Legion Brewing captures silver at 2018 World Beer Cup
For the third straight World Beer Cup competition, a Charlotte brewery is bringing home some hardware.
Thursday night’s award ceremony in Nashville saw Legion Brewing awarded silver in the Irish Dry Stout category for Sláinte. The awards ceremony was the finale of the Craft Brewers Conference, and the WBC has long been held in prestige among world beer competitions. This year saw more than 2,500 breweries from 66 different countries enter, with 101 total categories.
Legion has released Sláinte, which features coffee and chocolate notes, each March over the last few years leading up to St. Patrick’s Day. The name is taken from the Irish Gaelic expression of “good health,” an essential “cheers” that you would do when toasting.
No other Charlotte brewery placed in this year’s WBC, but the Queen City has recent history with the awards. In 2016, Heist Brewery (where Legion head brewer Alexa Long once was an assistant brewer) won bronze for its English mild ale, Brockwell. And two years prior, NoDa Brewing brought home gold in the American-style IPA category for its ever-popular Hop, Drop ‘n Roll.
Legion was one of just five North Carolina breweries to win a medal at the 2018 World Beer Cup and captured the highest award among all. Others included Asheville’s Hi-Wire (bronze, Wood & Barrel-Aged category for Dry-Hopped Brett Pale Ale and Asheville Brewing (bronze, Brown Porter category for Ninja Porter) and Raleigh’s Oak & Dagger (bronze, Extra Special Bitter category for Raleigh Pride) and Lonerider (bronze, English-Style Brown Ale for Sweet Josie).
Per Legion’s website, Sláinte is currently on tap, so head on over to Plaza Midwood this weekend and enjoy an award-winning beer.
