MICHIGAN BREWING COMPANY’S

“CELIS WHITE” WINS GOLD MEDAL
AT THE GREAT AMERICAN BEER FESTIVAL

Webberville, MI – Oct. 3, 2003 - The Michigan Brewing Company (MBC) brought back the Gold from the 2003 Great American Beer Festival, the nation’s largest beer competition recognizing the most outstanding beers produced in the United States today.

The Professional Judge Panel awarded the Gold Medal in the Belgian-Style White (or wit) category to MBC’s Celis White calling it “a world-class beer that accurately exemplifies the specified style, displaying the proper balance of taste, aroma and appearance.”

The Great American Beer Festival is the American brewing industry's top public tasting and competition. Winners in 58 beer-style categories were announced September 27 at the 22nd Annual Great American Beer Festival Awards Ceremony held at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado. The awards are among the most coveted in the industry.

Celis White, a beer brewed with coriander and orange peel for a light and refreshing taste, had taken many medals in past years, under the direction of Pierre Celis, the founder of the Celis brand, setting the standard of measurement for Belgian-Style Wit beers in the United States.

After dropping out of the brewing scene for several years, Celis White has been revived by Michigan Brewing Company with the blessing of its founder and his daughter, Christine Celis. Assisting the transition, Mr. Celis brought over his brew engineer, Jean Luc Suys, from Belgium to guide MBC in the re-birth of this world recognized beer.

Michigan Brewing Company, a microbrewery founded in 1995, is located in Webberville, Michigan and has won several local and regional awards for its own brands of beer styles. “Bringing back the Celis White has been a privilege and to have it take a Gold Medal once again at the GABF, is truly an honor. Our entire team put a lot of hard work into this program and the medal is a great validation of our efforts. We are committed to keeping this beer at its Gold standard for everyone to enjoy,” says MBC’s owner Bobby Mason.

The 2003 Great American Beer Festival Competition winners were selected by an international panel of brewing experts from an impressive field of 2,000 entries received from 400 U.S. breweries. More than 1,400 breweries were invited to compete. “The Great American Beer Festival is the premier judging event for the American craft beer industry,” says Nancy Johnson, Festival Director. “Being chosen a winner, no matter if gold, silver or bronze, is truly an accomplishment.”

For more Great American Beer Festival Competition information and the 2003 winners’ list, visit www.beertown.org. For more information on Michigan Brewing Company visit www.michiganbrewing.com

The Great American Beer Festival has been held every year since 1982 and is presented by the Association of Brewers not-for-profit educational, trade association for small and craft brewers. Its mission is to make quality beer and brewing knowledge accessible to all. Visit the website: www.beertown.org to learn more. The Association also hosts the bi-annual World Beer Cup and is based in Boulder, Colo., U.S.A.

GABF brewers' diaries  Tomme Arthur
Denver - Sept. 26
“Started with a light breakfast and off to judge Belgian Style Wit biers. This was a great morning. There are a lot of these beers done poorly but when they are done well they are a treat. The winning beers were all fantastic but in the end, the new Celis White brewed at Michigan Brewing Co. won out. Brooklyn Wit was the Silver medal beer. It sure is nice to see the Celis White back on top. For so long, it was the benchmark for American Wit.”