USA: Pyramid Breweries with record 7th wheat beer medal at Great American Beer Festival

Pyramid Breweries, announced on October 6 that its CrystalWeizen(TM) has been awarded a silver medal for American-style wheat beers at the 2005 Great American Beer Festival(R) (GABF) held September 29-October 1 in Denver. Pyramid Breweries has now earned a total of 7 medals for its wheat beers at GABF since 1983 -- the most for a U.S. brewer. The latest medal comes on the heels of last year's gold medal for their best-selling Pyramid HefeWeizen(TM).

Pyramid rolled out its first wheat beer in 1985 -- Wheaten Ale(TM) -- the first year-round wheat beer in the U.S. since prohibition, earning the company the title of "Wheat Beer Pioneer." Pyramid CrystalWeizen, the latest addition to Pyramid's renowned wheat beer portfolio -- was launched during this past summer as an exclusive Pyramid Alehouse offering. The beer has a light body with a clean, crisp taste making it approachable and palatable to virtually all beer drinkers. Other entries in Pyramid's wheat beer portfolio include HefeWeizen(TM), ApricotWeizen(TM), AmberWeizen(TM) and OktoberWeizen(TM).

"This is a much deserved feat that Pyramid's brewers accomplished with one special ingredient -- passion," says V.P. Brewery Operations, Mark House. House also noted that "Pyramid's expertise developing and brewing American-style wheat beers has resulted in a series of award-winning, best selling wheat beers."

The History Of Pyramid Breweries at the GABF

The GABF is America's largest and most prestigious beer competition. The 2005 Great American Beer Festival Competition winners were selected by an international panel of brewing experts from an impressive field of 2,016 entries received from 298 U.S. breweries.

Pyramid Breweries has enjoyed a long history of success at the GABF. Since its inception in 1983, the Pyramid Breweries family has earned 31 medals, the second most of any U.S. brewer. Of these medals, Pyramid has earned 7 for wheat beers, the most of any U.S. brewer.

About Pyramid Breweries, Inc.

Pyramid Breweries Inc. is a leading brewer of specialty, full-flavored beers and sodas produced under the Pyramid, MacTarnahan's and Thomas Kemper brands. The independent company operates five western breweries with adjoining Ale House restaurants in Seattle, Portland, Berkeley, Walnut Creek and Sacramento. More information about Pyramid Breweries is available at www.pyramidbrew.com.

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