Inaugural 2020 Craft Beer Marketing Awards Crushie Winners Announced in Virtual Awards Ceremony

After being postponed due to the cancellation of the 2020 Craft Brewers Conference, the inaugural Craft Beer Marketing Awards (CBMA) took place last week on June 16th. The Crushie winners were presented in a LIVE virtual ceremony on both Facebook LIVE and Zoom.

The craft beer industry has many various beer competitions but one thing the industry did not have until this year is an awards competition for the marketing of beer. The artwork from beer labels to brewery logos to tap handles and merchandise continues to amaze us. Now this creative outlet on enticing you to pick up that can or bottle on the shelf or choosing which brewery to visit has recently now been acknowledged.

The CBMAs launched and began accepting entries in the fall of 2019. It has received entries from nearly every state in the country, in addition to submissions from both Mexico and Canada.

The Pacific Northwest had handful of breweries win Crushies. Winners of the Platinum Crushies were Buoy Beer (2), Gigantic Brewing, Rogue Ales, Reuben’s Brews, and 10 Barrel Brewing. Gold Crushies were awarded to Rogue Ales (3), Reuben’s Brews (3). 10 Barrel Brewing (2), Aslan Brewing, Scuttlebutt Brewing, Bale Breaker Brewing, Culmination Brewing, Alaskan Brewing, pFriem Family Brewers, and Cascade Brewing,

““We’re honored to have received so much interest in our first year with entries from both big and small breweries all across North America,” said CBMA co-founder Jackie DiBella in a press release. “There is a clear need for these awards to recognize the critical and increasing contribution that marketing efforts play in the competitive craft beer industry. We were so impressed with what was submitted and look forward to seeing even more amazing work next year.”

The CBMAs had to pivot to a digital format due to the COVID-19 pandemic, thus cancelling the original awards ceremony that had been planned to take place during mid-April at the Craft Brewers Conference in San Antonio, TX.

The CBMAs presenting sponsor, Hillebrand, co-hosted the event along with CBMA Founders Jim McCune and Jackie DiBella. Additionally, KegPros from Hillebrand presented the winners of the “People’s Choice” categories.

Winners of the CBMAs were announced in a range of 32 categories that were evaluated by a panel of over 100 industry-recognized judges. The judges placed these entrants into top positions that were then voted on by the public via social media. A total of 130 awards were presented to brewers, designers, and agencies from all across North America.

Craft Beer Marketing Awards – 2020 CBMAs Crushie Award Winners

Marketing Wild Cards / Most Creative Signage, POS, & Brewery Accessories

PLATINUM CRUSHIES
Upshift Brewing Company
Moto Flights
Steve Behar, Brendan Behar, Ralph  Vasquez, Kendall Kiesewetter
upshiftbrewing.com

GOLD CRUSHIES
Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co.
Flight Board
ivanhoeparkbrewing.com
Jason Kucharski, Six The Agency
sixtheagency.com

North Fork Brewing Co.
“Run the Juice” Signage
northforkbrewingco.com
Ricky Saetta, Estd1981
estd1981.com

Nostalgia Brewing Company
Tinker Toy Flight Board
nostalgiabrewing.com
Shawn White

Best Can Design / 8oz (237ml), 12oz Can

PLATINUM CRUSHIES
Snake River Brewing
Cans That Inspire Exploration
snakeriverbrewing.com
Jesse Ryan, New Thought Digital Agency
newthoughtdigital.com

GOLD CRUSHIES
Aslan Brewing Company
Fish Have Feelings IPA
aslanbrewing.com
Andrew Allen

Scuttlebutt Brewing
Pineapple Hefeweizen
scuttlebuttbrewing.com
Harvey Shepard, Blindtiger Design
blindtigerdesign.com

Second Street Brewery
Agua Fria Pilsner
secondstreetbrewery.com
Mariah Cameron Scee

Bear King Brewing Co
“Legends” 12oz Beer Line
bearkingbrewing.com
Grant Guidry & Citrus Advertising
citrusadv.com

Fort Point Beer Company
Animal Tropical IPA
fortpointbeer.com
Sarah Chorey & Manual Creative
manualcreative.com

Port Orleans Brewing Co.
Dorada Mexican-style Lager
portorleans.com
Chase Guillory

Bale Breaker + Modern Times Beer
Palm Springs Pils
balebreaker.com
moderntimesbeer.com
Harvey Shepard, Blindtiger Design
blindtigerdesign.com

Hand of Fate Brewing Company
Stacking Can Design
handoffatebrewing.beer
EBBING Branding + Design
ebbingbranding.com

