Representative Tony Cárdenas and Bipartisan Buddy Representative Fred Upton Win Anheuser-Busch Brew Democracy Cup with Los Angeles Brewing Team

October 20, 2021, Washington, D.C. – Representative Tony Cárdenas, along with his bipartisan buddy Representative Fred Upton and the Anheuser-Busch Los Angeles Brewery in California, tonight won the 2021 Brew Democracy Cup at the fourth Anheuser-Busch Brew Across America Congressional Brewing Competition in Washington, D.C. with their beer LA Vida Lager.

Over the summer, members of Congress and their bipartisan buddies visited an Anheuser-Busch brewery in their home state and worked alongside brewmasters to create a signature beer inspired by local flavors and ingredients. Unique to the competition this year was the requirement that members of Congress work with a bipartisan buddy to brew the beer – an ask that highlighted the nonpartisan nature of beer and helped strengthen the ties between members across the aisle.  

“I'm excited our beer won this year's Brew Democracy Cup, which embodies the common ground and strong communities we can create through beer,” said Representative Tony Cárdenas (D-CA). “Thank you to Anheuser-Busch and my bipartisan buddy Representative Fred Upton (R-MI) for collaborating to create LA Vida Lager, our Mexican-style beer that reflects the diversity and heritage of Los Angeles.”

Tonight, the home state brews were evaluated on five different characteristics by a panel of judges. During the last competition in 2019, Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO) and the St. Louis Brewery team won the cup with “Big House Brew.” In 2018, Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) and Goose Island Beer Company won the cup with “Scout's Cerveza.” In the inaugural competition of 2017, Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO) and the St. Louis Brewery team won with “Gateway IPA.”

“Bringing people together over a beer has long been a central ingredient of everything we do at Anheuser-Busch,” said Brendan Whitworth, CEO of Anheuser-Busch. “As the leader of the U.S. beer industry, we are proud to host the annual Brew Across America competition that provides lawmakers from differing political backgrounds with an opportunity to find common ground while also learning more about the quality and care that goes into brewing great beer. We congratulate Representative Tony Cárdenas and his bipartisan buddy Representative Fred Upton, whose beer, LA Vida Lager, with the guidance and expertise of our Los Angeles brewing team, took home the cup.”

The beer names and participating Members of Brew Across America 2021 were:

• The Yeas and Nays, brewed by Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR), Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI) and the Anheuser-Busch St. Louis Brewery 
• Common Ground, brewed by Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO), Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI) and the Breckenridge Brew Pub in Colorado 
• Orange You Glad I Didn't Order Wine, brewed by Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL), Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA) and the Anheuser-Busch Jacksonville, FL Brewery 
• Unanimoose Consent, brewed by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and the Anheuser-Busch Merrimack, NH Brewery 
• LA Vida Lager, brewed by Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) and the Anheuser-Busch Los Angeles Brewery 

The judging panel consisted of:  

• Olivia Beavers, POLITICO
• Juliegrace Brufke, NY Post
• Josh Dawsey, The Washington Post    
•  Carl Hulse, The New York Times
•  Paul Kane, The Washington Post              
• Lachlan Markay, Axios                                 
• Jim McGreevy, Beer Institute CEO           
• Lindsey McPherson, CQ Roll Call
• Deirdre Walsh, NPR
• Reid Wilson, The Hill                     
• Melanie Zanona, CNN   

The country's leading brewer launched Brew Across America in 2017 as a way to bring the nation's political leaders together over a beer to discuss issues facing the country. The initiative highlights the nonpartisan nature of beer and its ability to strengthen our democracy by fostering dialogue and finding common ground.

For more information on the Anheuser-Busch Brew Across America Congressional Brewing Competition, follow @AnheuserBusch on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and join the conversation using #BrewDemocracy #BAA2021.

About Anheuser-Busch

For more than 160 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 more than 19,000 colleagues across the United States. We are home to several of America's most recognizable beer brands, including Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob ULTRA and Stella Artois, as well as a number of regional brands that provide beer drinkers with a choice of the best-tasting craft beers in the industry. From responsible drinking programs and emergency drinking water donations to industry-leading sustainability efforts, we are guided by our unwavering commitment to supporting the communities we call home.

For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com or follow Anheuser-Busch on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.