- 09.21.2022
Anheuser-Busch: Senator Jon Tester and Bipartisan Buddy Senator Mike Rounds Win Anheuser-Busch Brew Democracy Cup with Fort Collins Brewing Team
WASHINGTON, D.C. – September 21, 2022 – Senator Jon Tester, along with his bipartisan buddy Senator Mike Rounds and the Anheuser-Busch Fort Collins Brewery in Colorado, tonight won the 2022 Brew Democracy Cup with their beer Seventeen Finger Select at the fifth Anheuser-Busch Brew Across America Congressional Brewing Competition in Washington, D.C. at Nationals Park.
Over the summer, members of Congress and their bipartisan counterparts visited Anheuser-Busch breweries across the country and worked alongside A-B brewing teams to create a signature beer inspired by local flavors and ingredients from their districts. Each participating member of Congress worked alongside a bipartisan buddy to brew their beer, which highlights the nonpartisan nature of beer and helps strengthen the ties between members across the aisle.
“Montanans know good beer. So, while I’m not all that surprised, I’m very proud that Senator Rounds’ and my beer—the Seventeen Finger Select—is taking home this year’s Brew Democracy Cup,” said Senator Jon Tester (D-MT). “I’ve always said that family farm agriculture is fundamental to preserving our democracy, and there’s no better toast to that than bringing folks together over a beer brewed with barley I grew on my own family farm in Big Sandy.”
Tonight, the home state brews were evaluated on five different characteristics by a panel of judges: visual, aroma, taste, balance and drinkability. Last year, Representatives Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) and Fred Upton (R-MI) won the cup with the Los Angeles Brewery team for “LA Vida Lager.”
“Anheuser-Busch’s Brew Across America initiative does more than brew great beers: it brings people together in the spirit of improving our American democracy,” said Brendan Whitworth, CEO, Anheuser-Busch. “Our purpose is to create a future with more cheers and beer has the unique ability to act as a unifier, where everyone can raise a glass to meaningful conversation, shared experiences, and different perspectives. Thank you to all the Members of Congress for advancing those goals through Brew Across America.”
“Beer has always been at the heart of everything we do at Anheuser-Busch, and the spirit of this competition is grounded in our goal of bringing people together for a future with more cheers,” said Cesar Vargas, Chief External Affairs Officer, Anheuser-Busch . “As the leading brewer in the country, we will continue to find ways to bring lawmakers from differing political backgrounds together to find common ground over a beer. I’d like to congratulate Senator Jon Tester, Senator Mike Rounds and Anheuser-Busch’s Fort Collins brewing team, whose beer Seventeen Finger Select took home the cup this year during our fifth annual competition.”
The participating Members and the beers of Brew Across America 2022 were:
- Emerald Palmer , brewed by Rep. Young Kim (R-CA), Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA) and the Golden Road Anaheim Pub
- Legen-Dairy Stout , brewed by Rep. GT Thompson (R-PA), Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA) and the Anheuser-Busch St. Louis Brewery
- Paw-Paw Bear , brewed by Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV), Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA) and the Anheuser-Busch Los Angeles, CA Brewery
- Reaching Across the Ale , brewed by Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA), Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) and the Devils Backbone Outpost
- Seventeen Finger Select , brewed by Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) and the Anheuser-Busch Fort Collins Brewery
- Sugarhouse Ale , brewed by Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) and the Anheuser-Busch Merrimack, NH Brewery
The beers were voted on by a panel of judges, which included:
- Olivia Beavers, Politico
- Emily Brooks, The Hill
- Juliegrace Brufke, Washington Examiner
- Josh Dawsey, The Washington Post
- Carl Hulse, The New York Times
- Paul Kane, The Washington Post
- Lachlan Markay, Axios
- Alexandra Vitali, NBC News
The country’s leading brewer launched Brew Across America in 2017 as a way to bring the nation’s political leaders together over a beer to discuss issues facing the country. The initiative highlights the nonpartisan nature of beer and its ability to strengthen our democracy by fostering dialogue and finding common ground.
For more information on the Anheuser-Busch Brew Across America Congressional Brewing Competition, follow @AnheuserBusch on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, and join the conversation using #BrewDemocracy #BAA2022.
About Anheuser-Busch
At Anheuser-Busch, our purpose is to create a future with more cheers. We are always looking to serve up new ways to meet life’s moments, dream big to move our industry forward, and make a meaningful impact in the world. We hope to build a future that everyone can celebrate, and everyone can share. For more than 160 years, Anheuser-Busch has carried on a legacy of brewing great-tasting, high-quality beers that have satisfied beer drinkers for generations. Today, we own and operate more than 120 facilities, including breweries, wholesaler distribution centers, agricultural facilities and packaging plants, and have more than 19,000 colleagues across the United States. We are home to several of America’s most loved beer brands, including Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob ULTRA and Stella Artois, as well as a number of regional brands that provide beer drinkers with a choice of the best-tasting craft beers in the industry. From responsible drinking programs and emergency drinking water donations to industry-leading sustainability efforts, we are guided by our unwavering commitment to supporting the communities we call home. For more information, visit www.anheuser-busch.com or follow Anheuser-Busch on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.