Gnarly Barley Brewing
Forest of Feelings IIPA
gnarlybeer.com
Kriston Pauley

Culmination Brewing Co.
Phaedrus IPA
culminationbrewing.com
Marcelo Fontana Moraes

RavenBeer
Best Logo Design / Unique
ravenbeer.com
Stephen Demczuk & Keviun Kallaugher (Kal)
kaltoons.com

Alaskan Brewing Co.
Alaskan White
alaskanbeer.com
Harvey Shepard, Blindtiger Design
blindtigerdesign.com

Best Bottle Design / 12oz, 12.7oz, 16.9oz (500ml) Bottle

PLATINUM CRUSHIES
Funky Buddha Brewery
Mixology Series
funkybuddhabrewery.com
EBBING Branding + Design
ebbingbranding.com

GOLD CRUSHIES
1840 Brewing Company
500ml Bottles
1840brewing.com
Kyle Vetter, RevPop Inc
revpop.com

Third Window Brewing Co.
Belgian Beer Portfolio
thirdwindowbrewing.com
Matt Taylor, Varnish Studio Inc
varnishstudio.com

Kona Brewing Company
Big Wave Golden Ale
konabrewingco.com
Meesha Merat

Almanac Beer Co.
Tropical Galaxy
almanacbeer.com
DKNG Studios, Nathan Goldman, Damian Fagan
dkngstudios.com

Best Packaging Design / Bottle

PLATINUM CRUSHIES
Gigantic Brewing Company
Hellboy Collectors Box
giganticbrewing.com
Ben Love

GOLD CRUSHIES
The Bruery
The Hoarders Society Extremely Limited Special
thebruery.com
Matt Taylor, Varnish Studio Inc
varnishstudio.com

Starr Hill Brewery
Ramble On Juicy IPA
starrhill.com
BJ Swing

Fat Bottom Brewing
Obsidian Tempest Series
fatbottombrewing.com
Matt Cheuvront, Proof Branding
proofbranding.com

Best Tap Handle Design / Unique

PLATINUM CRUSHIES
Buoy Beer Company
Red Buoy Tap Handle
buoybeer.com
Jessyka Dart-Mclean

GOLD CRUSHIES
Rogue Ales & Spirits
Batsquatch Hazy IPA Tap Handle
rogue.com
Bliss Dake

Bear King Brewing Co
3D Bear Tap Handle
bearkingbrewing.com
Grant Guidry & Citrus Advertising
citrusadv.com

10 Barrel Brewing
Pub Beer Wizard Staff
10barrel.com
Hannah Barnett

Maple Branch Craft Brewery
Unique Tap Handle
maplebranchbrew.com
Allyssa Maples

Beer Marketing Wild Cards / Coolest Taproom

PLATINUM CRUSHIES
Buoy Beer Company
Coolest Taproom
buoybeer.com
Jessyka Dart-Mclean

GOLD CRUSHIES
Tröegs Independent Brewing
Coolest Taproom
troegs.com
Andy DeBrunner

Little Brother Brewing
Coolest Taproom
littlebrotherbrew.com
Jeff Collie

Severance Brewing Company
Coolest Taproom
severancebeer.com
Scott Heckel

Best Bottle Design / 22oz, 25.36oz (750ml) Bottle

PLATINUM CRUSHIES
Rogue Ales & Spirits
Combat Wombat 22oz Bottle
rogue.com
Bliss Dake

GOLD CRUSHIES
Reuben’s Brews
BBIS
reubensbrews.com
Aaron Easler, Top Hat
builtbytophat.com

IMBIB Custom Brews
Wild Saison
imbib.beer
Matt Johnson & Connor Goicoechea
@connorgdesign

Lamplighter Brewing Co.
2019 Luminary Society
lamplighterbrewing.com
Emma Arnold

Best Can Design / 32oz Can

PLATINUM CRUSHIES
lot 9 brewing co.
Crowler
lot9brew.com
Rob Lembo, Triad Design Group
triaddesign.com

Denver Beer Co
Chocolate Coconut Graham Cracker Porter
denverbeerco.com
Andrew Klein

GOLD CRUSHIES
Luminous Brewhouse
Dandelion Honey Rye
luminousbrewhouse.com
Cindy Caulfield, Snowdrift Design
facebook.com/snowdriftdesign

Full Fledged Brewing Company
Crowler
fullfledgedbeer.com
Melissa Carlson, 818 – a tiny design empire

Best Logo Design / Unique

PLATINUM CRUSHIES
LUKI Brewery
Logo
lukibrew.com
Kim Jones, 88 Design Group
88designgroup.com

