About Amstel Light

Amstel Light is a leading imported light beer brand in the U.S. The Amstel Brewery was founded in 1870 in Amsterdam, Holland by two businessmen, DePester and J.H. van Marwijk Kooy.  By 1886, Amstel had become Amsterdam's largest brewer of lager beer. In 1982, Amstel Light was born as an import to the U.S. Characteristic of this beer is a unique selection of raw materials and an intense fermenting process. The result is a premium imported light beer containing only 3.5% alcohol and approximately 35% fewer calories than regular lager beer. Amstel Light is imported by Heineken USA, headquartered in White Plains, New York, the nation's premier beer importer. For more information, please visit www.amstellight.com.

About Heineken USA

Heineken USA Inc., the nation's premier beer importer, is a subsidiary of Heineken International BV, which is the world's most international brewer. Brands imported into the U.S. include: Heineken Lager, the world's most international beer brand; Heineken Premium Light; Amstel Light, a leading imported light beer brand; Newcastle Brown Ale, the leading imported ale in the United States; and Buckler non-alcoholic brew. Heineken USA is also the exclusive USA importer for the Tecate, Tecate Light, Dos Equis, Sol, Carta Blanca and Bohemia brands from FEMSA Cerveza of Mexico. Please visit EnjoyHeinekenResponsibly.com.

SOURCE Amstel Light