Alright folks, with your help we’ve narrowed our search for the Best Beards of Craft Beer down to 20 of the finest and fuzziest faces. Now it’s up to you to pick the crème de la crème by voting for your favorite below. Be sure to read each brewer’s final plea as to why their beard is the best.
The winner and their brewery will be profiled by Julia Herz (@HerzMuses) on CraftBeer.com! Vote for your favorite beard by Sunday, March 17 at 12 a.m. MDT.
How was the top 20 chosen?
Using the Brewers Association (BA) Forum, CraftBeer.com asked BA-member brewers to submit a picture of their “righteous stache, goatee, dali, old dutch, soul patch or just a simple beard.” A Facebook photo album was created with all 73 entries, and fans were given a week to “like” their favorites. Now we’re asking you to vote for the Best Beard of Craft Beer.
Greg BlanchardSmuttynose Brewing Company
Portsmouth, NH“I want to win because it would be a great reward if my dedication to growing my nische (a long goatee) leads to an opportunity to showcase Smuttynose.”
Mike BrennerBrenner Brewing Company
Milwaukee, WI“I want to win so that once again my hometown, Milwaukee, WI can be the beer and beard capital of the world!”
Aaron CalihanDeschutes Brewery
Bend, OR“I want to win because it is not the size of one’s beard that counts, but the quality of the beer in your ‘stache!”
Bob CannonSamuel Adams
Boston, MA
You may not need a beard to brew great beer… but it doesn’t hurt.
John HunterKarl Strauss Brewing Company
San Diego, CA“I want to win because everyone should know how important facial hair is to the brewing process. It would be an honor to represent my fellow bearded brewers.”
Zach KellyKeegan Ales
Kingston, NY“I deserve to win because even though some girls might not like beards, women love beards.”
Pat LangLeft Hand Brewing Company
Longmont, CO“I want to win as my passion for my beard is a strong as my passion for Left Hand beer.”
Lachlan McLeanDry Dock Brewing
Aurora, CO“I want my beard to win a competition so that it can keep up with all of our award-winning beers!”
Jonathan MervineRoc Brewing Co.
Rochester, NY“Upon winning this coveted prize, I will include tins of wax in health insurance coverage, bringing resolution to ‘stache split ends worldwide- a healthy beard is not to be feared.”
Sam RigginsNebraska Brewing Company
Papillion, NE“My beard told me I had to win this contest or it would leave me forever.”
Josh RoachAvery Brewing Company
Boulder, CO“I would like to win to help raise awareness for Hypertrichosis.”
Travis SmithSociete Brewing Co.
San Diego, CA“Well…I don’t care about winning the contest, I just love my beard.”
Les StewartTrophy Brewing Co.
Raleigh, NC“Winning would prove what the craft beer faithful have known all along; Great beer is the best fuel for epic beardage.”
ChiliStone Brewing Co.
Escondido, CA“My beard has two dread locks in it and I haven’t trimmed it in 28 years.”
Aaron StrykerCorner Brewery
Ypsilanti, MI“I would like to win because I did not choose this beard, it chose me.”
Nick SwinglerDenver Beer Co.
Denver, CO“I have been diligently crafting Sylvester to be an ambassador to the non-mustached masses who are not aware of how a handlebar mustache only enhances the joy of craft beer drinking because of the added mid-lip nucleation points, two aroma directing curls and the ability to savor the flavor long after the finish.”
Tanna PetersAlaskan Brewing Co.
Juneau, AK“I want to win to give hope to the scraggly, the patchy, the peach-fuzzed, the thin and under-bearded and the naturally beardless masses of the brewing industry!”
Scott WitsoeWit’s End Brewing Company
Denver, CO“My beard has been deeply insecure since the gray hair started appearing—winning this contest will most certainly restore his self-esteem.”
Best Beards of Craft Beer Finals was last modified: September 6th, 2013 by Meghan Storey
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