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One of the beer industry’s most prestigious competitions, the World Beer Cup took place in Las Vegas last week and once again Ohio craft breweries won big
Eight Buckeye state breweries won a total of 10 awards in this year’s contest… Ohio’s best showing at the World Beer Cup since 2022, when 13 breweries combined for a total of 15 awards.
Fat Head’s Brewery continued its impressive run with three awards at the 2024 World Beer Cup, increasing their total award count in the competition to 16. The brewery has earned at least one World Beer Cup honor in each contest dating back to 2012.
“Goggle Fogger,” Fat Head’s flagship hefeweizen, won the brewery its first gold award of the evening, besting the field of 138 entries in the South German-style Hefeweizen category. The brewery’s “Bone Head Red” defended its gold medal performance in last year’s World Beer Cup with another first place prize in 2024 in the Strong Red Ale category. And a silver award for “Dunkelosteus” in the South German-style Dunkel Weizen category rounded out the brewery’s impressive performance in the world’s most prestigious craft beer competition.
Market Garden Brewery joined Fat Head’s on the medal stand with a bronze award for “Prosperity Wheat in the South German-style Hefeweizen category that had previously won a gold medal in the Great American Beer Festival competition in 2019.
Three more Ohio breweries returned to the World Beer Cup stage with awards in the 2024 contest, including a gold medal for Gemut Biergarten’s Skol Crusher in the Dortmunder/Export or German-style Oktoberfest category. This is the second World Beer Cup award for the Columbus-based brewery after earning a bronze in 2022.
Cincinnati’s Rhinegeist has now earned an award in two consecutive contests, winning a silver for “Uncle” in the Scottish-style Ale category after taking home a gold in 2023.
Brink Brewing Lil Zoomie coffee stout won bronze in this year’s World Beer Cup, on the heels of a gold medal in last fall’s Great American Beer Festival contest.
First-time World Beer Cup winners from Ohio include Combustion Brewery & Taproom in Pickerington, Loose Ends Brewing in Centerville and Masthead Brewing in Cleveland. All three breweries took home silver medals in their respective categories.
Since the year 2000, Ohio breweries have earned a total of 74 awards in the global competition informally known as “the Olympics of beer.” In the 2024 competition, 2,060 breweries from 50 countries submitted more than 9,300 beers for judging in 110 style categories.
“Consumers are seeking out high quality, innovative, flavorful beverages, and Ohio breweries are delivering,” said Mary MacDonald, executive director of the Ohio Craft Brewers Association. “Not only are our breweries making some of the best beers in the world, but they’re also bringing people together and building community all over the state.”
(Courtesy Brewers Association / Ohio Craft Brewers Association)
2024 World Beer Cup Ohio Award Winners
Fat Head’s Brewery (Middleburg Heights):
Bone Head – Gold award, Strong Red Ale
Goggle Fogger – Gold award, South German-Style Hefeweizen
Dunkelosteus – Silver award, South German-style Dunkel Weizen
Gemut Biergarten (Columbus):
Skol Crusher Dortmunder – Gold award, Dortmunder/Export or German-style Oktoberfest
Combustion Brewery & Taproom (Pickerington):
Nocino Imperial Stout – Silver award, Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout
Loose Ends Brewing (Centerville):
Loose Handle – Silver award, German-style Doppelbock or Eisbock
Masthead Brewing Company (Cleveland):
Jalapeno IPA – Silver award, Chili Beer
Rhinegeist (Cincinnati):
Uncle – Silver award, Scottish-style Ale
Brink Brewing Company (Cincinnati):
Lil Zoomie – Bronze award, Coffee Stout or Porter
Market Garden Brewery (Cleveland):
Prosperity Wheat – Bronze award, South German-Style Hefeweizen
