{"id":7540,"date":"2025-01-25T14:51:26","date_gmt":"2025-01-25T19:51:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/riverbendmalt.com\/?p=7540"},"modified":"2025-02-05T15:00:39","modified_gmt":"2025-02-05T20:00:39","slug":"riverbend-malt-winners-circle-jan-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/riverbendmalt.com\/riverbend-malt-winners-circle-jan-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Winners Circle: Business of the Year Awards and Total Domination at the US Open Beer Championship"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-featured_large wp-image-7541\" src=\"https:\/\/riverbendmalt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screen-Shot-2025-02-05-at-12.54.43-PM-1264x630.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1264\" height=\"630\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to beer and spirits competitions, the reign of craft malt is undeniable. In <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/riverbendmalt.com\/awards-season-2022-gabf\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2022<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, numerous brewers, all using Riverbend malts, clinched top honors in industry competitions across the nation. The following year, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/riverbendmalt.com\/winners-circle-2023-1\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2023<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Tennessee-based Riverbend user Chattanooga Whiskey was crowned Craft Producers of the Year by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/americanwhiskeymag.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Whiskey Magazine<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a testament to their quality and craftsmanship. This success story was echoed by many<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/riverbendmalt.com\/winners-circle-2024\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> others<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> who brought home a slew of distinctions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, we\u2019re here to express our heartfelt thanks and admiration to the Riverbend malt supporters who emerged victorious in the 2024 industry competitions. Y\u2019all\u2019s dedication and passion have not only brought you success but have also enriched the craft brewing and distilling community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 2024 Great American Beer Festival<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Georgia brewers <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cherrystreetbrewing.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cherry Street Brewing <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rocksolidbrewingco.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rock Solid Brewing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> both took home bronze medals at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival\u200b\u200b\u00ae (GABF) for That Coconut Porter and Beauty is in the Rye of the Beholder, respectively.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2024 John Barleycorn Awards<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A big shout out to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chemistspirits.com\/singlemalt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chemist Spirits<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, who snagged the coveted double gold in the Barleycorn Awards for American Single Malt. This whiskey, made with Riverbend <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/riverbendmalt.com\/malt\/dark-munich-2\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dark Munich<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/riverbendmalt.com\/malt\/southern-select\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Southern Select<\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/riverbendmalt.com\/malt\/crystal-malt\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a testament to Chemist&#8217;s dedication to both tradition and innovation. It truly captures the essence of the South, further authenticated by the recent ratification of American Single Malt as an official whiskey category by the Alcohol &amp; Tobacco Tax &amp; Trade Bureau in December of 2024. Cheers to Chemist for their early adoption and dedication to this whiskey category.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">US Open Beer Championship<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cherry Street Brewing was named #5 on the top 10 breweries list for the 2024 US Open Beer Championship, taking home a total of six awards across gold, silver, and bronze. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fullsteam.ag\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fullsteam Brewery<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> took home not one but two pieces of hardware with a gold medal for Hard Frost, a hard-spiced, brandy barrel-aged, native persimmon strong ale, and bronze for Reset: Blonde. Other winners include <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/akademiabc\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Akademia Brewing Co<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/mtnlayersbeer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mountain Layers Brewing Co<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">., which took home silver with Just Give Me ALL The Bacon and Smoke Over Lublin, respectively. Also, the bronze winners were <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/gravelroadbrewingco\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gravel Road Brewing Co.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/hardinghousebrew\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Harding House Brewing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2024 Spirits Business of the Year Awards<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Riverbend supporter <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/astraeaspirits.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Astraea Spirits<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was honored as a nominee in the gin category at London\u2019s prestigious Spirits Business of the Year Awards! Astraea\u2019s gins are proudly made with Riverbend malt, and to be included in this remarkable category is a true reflection of the distillery\u2019s passion, craftsmanship, and innovation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2024 NCCBC Awards\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2024 marked the 13th anniversary of the North Carolina Brewers Cup competition. This year, 934 entries were submitted by 126 independent North Carolina craft breweries, including some genuinely innovative Riverbend malt users who, between them, brought home a total of 11 medals and 1 honorable mention.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In gold hardware, shout it out to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.discoverlennyboy.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lenny Boy Brewing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, who snagged the distinction for Tropicalus and Raspberry Kaleidoscope. Other gold winners include <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/1718brewingocracoke\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1718 Brewing Ocracoke <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">with their 1718 &#8211; XPA,\u00a0 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/saltfacemule.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Salt Face Mule Brewing Company<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for Mosey On Over, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cellarestbeer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cellarest<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Beer Project for Cinder.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Silver winners include <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.happyvalleyfillingstation.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Happy Valley Filling Station<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for Long Summer and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.diatribebrewing.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Diatribe Brewing Co.<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for English Dark Mild. Bronze hardware came home with Fullsteam Brewing for Paycheck,\u00a0 Happy Valley Filling Station for Everything Delightful #2, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/brightpennybrewing.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bright Penny Brewing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for On Wednesday&#8217;s We Wheatwine, and Cellarest Beer Project for Paramon. Cellarest also won an Honorable Mention for Haywood Haylife.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Congrats to all of the NCCBC Award winners!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2024 NC Business of the Year: Weldon Mills\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Long-standing Riverbend customer <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/weldonmills.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weldon Mills Distillery<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was named one of the four top small businesses of the year in the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/businessnc.com\/small-businesses-of-the-year-2023-small-businesses-big-ambitions-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2024 Small Business of the Year Awards<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, sponsored by Business North Carolina Magazine. We would like to congratulate and thank Weldon Mills for their commitment to and investment in local malt.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was an honor to share the stage with their team last month as one of the other three Small Business of the Year Award winners! We are proud and humbled to receive this recognition for the great work of our team at Riverbend Malt House!<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Has your beer #madewithRiverbend won a competition? Local, regional, national, or international\u2014 we want to hear about it! <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/riverbendmalt.com\/whats-new\/great-beers-using-riverbend-malt-submission\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">submit your beers here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to be featured.<\/span><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-featured_large wp-image-7541\" src=\"https:\/\/riverbendmalt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screen-Shot-2025-02-05-at-12.54.43-PM-1264x630.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1264\" height=\"630\" \/><\/p>\n<p>When it comes to beer and spirits competitions, the reign of craft malt is undeniable. In <a href=\"https:\/\/riverbendmalt.com\/awards-season-2022-gabf\/\">2022<\/a>, numerous brewers, all using Riverbend malts, clinched top honors in industry competitions across the nation. The following year, <a href=\"https:\/\/riverbendmalt.com\/winners-circle-2023-1\/\">2023<\/a>, Tennessee-based Riverbend user Chattanooga Whiskey was crowned Craft Producers of the Year by <a href=\"https:\/\/americanwhiskeymag.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">American Whiskey Magazine<\/a>, a testament to their quality and craftsmanship. This success story was echoed by many<a href=\"https:\/\/riverbendmalt.com\/winners-circle-2024\/\"> others<\/a> who brought home a slew of distinctions.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>  <a href=\"https:\/\/riverbendmalt.com\/riverbend-malt-winners-circle-jan-2024\/\">&nbsp;&raquo;&nbsp;Read more about: Winners Circle: Business of the Year Awards and Total Domination at the US Open Beer Championship &nbsp;&raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":7541,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7540","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/riverbendmalt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7540","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/riverbendmalt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/riverbendmalt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/riverbendmalt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/riverbendmalt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7540"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/riverbendmalt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7540\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/riverbendmalt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7541"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/riverbendmalt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7540"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/riverbendmalt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7540"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/riverbendmalt.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7540"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}