BOSTON, Oct. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Samuel Adams is proud to announce that the annual quest for exceptional homebrews has yet again returned a wide spectrum of flavorful beers that continue to impress. Connecticut resident Zack Adams' Magnificent Seven and California resident James Schirmer's Beerflower Wheat triumphed over nearly 1,000 competing homebrews to become the 2012 Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest winners. In addition to James' and Zack's winning brews, Samuel Adams also honors Employee Homebrew Winner Dave Anderson's Strawberry Lager. All three winning brews will be bottled and available nationally in the 2013 Samuel Adams LongShot Variety Six-Pack.

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Each year, founder and brewer Jim Koch and the other brewers at Samuel Adams recognize the most talented homebrewers for their world class brews through the Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest. When Samuel Adams began the contest more than 15 years ago, it was Jim's dream that it would be a springboard for aspiring brewers, bringing attention to the quality of homebrewing, and perhaps launch a career or two. To date, Bob Gordash, winner of the 1996 LongShot Homebrew Contest, and Don Oliver, winner of the 2006 Samuel Adams Longshot American Homebrew Contest, have gone on to become professional brewers, turning their homebrewing hobby into a career. Through the contest, Jim encourages homebrewers across the United States to follow their dreams and test the boundaries of beer, just like he did when he brewed the first batch of Samuel Adams Boston Lager® in his kitchen in 1984.

Jim toasts to the winning brews:

"America's passion for homebrewing and craft beer is at an all time high, making this year's competition more competitive than ever," said Jim Koch. "This year, even the President of The United States is homebrewing at the White House. As a homebrewer for more than 25 years, I know it's a great hobby - but it can also be a launching pad into a career or a start-up a business. I'm proud to help these winners achieve the ultimate homebrew dream by making their beer available to drinkers across the country. Zack's Magnificent Seven, James' Beerflower Wheat and Dave's Strawberry Lager are exceptional brews that Samuel Adams is proud to be brewing with these homebrewers."

Passionate Samuel Adams employee homebrewers get in on the fun:

For more than 15 years, Samuel Adams employees have shown their love of brewing by competing in their own annual employee homebrew competition. The internal contest challenges Samuel Adams employees to channel their passion and knowledge for craft beer by experimenting in their own kitchens. Once all the employee homebrews are submitted, Jim and the other brewers spend a day tasting the entries and select three finalists. Those three employee homebrewers attend the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) where attendees vote for their favorite brew. This year, GABF attendees chose Dave Anderson's Strawberry Lager as their favorite.

A panel of industry judges including Tony Forder from Ale Street News, Win Bassett of All About Beer, Bob Townsend of Atlanta Journal-Constitution and beer writers John Holl, Jay Brooks, and Marty Nachel joined Jim Koch in selecting the consumer winners. Together, they selected the winning brews based on the American Homebrewers Association Beer Judge Certificate Program guidelines. Each beer was carefully evaluated on the aroma, appearance, flavor and mouthfeel according to the style category under which it was submitted.

How to get your hands on the beers:

The 2013 Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest Variety Six-Pack will be available nationwide in select retail stores beginning February 2013 for a suggested retail price of $9.99. The variety pack will include two bottles each of Zack's Magnificent Seven, James' Beerflower Wheat and Dave's Strawberry Lager.

About the winners:

James Schirmer's Beerflower Wheat is an ideal balance of smooth, sweet malt flavors with an exotic kick of citrus and herbal notes. Brewed with hot summer weather and fun gatherings in mind, this American wheat beer pours a dark amber color, and imparts a light floral and sweet aroma with the delicate flavors of hibiscus. Beerflower Wheat is a medium bodied brew that finishes crisp and refreshing on the palate.

Zack Adams' Magnificent Seven is a showcase of seven American hop varieties that impart a big piney and lingering resinous flavor. A true Imperial American IPA, this brew pours a rich bronze color. The slightly sweet malt character is pleasantly balanced by a pronounced hop bitterness with grapefruit, pine and earthy notes from the American hops. This medium-bodied IPA also delivers caramel, citrus, lemon and piney aromas.

Dave Anderson's Strawberry Lager is a bright and fresh wheat beer, with a strong strawberry character balanced with toffee and citrus notes - the brewer's vision of the perfect summertime beer to enjoy after a round of golf on a hot day. Brewed with fresh strawberries, this beer pours a bright golden color and imparts a malty sweetness with hints of lemon and earthiness. Strawberry Lager finishes with a wonderful intensive strawberry flavor without being overwhelming and leaves a lingering creamy sweetness on the palate. Dave has worked as a member of the Samuel Adams Packaging Operations team since 2007.

Try your hand in the 2013 American Homebrew Contest:

Aspiring homebrewers have another shot at achieving their dream by entering the 2013 Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest. Interested beer drinkers can check online at www.SamuelAdams.com in March for contest rules, regulations and information on purchasing a homebrewing kit. In addition, they can download Jim Koch's video, "The Art of Homebrewing" offering his personal tips on making a successful homebrew. Entries will be accepted in the Spring of next year and the winners will be announced at the 2013 Great American Beer Festival.

Learn more:

To watch the Art of Homebrewing Video visit: www.samueladams.com/Longshot2012

For Samuel Adams recipes and pairing suggestions visit www.samueladams.com

For additional information and to locate a retailer visit www.samueladams.com

ABOUT THE BOSTON BEER COMPANY:

The Boston Beer Company began in 1984 with a generations-old family recipe that Founder and Brewer Jim Koch uncovered in his father's attic. Inspired and unafraid to challenge conventional thinking about beer, Jim brought the recipe to life in his kitchen. Pleased with the results of his work, Jim decided to sample his beer with bars in Boston in the hopes that drinkers would appreciate the complex, full-flavored beer he brewed fresh in America. That beer was aptly named Samuel Adams Boston Lager®, in recognition of one of our nation's great founding fathers, a man of independent mind and spirit. Little did Jim know at the time, Samuel Adams Boston Lager soon became a catalyst of the American craft beer revolution.

Today, The Boston Beer Company brews more than 50 styles of beer. It relentlessly pursues the development of new styles and the perfection of classic beers by searching the world for the finest ingredients. Using the traditional four vessel brewing process, the Company often takes extra steps like dry-hopping, barrel-aging and a secondary fermentation known as krausening. The Company has also pioneered another revolution, the 'extreme beer' movement, where it seeks to challenge drinker's perceptions of what beer can be. The Boston Beer Company has been committed to elevating the image of American craft beer by entering festivals and competitions around the globe, and in the past five years has won more awards in international beer competitions than any other brewery in the world. As an independent company, brewing quality beer remains its single focus. Although Samuel Adams beer is America's largest-selling craft beer, it accounts for only one percent of the U.S. beer market. The Boston Beer Company will continue its independently-minded quest to brew great beer and to advocate for the growth of craft beer across America. For more information, please visit www.samueladams.com.

SOURCE Samuel Adams