US Legislators Find Common Ground In Congressional Beer Competition

Given today’s political climate any bipartisan effort might not last long, but it did happen recently over beer.

Here’s the deal…

Anheuser-Busch has announced the winners of its sixth Brew Across America Congressional Brewing Competition. And again this year it was a bipartisan effort, pitting teams made up of Democrats and Republican lawmakers (who worked with Anheuser-Busch brewers) in effort to win the vaunted Brew Democracy Cup.

Over the summer, members of Congress and their bipartisan buddies visited an Anheuser-Busch brewery across the country and worked alongside brewmasters to create a signature beer inspired by local flavors and ingredients from their districts and states.

Each participating member of Congress worked alongside a bipartisan buddy to brew their beer, which highlights the nonpartisan nature of beer and helps strengthen the ties between members across the aisle.

To up the stakes and give back to its community partners in 2023, each brewing team was paired with one of six of Anheuser-Busch’s nonprofit partners – the American Red Cross, Folds of Honor, Honor Flight Network, National Volunteer Fire Council, the National Medal of Honor Museum, and Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

The Anheuser-Busch Foundation committed to donate $75,000 to be split among them – four of the nonprofit partners took home a $10,000 donation, while the Brew Democracy Cup winner Honor Flight Network received a $20,000 donation and the People’s Choice Award winner National Volunteer Fire Council received a $15,000 donation.

On October 25 the five teams had their bipartisan beers judged by a panel of “experts” in Washington DC and the 2023 Brew Democracy Cup winner was announced.

This year Representative Mike Carey (R-OH), along with his bipartisan buddy Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) took top honors for their aptly named Bipartisan Brew which was brewed along with the Anheuser-Busch team at the Columbus, Ohio . And as part of this big win, the Anheuser-Busch Foundation awarded Honor Flight Network a $20,000 donation.

2023’s beer names and participating Members of Brew Across America 2023 were:

• ErieLee Good Beer, brewed by Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV), Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) and the Anheuser-Busch Los Angeles Brewery
• OK, ILL Drink to That, brewed by Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-OK), Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL) and the Oklahoma City Lid Plant
• To Be Rather Than To Seem, brewed by Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC), Rep. Deborah Ross (D-NC) and Wicked Weed Brewing
• Bipartisan Brew, brewed by Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH), Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and the Anheuser-Busch Columbus Brewery
• Gip & Tip Pilsner, brewed by Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL), Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK) and the Goose Island Brewery
• Little Rockies Lager, brewed by Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-CO), Rep. French Hill (R-AR) and the Anheuser-Busch Fort Collins Brewery

Participating judges this year was made up of primarily journalists including: Sophia Cai, Axios; Rachael Bade, Politico; Josh Dawsey, The Washington Post; Andrew Desiderio, Punchbowl News; David Drucker, The Dispatch; Carl Hulse, The New York Times; Abby Livingston, Puck News; and Kelsey Snell, NPR.

“As a company, we’re committed to being there for the moments that matter,” said Brendan Whitworth, CEO, Anheuser-Busch. “Through the Brew Across America Congressional Brewing Competition, we’re honored to invite lawmakers to raise a glass over meaningful conversations and finding common ground, while giving back to the communities we serve and the charities that support our nation’s veterans and first responders.”

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(All image credits: Anheuser-Busch)