GOLD CRUSHIES
Blossom Barn Cidery
Logo
blossombarncidery.com
Raychel Kolen, MUSE Marketing + Design
musemarketingdesign.com

Oozlefinch Craft Brewery
Oozlefinch Beers & Blending Logo
oozlefinchbeers.com
Russel Tinsley

Bear King Brewing Co
Logo
bearkingbrewing.com
Grant Guidry & Greg Thomas, Alex Roka
helmsworkshop.com

Best Merchandise Design / Most Creative Line

PLATINUM CRUSHIES
Grandstand
Merch Line Design & Display
egrandstand.com
Josh Christie, 88 Design Group
88designgroup.com

GOLD CRUSHIES
Root Down Brewing
Roogi Sweater
rootdownbrewing.com
Todd Farrell

Rogue Ales & Spirits
Dreamland American Lager Merch
rogue.com
Bliss Dake

10 Barrel Brewing
Pray for Snow 2019
10barrel.com
Hannah Barnett

Best Original Video / Humor

PLATINUM CRUSHIES
Boulevard Brewing Co.
“Unfiltration Manager”
boulevard.com
Natalie Gershon

GOLD CRUSHIES
pFriem Family Brewers
“As Nature Would Have It”
pfriembeer.com
Michelle Humphrey & Sockeye
sockeye.com

Falls City Brewing Co.
“CanMan: The Journey Home”
fallscitybeer.com
Brian U’Sellis & Clovehitch Productions
clovehitchproductions.com

Against The Grain
“The Complete History of A Beer”
atgbrewery.com
Katie Molck, Sam Cruz & Clovehitch Productions
clovehitchproductions.com

Hillebrand
“The Keg Pros”
Hillebrandbeer.com
Stefan Beaumont, Red Vault Productions
redvaultproductions.com

Best Packaging Design / Can

PLATINUM CRUSHIES
Lupulin Brewing Company
Coffee Shop Assault Vehicle
lupulinbrewing.com
Marcus Paulsen

Wiley Roots Brewing Company
Imperial Somethin’ Got Played In the Mail-Six Pack Board Game
wileyrootsbrewing.com
Scott Davidson

GOLD CRUSHIES
Second Street Brewery
2018 Skookum Limited Edition Package
secondstreetbrewery.com
Mariah Cameron Scee

Sun King Brewery
10-4 Good Buddy Collaboration 4-Pack
sunkingbrewing.com
Mike Atwood & William Denton Ray
whimsicalfunk.com

Denver Beer Co
#DrinkPink Princess Yum Yum Limited 6-Pack
denverbeerco.com
Andrew Klein

Best Tap Handle Design / Innovative

PLATINUM CRUSHIES
Founders Brewing Co.
Barrel-Aged Tap Handles with Interchangeable Magnetic Plates
foundersbrewing.com
Sandy Anaokar

GOLD CRUSHIES
Twin Elephant Brewing Company
Innovative Tap Handle Design
twinelephant.com
Tim Besecker

Best Website Design / Best Design

PLATINUM CRUSHIES
Bridger Brewing Website
bridgerbrewing.com
Carie Birkmeier, Armstrong Marketing Solutions
armstrongmarketingsolutions.com

Freetail Brewing
freetailbrewing.com
Dennis Ayotte & Anderson Marketing Group
andadv.com

GOLD CRUSHIES
Reuben’s Brews
reubensbrews.com
Aaron Easler, Top Hat
builtbytophat.com

Dust Bowl Brewing Company
dustbowlbrewing.com
Randi Fernandes
Marcia Herrmann Design Group
mhdgroup.com

Beer Marketing Wild Cards / Best Use of Retro Branding

PLATINUM CRUSHIES       
Schlafly Beer
Schlafly Beer’s Lunar Lager Sampler 12 pack
schlafly.com
Sarah Frost & Tom Moore

GOLD CRUSHIES
Root Down Brewing
80’s AESTHETICS
rootdownbrewing.com
Todd Farrell

Indeed Brewing Company
Killer Queen Co-Brand
indeedbrewing.com
Kayte Eager

Fernson Brewing Co
Plains Beer Pilsner
fernson.com
Mitch Torbert

Terre Haute Brewing Company
Citragenesis Hoppy Wheat Ale
terrehautebrewingcompany.com
Jason Foust & EGC Group

Best Logo Design / Use of Icon or Mascot

PLATINUM CRUSHIES
Bavarian Gator Brewing
Best Mascot Logo (Alligator)
bavariangator.de
EBBING Branding + Design
ebbingbranding.com

