Germany: Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft e.V. (DLG – the German Agricultural Association) has awarded three Gold Medals to the Clausthaler brand in its 2005 quality competition. Clausthaler Classic, Clausthaler Extra Herb and Clausthaler Hefeweizen all received Gold Medals. Clausthaler Classic, the brand available in the U.S. through Binding Brauerei USA (BBUSA) of Norwalk, Conn., is now entitled to use the DLG seal of approval for two years in its advertising and promotion. This is a hat trick of sorts for the company - the three brands were also Gold Medal winners in the 2003 DLG award competition.

Only beers brewed in accordance with the German purity regulations of 1516 are eligible for participation in the international DLG quality competition. Over 500 beers from a total of 157 breweries took part in this year's award program. The tests are conducted at the renowned Brewing Institute of Munich Technical University in Weihenstephan and in Berlin. “This competition, which takes about three months, is generally considered the world's most stringent tests for beers. We are humbled that Clausthaler achieved Gold Medal status, topping some of the best beers on earth,” said Dilip Mehta, Binding’s Chief Operating Officer. The tests include both analyses and sensory tests and cover the purity of the taste, the quality of the bitters, body, freshness and stability of taste during storage. Blind tasting and complex analyses covering head stability, extract, alcohol and original gravity as well as turbidity and shelf life are also part of the program. Clausthaler earned excellent scores, with maximum points for all three beers.

Since its introduction in 1979, Clausthaler has become the world’s most successful non-alcoholic brew and is now available in over 50 countries. It has all the attributes of a premium-quality distinctive German beer – a refreshing crisp brew, rich in flavor and texture without losing any of its smoothness. Many consider Clausthaler’s taste so rich that it is indistinguishable from premium German beer.

BBUSA, a subsidiary of Radeberger Gruppe AG in Frankfurt, was established in June 1999, and now imports and distributes Radeberger Premium Pilsner, Clausthaler Classic and Amber Non-Alcoholic, DAB Original and DAB Dark, and Henninger beers. The company also markets DAB Low Carb, one of the first low carbohydrate light beers imported to the U.S. by any major German brewer. It contains a modest 2.0 grams of carbohydrates per 12-ounce bottle, the lowest carb content of any beer on the market.

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