While you were blowing off fireworks and sipping on your favorite beverage over the Fourth of July weekend, Schell’s and Badger Hill Brewing were busy collecting medals at the U.S. Open Beer Championship held in Oxford, Ohio. New Ulm-based Schell’s is no stranger to winning medals over its 150 plus years; and Badger Hill is quietly making a name for itself in a cozy taproom just south of the Minnesota River in Shakopee.

Badger Hill White IPA won Silver in the Out of Bounds Pale Ale category, while Schell’s Hefeweizen took Gold in the German Hefeweizen group. Schell’s Firebrick also won Silver for the American Amber/California Common category. The event drew around 4,000 beers and ciders in 90 categories with over 20 international breweries participating.

The judging is completely blind, which means that the judges have no idea what beer they are tasting. This takes out any pre-conceived opinions of the brewery or the beer. Cheers to both of these Minnesota breweries for validating what we here in Minnesota already know, which is that this is a great state for beer.

Cheers!