This past September, Sprecher Black Bavarian, a beer first made by Randy Sprecher as a home brew in 1972, was Milwaukee’s lone representative on the new Men’s Journal list, "The 24 Best Beers in America."
Turns out that honor was well deserved.
This past week, Sprecher's signature brew beat out 46 other entries to take home a gold medal in the German-style Schwarzbier category at one of the toughest international beer competitions, the 2014 World Beer Cup.
Black Bavarian has long been one of Sprecher Brewing Company's most highly regarded beers -- both among beer lovers and contest judges. However, this is the first time the brew has won honors at the World Beer Cup.
Sprecher's Shakparo, a West African-style beer, also won a bronze medal in a field of 17 entries in the gluten-free beer category.
In terms of brand new products, the Glendale company started selling an alcoholic root beer, Bootlegger's Bourbon Barrel Hard Root Beer, last year, and they plan to release a hard ginger beer sometime in May.
Will it be award winning? Customers will just have to wait and see.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