GOLD CRUSHIES
Loma Brewing
Best Mascot Logo (Cat)
lomabrew.com
Harvey Shepard, Blindtiger Design
blindtigerdesign.com

Grist Brewing Company
Best Mascot Logo (Bee)
gristbrewingcompany.com
Kaleb Hilton

Rocket Frog Brewing
Best Mascot Logo (Frog)
rocketfrogbeer.com
Harvey Shepard, Blindtiger Design
blindtigerdesign.com

Best Merchandise Design / Innovative
PLATINUM CRUSHIES
Boulevard Brewing Co.
Space Camper x Dark Phoenix with 20th Century Fox
boulevard.com
Natalie Gershon

Best Original Video / Storytelling
PLATINUM CRUSHIES
Founders Brewing Co.
“Chase Your What If”
foundersbrewing.com
Sandy Anaokar

GOLD CRUSHIES
First Sip Brew Box
“Fearless”
firstsipbrewbox.com
Dennis Guy

Champion Brewing Company
“Our Story”
championbrewingcompany.com
Hunter Smith & Pando Creative
pandocreativeco.com

DWS Printing
“Face to Face, Coast to Coast”
Episode 10: Ocean Lab Brewing & Campofresco
dwsprinting.com
Andy Staib & Big in Japan
biginjapan.nyc

Best Tap Handle Design / Sustainable

PLATINUM CRUSHIES
Galveston Island Brewing
Sustainable Tap Handle
galvestonislandbrewing.com
Charday VanOrstrand

Seismic Brewing Co.
Sustainable Tap Handle
seismicbrewingco.com
Ben Weston, Hoptown Handles
hoptownhandles.com

GOLD CRUSHIES
Cascade Brewing
Sustainable Tap Handle
cascadebrewing.com
Ben Weston, Hoptown Handles
hoptownhandles.com

Best Use of Social Media / Cause-related

PLATINUM CRUSHIES
Atlanta Brewing Co
Marine Research & Conservation
atlantabrewing.com
Cameron Davis & Georgia Aquarium
georgiaaquarium.org

GOLD CRUSHIES
Motorworks Brewing
Adoptable Dog
motorworksbrewing.com
Barry Elwonger   & Shelter Manatee & Animal Network
sheltermanatee.com
animalnetworkinc.com

Foothills Brewing
Craft Happiness Project
foothillsbrewing.com
Ray Goodrich

Website Design / Best Showcase of Beers

PLATINUM CRUSHIES
Reuben’s Brews
Best Showcase of Beers
reubensbrews.com
Aaron Easler, Top Hat
builtbytophat.com

GOLD CRUSHIES
Fat Bottom Brewing
Best Showcase of Beers
fatbottombrewing.com
Matt Cheuvront, Proof Branding
proofbranding.com

Beer Marketing Wild Cards / Best Brewery Rebrand

PLATINUM CRUSHIES
Roak Brewing Co.
Punk-Rock Uniqueness Rebrand
roakbrewing.com
EBBING Branding + Design
ebbingbranding.com

GOLD CRUSHIES
Bolero Snort Brewery
Bovine Inspired Rebrand
bolerosnort.com
Robert Olson Jr

Pittsburgh Brewing Company
IC Light Rebrand
pittsburghbrewing.com
Aaron Easler, Top Hat
builtbytophat.com

Dust Bowl Brewing Company
Brand Refresh
dustbowlbrewing.com
Randi Fernandes
Harvey Shepard, Blindtiger Design
blindtigerdesign.com

Green Flash Brewing
Rebrand
greenflashbrew.com
EBBING Branding + Design
ebbingbranding.com
& Mighty Few
mightyfew.com

Best Logo Design / Typography

PLATINUM CRUSHIES
Atlanta Brewing Co
Brewery Logo
atlantabrewing.com
Cameron Davis   & CODO Design
cododesign.com

GOLD CRUSHIES
lot 9 brewing co.
Brewery Logo
lot9brew.com
Rob Lembo, Triad Design Group
triaddesign.com

Pittsburgh Brewing Company
IC Light Logo
pittsburghbrewing.com
Aaron Easler, Top Hat
builtbytophat.com

Bear King Brewing Co
Brewery Logo
bearkingbrewing.com
Grant Guidry & Citrus Advertising
citrusadv.com

Best Merchandise Design / Sustainable

PLATINUM CRUSHIES
10 Barrel Brewing
10barrel.com
Artist Series Sustainable Merchandise
Hannah Barnett

Best Original Video / Cause-related

PLATINUM CRUSHIES
Tröegs Independent Brewing
Trail Day Dry-Hopped Pale Ale
troegs.com
Andy DeBrunner

GOLD CRUSHIES
Denver Beer Co
CO2 Recapture Program
denverbeerco.com
Andrew Klein

Dry County Brewing Partners
Lyft Partnership
drycountybrewco.com
Trey Sinclair

Beer Talk Radio
Queen of Beers
beertalkradio.net
Jenny Eon

Best Use of Social Media / Beer Influencer of the Year!

