Lost Forty Brewing of Little Rock, Arkansas received two bronze medals at the 2018 World Beer cup competition – the only medals awarded to an Arkansas brewery this year. The Brewers Association (BA) — the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American craft brewers — announced the results of the 2018 World Beer Cup awards. The largest competition to date, the awards were presented at the conclusion of the Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America® at Music City Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
“Receiving two medals for beers that sit on opposite ends of the style spectrum is incredibly meaningful to our brewers. We work tirelessly to perfect our recipes rooted in classic styles while always developing and nurturing creativity with experimentation. Our master brewer Omar Castrellon has perfected this [Double Love Honey Doppelbock] this recipe over the course of his 35 years as a master brewer and our team has focused on pushing the boundaries of wild yeast and barrel aging with the Wild Barrels Project Series,” said John Beachboard, founder, Lost Forty Brewing.
Lost Forty Brewing was recognized for two brews. First, in the ‘Experimental Beer-Style’ category for its Wild Barrels Project No. 5 – a tart, sour beer brewed in collaboration with home-brewers ‘The Void’ Cellars and based on their popular Day Drinker Belgian Blonde. Second, in the ‘German-Style Doppelbock or Eisbock’ category for Double Love Honey Doppelbock – a bold, imperial version of the brewery’s flagship lager Love Honey Bock. After four expansions since opening in December of 2014, microbrewery Lost Forty Brewing will produce 15,000 barrels by year end 2018. Located in Little Rock, Arkansas, Lost Forty Brewing specializes in crafting exceptional beers with a focus on quality, consistency, creativity, community and education.
Beers were judged during six sessions over a period of three days by an elite panel of 295 judges from 33 countries — 72 percent of whom were from outside the United States. Judges evaluated 8,234 beers — a 25 percent increase in the number of entries from the 2016 World Beer Cup. Of the 2,515 participating breweries, 807 were from outside the United States.
“Beer brings people together,” said Charlie Papazian, founder and past president of the Brewers Association, in a press release. “The World Beer Cup showcases the breadth of the global brewing community and winning an award symbolizes one of the greatest brewing achievements.”