Representatives David Rouzer and Rick Larsen Win Anheuser-Busch’s 2024 Brew Across America Congressional Brewing Competition

WASHINGTON, D.C. – September 18, 2024 – Tonight, Representative David Rouzer (R-NC), along with his bipartisan teammate Representative Rick Larsen (D-WA) and Wicked Weed Brewing in North Carolina, were awarded the 2024 Brew Democracy Cup for their beer “Coastal Shine” at the seventh annual Brew Across America Congressional brewing competition. Each year, America’s leading brewer holds this friendly competition to foster bipartisan cooperation, reinforce the beer industry’s positive economic impact, and help create a future with more cheers. To further the competition’s impact this year, the Anheuser-Busch Foundation awarded $75,000 to charities that benefit American farmers, building on the brewer’s longstanding commitment to the U.S. agriculture community.

This past summer, Anheuser-Busch hosted six teams – each made up of members of Congress from both sides of the aisle – at its breweries across the country to create beers inspired by local flavors and ingredients from their home districts and states. Then these beers were served at Anheuser-Busch’s Brew Across America event at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. and judged on five different characteristics: visual, aroma, taste, balance, and story. The winning beer, Coastal Shine, was a Kolsch.

The competition benefited six charitable organizations supporting American farmers, with the Anheuser- Busch Foundation awarding a total of $75,000 to Farm Rescue, the Rice Foundation, the National Association of Wheat Growers Foundation, the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives Education Foundation, the Southwest Council of Agribusiness Relief Fund, and the National Sorghum Foundation.

“I was proud to be part of a competition that’s built on strengthening our republic and excited to be awarded with this year’s Brew Democracy Cup,” said Representative David Rouzer (R-NC). “Thank you to Anheuser-Busch and my bipartisan colleague Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA) for collaborating to create Coastal Shine, a great beer celebrating the heritage of both North Carolina and Washington.” 

“I raise my glass to my bipartisan teammate and Transportation & Infrastructure Committee colleague, Rep. David Rouzer, for collaborating on an award-winning beer, Coastal Shine, that combines fresh hops from Washington state with grain from North Carolina,” said Representative Rick Larsen (D-WA). “As someone with shirttail relatives who moved from the Tarheel State to Snohomish County in the 1920s and 1930s, I appreciate how Coastal Shine celebrates my heritage by bringing together the best of both coasts to create a crisp, refreshing brew for people to responsibly enjoy. Thank you to Anheuser-Busch and Brew Across America for reminding us that bipartisanship and cooperation can yield positive – and delicious – results.”

“The beer industry supports 2.4 million jobs and contributes more than $400 billion to the U.S economy and Anheuser-Busch is proud to bring lawmakers together for a friendly bipartisan competition over beer,” said Brendan Whitworth, CEO of Anheuser-Busch. “On behalf of the 65,000 hard-working Americans that bring Anheuser-Busch’s beer to life, I’d like to congratulate this year’s Brew Democracy Cup winners and thank the participating agricultural organizations for their amazing work supporting U.S. farmers.”

As the nation’s leading brewer and an American manufacturer, Anheuser-Busch purchases $700 million in the highest quality ingredients from 700+ grower partners each year. Earlier this year, Anheuser-Busch became the first ever company to achieve the new U.S. Farmed certification which serves as a symbol of superior quality and support for American farmers that consumers can look for when searching for American grown products on store shelves.

The participating members and the beers of Brew Across America 2024 included:

·      Three Bears IPA, brewed by Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) and the Anheuser-Busch Los Angeles Brewery + Arnold Can Plant

·      Spirit Mission, an Apple Rye Kolsch brewed by Rep. Pat Ryan (D-NY) and Rep. John James (R-MI) and the Newburgh Can Plant + the Anheuser-Busch Baldwinsville Brewery

·      Coastal Shine, a Kolsch brewed by Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC) and Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA) and Wicked Weed Brewing

·      Florida Man, a Kolsch brewed by Rep. Aaron Bean (R-FL) and Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) and the Anheuser-Busch Jacksonville Brewery

·      Yak Attack, a West Coast IPA brewed by Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-OR) and Elysian Brewing Co.

·      This BudZ for You, a Midwestern Pale Ale brewed by Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) and Rep. Zach Nunn (R-IA) and the Anheuser-Busch St. Louis Brewery

The panel of judges evaluating the beers included Jay Timmons of the National Association of Manufacturers, Brian Crawford of Beer Institute, Michelle Korsmo of National Restaurant Association, Leslie Sarasin of the Food Industry Association (FMI), and Stephen Parker of National Independent Venues Association. The judges were advised by Anheuser-Busch’s Ryan Daley, one of 28 Master Cicerones in the world.

ABOUT ANHEUSER-BUSCH 

At Anheuser-Busch, our purpose is to create a future with more cheers. We are committed to earning our place in the moments that matter to our consumers and making a meaningful impact in our communities across the country. For more than 165 years, Anheuser-Busch has carried on a legacy of brewing great-tasting, high-quality beers that have satisfied beer drinkers for generations. 

Today, we own and operate more than 120 facilities, including breweries, wholesaler distribution centers, agricultural facilities, and packaging plants, and have a dedicated network of more than 65,000 hardworking Americans across the United States who bring our beer to life. We are home to several of America's most iconic beer and beyond beer brands, including Michelob ULTRA, Cutwater Spirits, Stella Artois, Budweiser, and Bud Light as well as regional brands that provide beer drinkers with a choice of the best-tasting craft beers in the industry. From our industry-leading efforts to support American farmers and our nation’s military, veterans, and first responders to emergency drinking water donations and responsible drinking programs, we are guided by our unwavering commitment to supporting the communities we call home – that’s who we are. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com or follow Anheuser-Busch on LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and Instagram.