Two Helena breweries recently achieved success at the 2024 World Beer Cup, which is one of the most prestigious beer competitions in the world. Lewis and Clark Brewing Co. took home a gold medal while Copper Furrow Brewing received a bronze medal for their respective beers. Lewis and Clark won gold for their Miner’s Gold Hefeweizen in the American Wheat Beer category, a beer that celebrates the hard-working miners of Montana. On the other hand, Copper Furrow won a bronze in the International Dark Lager beer style category for their Tmavé Pivo, a dark Czech lager brewed in a labor-intensive manner.
The World Beer Cup is often referred to as “The Olympics of Beer” and it recognizes international brewing excellence. This year’s winners were chosen by a panel of 280 beer judges from 37 countries who evaluated 9,300 entries from 2,060 breweries in 50 countries. The award ceremony took place on April 24 at The Venetian in Las Vegas where awards were given in 110 beer-style categories. The Brewers Association established the World Beer Cup Competition in 1996 to celebrate the art and science of brewing.
Each brewery put significant effort into crafting the award-winning beers. Lewis and Clark’s Miner’s Gold is described as an unfiltered American-Style wheat ale made with malted wheat and Montana-grown barley. Copper Furrow’s Tmavé Pivo is brewed with heritage Vienna and black malt, boiled with Cz Saaz hops and reverse osmosis water, and fermented with Budvar yeast. Both breweries were recognized for their dedication to brewing quality and unique beers.