Jopen wins six medals at the Dutch Beer Challenge 2017 12/04/2017

Haarlem, 6th of April 2017 – Craft brewery Jopen from Haarlem has won six medals at the Dutch Beer Challenge 2017. In 2016 Jopen turned out to be the big winner and this success has been repeated in 2017. The winners of the Dutch Beer Challenge were announced in Rotterdam on Wednesday the 5th of April. Jopen received six medals of which three gold medals for Jopen Lentebier, Jopen Adriaan Wit and Jopen 4-granen Bokbier.
The big news for Jopen arrived shortly after winning a gold medal for Jopen Meesterstuk 2017 at the Barcelona Beer Challenge 2017 held on the 25th of March. This time it was Jopen Adriaan Wit that received the first gold medal of the evening in the category ‘Tarwe-/Granenbier: Witbier’. This beer was already entitled with ‘World’s Best Belgian Style Witbier’ at the World Beer Awards in 2016. Jopen Adriaan Wit would later be joined by two more gold medals, two silver and one bronze.

Triple gold
Not only Jopen Adriaan Wit received a gold medal. Jopen Lentebier won gold in the category ‘Blond: Blond-/Meibock’. Jopen Lentebier is a mildly sweet spring beer with a generous dose of American hops and a handful of coriander seed. These ingredients give the beer a robust fruity bitterness. Last but not least Jopen 4-granen Bokbier was awarded gold in the category ‘Donker: Bock/Dubbelbock’. Jopen 4-granen Bok (4-grain Bock) is a ruby-red autumn seasonal beer with rye added as an extra grain to the traditional Haarlem brewing grains of barley, oats and wheat.
Innovations
The IPA category seems to be Jopen’s favorite. After winning gold for Jopen Mooie Nel IPA for two years in a row, Jopen won the silver medal for Jopen Hop zij met ons, a gluten free IPA, in the category ‘Amber Ale: IPA’. For the first time in the Jopen history the craft brewer won a medal for a barrel aged beer. Jopen Zwarte Ziel BA was awarded silver in the category ‘Innovatie/speciaal: Houtgelagerd’. This Smoked Porter had been aging for 8 months in Jim Beam and Old Forester Bourbon barrels. Finally, to make the sweep complete, Jopen’s Smoked Russian Imperial Stout, Jopen Onheilsprofeet, won bronze in the category ‘Innovatie/speciaal: Rook’.
Dutch Beer Challenge 2017
The Dutch Beer Challenge (powered by Mitra) is an initiative of the Foundation Dutch Beer Challenge. This competition is organised to promote the growing craft-beer scene in the Netherlands. This year, 425 Dutch beers were invited to join the competition. The participating beers were divided into categories and were analysed by craft beer experts and international specialists. Award-winning brewers received gold, silver and bronze medals. In total, there were 17 gold, 17 silver and 22 bronze medals. At the 11th of May during the ‘Nederlands Bierproeffestival 2017’, the opening event of the ‘Week van het Nederlandse Bier’, will be announced which beer will be qualified as ‘best beer of the Netherlands’.
About Jopen
Jopen has sprung from the idealism to put the authentic Haarlem beer back on the market again. Based on age-old recipes the ambitious beer brand produces old and new classics. Distinctive, authentic and full of flavor. In November 2010 at the opening of the Jopenkerk (Jopen Church) the Haarlem brewery tradition was reinstated. Jopen has started to innovate from historic styles to full-fledged craft styles, with more than 50 styles being brewed yearly including award-winning ipa’s and barrel aged specialities. Jopen is ready for the future. The beer brand is no longer only available in Haarlem, people drink Jopen well beyond the borders. Jopen, from local beer to world-class beer.