Full Sail Brewing Wins Gold at the 2010 World Beer Cup for Session Black Lager

Chicago, Illinois – The Full Sail crew is beaming with pride over the fourth gold medal the newest member of the Full Sail family claimed. The recently released Session Black received a gold medal in the American-style dark lager category at the Brewers Association (BA) World Beer Cup® 2010, the world’s largest-ever commercial beer competition. The prestigious event is a global beer competition that evaluates beers from around the world and recognizes the most outstanding beers being produced in the world today.

“After winning the gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival®, it is such a treat to go two for two and also win gold at the World Beer Cup®. I am thrilled that the judges recognized the balance and complexity in Session Black. With both Session and Session Black our brewers at Full Sail show that we can make beers that are easy to drink, but never at the expense of character,” said Full Sail’s Executive Brewmaster, Jamie Emmerson.

Session Black Lager, with its sophisticated grey label, is short, dark and totally drinkable. The initial tastes are a subtle balance of caramel and chocolate malt flavors with precise hopping to provide an elegant citrus background to the delicate finish of dark cocoa.

Gold, silver and bronze medals in the competition’s 90 beer-style categories were awarded April 10, 2010 during the World Beer Cup Gala Awards Dinner at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers in Chicago, Ill., U.S.A. World Beer Cup 2010 winners were selected by an international panel of 179 beer judges from 27 countries. An impressive field of 3,401 entries from 642 breweries in 44 countries made up the competition. More than 3,800 breweries in 100 countries were invited to compete.

Since its recent launch in July 2009, Session Black has been awarded four gold medals and was named “One of America’s Best Beers” by Men’s Journal Magazine.

About Full Sail Brewing Company

The independent and employee-owned Full Sail Brewery is perched on a bluff in Hood River, Oregon, overlooking the most epic wind and kite surfing spot in the world. At this very moment 47 specialists in the liquid refreshment arts are crafting barley and hops into your next beer. Among the company’s most popular brews are Full Sail Amber, IPA, Pale, LTD, Session and Session Black Premium lager. Founded in 1987, the Full Sail crew has been fermenting godlike nectar for 22 years. Committed to brewing great beer and sustainable practices their award winning brews are now available in nineteen states. The Full Sail Tasting Room and Pub is open seven days a week. Swing by for a pint, grab a bite, tour the brewery, or just soak up the view. www.fullsailbrewing.com

The World Beer Cup has been held every other year since 1996 and is presented by the Brewers Association. Based in Boulder, Colorado, USA, the Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade and education association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their craft beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. Visit www.BrewersAssociation.org to learn more. The association’s activities include events and publishing: www.CraftBeer.com, World Beer Cup®; Great American Beer Festival℠; Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America®; National Homebrewers Conference; National Homebrew Competition; SAVOR: An American Craft Beer and Food Experience; American Craft Beer Week; Zymurgy magazine; The New Brewer magazine; and books on beer and brewing. The Brewers Association has an additional membership division of 20,000+ homebrewers: American Homebrewers Association. Consumers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at www.CraftBeer.com.