PLATINUM CRUSHIES
Sam Webster
Beer Influencer
@beerasart

GOLD CRUSHIES
Jennifer Alexander, The Beerded Lady
Beer Influencer & Content Creator
@jenniferthebeerdedlady
thebeerdedladyblog.com

LIBeerGuide
Publisher & Beer Influencer
Spreading the Gospel of Great Beer on Long Island
libeerguide.com
Bernie Kilkelly

The Viking Alchemist Meadery
Mead Influencer
@vikingalchemist
vikingalchemist.com
Eric Berrios

Website Design / Best Use of Video & Photography

PLATINUM CRUSHIES
Calidad Beer
calidadbeer.com
Becky Coulter & Herman Scheer
Herman Scheer

GOLD CRUSHIES
Pittsburgh Brewing Company
Iron City Beer
pittsburghbrewing.com
Aaron Easler, Top Hat
builtbytophat.com

Best Can Design / 16oz, 19.2oz Can

PLATINUM CRUSHIES
Against The Grain
A Beer
atgbrewery.com
Sam Cruz, Katie Molck, Robby Davis

GOLD CRUSHIES
Almanac Beer Co.
Groovetastic Brut IPA
almanacbeer.com
DKNG Studios, Nathan Goldman, Damian Fagan
dkngstudios.com

Rogue Ales & Spirits
Combat Wombat
rogue.com
Bliss Dake

HopFly Brewing
The Jalapeno
hopflybrewing.com
Aaron Easler, Top Hat
builtbytophat.com

Night Shift Brewing & Mast Landing Brewing
The Price is Wrong, Stout with Pinot Noir Grapes
Charlie Robinson, Cutlip
cutlipcreative.com

Pondaseta Brewing Co.
Pyrite Experimental NEIPA
pondaseta.com
Kaleb West & David Tran, Jonathan Harrison, Async7
async7.com

Metazoa Brewing Co.
Metazoa Hoppopotamus IPA collaboration with Pivot Marketing
metazoabrewing.com
Lauren Frederick, Pivot Marketing
pivotmarketing.com

Metazoa Brewing Co.
Metazoa Can Series
metazoabrewing.com
Melissa Rowe, Pivot Marketing
pivotmarketing.com

North Fork Brewing Co
Butternut the Hutt
Nofobrewco.com
Peter Barraud

Reuben’s Brews
Patio Party
reubensbrews.com
Aaron Easler, Top Hat
builtbytophat.com

Barrel House & Night Shift Brewing
Captain Brunch, Blonde Ale with Night Shift Coffee, Cinnamon, & Maple Syrup
Charlie Robinson, Cutlip
cutlipcreative.com

Big Sexy Brewing
Call of Lupulhu DIPA
bigsexybrewing.com
James Thompson & Emily Martin
emilywinfieldmartin.com
Britnee Sapp Craft Graphics
facebook.com/britnee.sapp.designs

PEOPLE’S CHOICE

Best 16oz Can Can Design
ONYX CRUSHIES
New Realm Brewing Co.
Tyrannosaurus Flex Hazy DIPA
newrealmbrewing.com
Erik Leach

Best Cause-related Original Video
ONYX CRUSHIES
Sound to Summit Brewing & Haywire Brewing & SnoTown Brewery
sound2summit.com
facebook.com/haywirebrewingco
facebook.com/SnoTownBrewery
Julianne Diddle

Zipline Brewing Co.
“Take It To The Bin”
ziplinebrewing.com
Craig Reier

Best Can Packaging Design
ONYX CRUSHIES
Second Street Brewery
2018 Skookum Limited Edition Package
secondstreetbrewery.com
Mariah Cameron Scee

Most #FOMO Instagram Account
ONYX CRUSHIES
DuClaw Brewing Company
@duclawbrewingco
duclaw.com
Madeline Caldwell, Rachel Bradley

Please email info@craftbeermarketingawards.com to request changes to your winners display below (this does not affect your trophy which is personalized by you in the shop. Winner’s will receive an email with trophy shop access shortly).

The CBMA’s will also be launching a weekly Podcast starting in July. For more information about next years’ CBMA’s, please visit the CBMA website.