Jopen wins five awards at Brussels Beer Challenge Beer Challenge 2017 27/11/2017
Haarlem/Gent, 20 November 2017 – On Monday 20 November, Jopen was announced to have won five awards at this year’s Brussels Beer Challenge. The managing board of the Haarlem-based craft brewery was present at the Horeca Expo in Gent to accept the awards.
Jopen won no ness than five Brussels Beer Challenge awards. Jopen Jacobus RPA, Jopen Extra Stout, Jopen Doubting Thomas, Jopen Johannieter and Jopen Barmhartige Samaritaan were the ones to take home the awards at this professional beer contest. In doing so, Jopen won the most awards of any brewery at the sixth edition of the Brussels Beer Challenge.
Gold for Jopen Johannieter
Jopen Johannieter won the gold award in the ‘Wheat – Dunkel Weizen(doppel)bock)’ category. Earlier this year, the Johannieter weizen doppelbock was crowned ‘Country Winner’ at the World Beer Awards 2017. Jopen brews Johannieter with a large amount of roasted wheat, which creates a deep, brown color and a weizen-like fruitiness.
Second gold medal for Jopen Jacobus RPA
Another gold medal was awarded to Jopen Jacobus RPA in the ‘Pale & Amber Ale – Strong/Extra Special Bitter’ category. This craft beer was awarded a silver medal at last year’s Brussels Beer Challenge and took home the gold at the European Beer Star in the same year. The first batch of Jopen Jacoubus RPA was brewed 2011; it was named after the Jacobskerk, which houses Jopen’s first brewery. The church was renamed to the Jopenkerk in 2010.
Silver, bronze and Certificate of Excellence
Besides two gold medals, Jopen won a silver medal for Doubting Thomas in the ‘Dark Ale – Strong Dark Ale’ category. Also, Jopen Extra Stout was awarded a bronze medal in the ‘Stout/Porter – Dry Stout’ category. Finally, Jopen Barmhartige Samaritaan received a Certificate of Excellence in the ‘Specialty Beer – Barley Wine’ category. It is the first time Jopen’s traditional yet strong barley wine is celebrated with an award.
Managing director Michel Ordeman responds: “Winning awards always serves as a major morale boost for the entire Jopen team. These five awards show that Jopen has exceptional skill in brewing both hoppy and malty craft beers, which makes it a double compliment.”
Brussels Beer Challenge 2017
The sixth edition of the Brussels Beer Challenge was held at the Walloon capital of Namur. Over a period of 3 days, a jury consisting of 85 internationally renowned beer experts tasted 1400 beers from all corners of the world. The competing beers were categorized based on origin, beer type and beer style, The best beers in each category were awarded a gold, silver or bronze award.