Oscar Wong (Highland Brewing Co.), Brendan McGivney (Odell Brewing Co.) and Adam DeBower (Austin Beerworks) receive honors
Boulder, Colo. • June 30, 2020 – The Brewers Association (BA), the nonprofit trade association dedicated to small and independent American craft brewers, today announced the recipients of its 2020 Industry Awards. Three members of the beer community were recognized and honored for their dedication and service. The Brewers Association has been recognizing people who inspire, advocate, and innovate within the craft beer industry since 1987.
The award winners were nominated by their peers and determined by voting by committees made up of members of the Board of Directors of the Brewers Association or previous innovation award winners.
“This year’s award winners have raised craft brewing to higher standards in business and beer innovation, and have worked to achieve fair legislative and regulatory treatment for craft brewers,” said Paul Gatza, senior vice president, division. Professional Brewing Company of the Brewers Association.
Recipients of the 2020 Industry Awards
Brewers Association Recognition Award
Oscar Wong, founder of Highland Brewing Co. (Asheville, NC)
This award is presented each year to a person or company whose inspiration, enthusiasm and support have contributed to the artisanal making movement. In 1994, Oscar Wong founded Asheville, North Carolina’s first craft brewery, Highland Brewing Co., initiating a craft beer revival that brought the city from a quiet mountain town to the Southeast craft beer capital. Wong is widely recognized as the “Father of Asheville Craft Beer”. In 2019, the brewery celebrated 25 years of independent, family-owned, quality craft beer. This year, the brewery will celebrate Wong’s 80sth Birthday and its pioneering spirit, which continues to inspire the local beer community to this day.
“This is exaggerated. I am very proud and humble to be in the ranks of this distinguished group of award winners, “said Oscar Wong, founder of the Highland Brewing Co. and awarded the Brewers Association Recognition Award.” It means everything to me that our little factory of beer from a quiet mountain town could be recognized for our role in the great American craft beer movement. “
Russell Schehrer Award for Innovation in Craft Beer
Brendan McGivney, COO of Odell Brewing Co. (Fort Collins, Colorado).
This award is presented in honor of Russell Schehrer of Wynkoop Brewing Company to an individual or company for their innovative contributions to the brewing industry. McGivney has been with Odell Brewing since 1995 and is recognized for assisting in the development of new hops, building farmer-brewer relationships, serving as part of the hop quality group, and discovering the innovative “fresh ground” hop process. A pioneer of the leap in the craft industry, McGivney is responsible for developing brands such as Odell IPA, Drumroll American Pale Ale, Friek, 5 Barrel Pale Ale, and Rupture. In addition to helping other breweries with his wisdom, McGivney’s work has allowed smaller breweries better access to higher-quality hops and new experimental varieties.
FX Matt Defense of the Industry Award
Adam DeBower, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer at Austin Beerworks (Austin, Texas)
This award is named after the late FX Matt of FX Matt Brewing Co. and is presented to an individual or company for their contributions and efforts to defend the small beer industry. In 2019, DeBower, along with other Texas brewers and the Texas Craft Brewers Guild, made a successful effort to allow most breweries to sell take-out beer in their taverns. DeBower currently serves as chair of the Texas Craft Brewers Brewers Guild Legislative Committee and in 2017 founded CraftPAC, a political action committee dedicated to promoting the rights of Texas craft brewers.
In addition to individual awards for brewers, the Brewers Association also holds two prestigious national and international beer competitions: Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup.
For more information on past winners and information on nominations for the 2021 Awards, visit here.
About the Brewers Association
The Brewers Association (BA) is a nonprofit trade association dedicated to small, independent American brewers, their beers, and the community of beer enthusiasts. The BA represents more than 4,800 American breweries. The BA Independent Craft Brewery Seal is a widely adopted symbol that differentiates beers from small, independent craft brewers. The BA organizes events that include the World Beer Cup®Great American beer festival®, Craft Brewers Conference® & BrewExpo America®, TASTE™: An American Craft Beer and Food Experience, Homebrew Con™, National Homemade Beer Contest and American Craft Beer Week®. BA publishes The new brewer® Brewers magazine and publications® is the leading publisher of beer literature in the US Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com® and about homebrewing through the BA American Association of Homebrewers® and the free Brew Guru® mobile app. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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