Press Release: Fort Myers Brewing Company has earned a gold medal at the 2023 U.S. Open Beer Championship, a national brewing competition that judges more beer styles than any other competition in the world.
The brewery was awarded gold in the Chocolate/Cocoa Beer category for its popular Chocolate Stout, an imperial stout that balances sweet, rich chocolate with notes of roasted barley and espresso.
“We are honored that our Chocolate Stout received a gold medal in such a prestigious nationwide competition,” said Rob Whyte, who co-founded Fort Myers Brewing in 2013 with his wife, Jen. “We enjoy creating unique and flavorful craft brews, and it means a lot to us to see others enjoy our specialty beers as much as we do.”
The U.S. Open Beer Championship is held annually and is open to both professional breweries and award-winning home brewers. This year, breweries from Maui to Miami sent more than 9,000 beers (3,107 entries) representing over 160 different styles.
Awards were given in 147 beer-style categories during the award ceremony at the U.S. Open Event Center in Oxford, Ohio. This is the second time Fort Myers Brewing has medaled at the U.S. Open Beer Championship, previously earning a gold medal for its Chocolate Stout at the 2018 competition.
About Fort Myers Brewing Company
Established in 2013, Fort Myers Brewing Company was the first microbrewery to open in Lee County and continues to lead Southwest Florida’s surging craft beer movement. Founded by Rob and Jen Whyte, the brewery carries a signature line of flagship beers in addition to seasonal brews and small-batch specialties. Its ales, pilsners, stouts, IPAs and hard seltzers are winners of multiple prestigious awards, including a gold at the 2022 World Beer Cup, golds at the Best Florida Beer Competition and Great American Beer Festival, and Grand National Champion at the 2021 and 2022 U.S. Open Hard Seltzer Championships. Fort Myers Brewing was named “Best Large Brewery in Florida” in 2016 and received the Business Resiliency and Innovation of the Year Award at the Lee County Economic Development Office, Horizon Council and Horizon Foundation’s 2021 Industry Appreciation Awards. Its beers are poured at 1,600 locations, including bars, restaurants and retail outlets, including grocery, package and convenience stores.