New York City beer columnist and beer traveler wins Wynkoop Brewing Company’s 17th annual search for America’s greatest beer lover      

Warren Monteiro, a New York City freelance writer, beer traveler, homebrewer and beer columnist, was chosen as the 2013 Beerdrinker of the Year yesterday at Wynkoop Brewing Company. Monteiro’s in-depth beer expertise, extensive travels in pursuit of beer, and his efforts to promote great beer to others helped him win the 2013 title.
     

    
"This year was very difficult to judge,”  said Cody Christman, the 2009 Beerdrinker of the Year and a judge at Saturday’s finals. “All three finalists were superb and deserved to be on the national beer stage. But Warren won the competition with his blend of wit, knowledge, and a deep passion for all things related to beer.”

Monteiro faced tough challengers in Kevin Cox (a Muncie, Indiana beer hunter, homebrewer and beer advocate) and Jen Schwertman (a New York City bartender and beer evangelist who got her start in beer in 1992 at Wynkoop Brewing Company.)

Monteiro has sampled beers throughout the United States, Europe, Central American, India, Sri Lanka and other nations. In 2012 he visited breweries and beer festivals in England, Belgium, the Netherlands and the US. He samples an average of 350 beers each year.

  
 
For seven years, Monteiro has written his “Beer Sensei” column for the popular Ale Street News. His home beer bar is the Blind Tiger Ale House in New York City.

In his 2013 Beerdrinker of the Year resume, he detailed his philosophy of beer drinking: “It’s not a habit, it’s a lifestyle. This is why I constantly travel – to get a taste of a new brew or one I’ve been missing, and to find a way to share it whenever possible. I consider creative beer drinking to be an essential part of the tapestry of art and fellowship contributing to a full life.”

In his opening statement Saturday, Monteiro, a three-time finalist for the title, recounted how a friend had described him as “the Susan Lucci of beer” for his ability to make the Beerdrinker of the Year finals but not win the coveted title.

In his “beer whispering” segment of the finals, Monteiro carried out a steamy discussion with a bottle of Cantillon lambic beer. His comments (“I intend to have my way with you…”) drew great laughs from judges and the audience.

Monteiro also delivered keen assessments of the beers the finalists judged in blind fashion, and he offered solid answers to the judges’ questions.

The other judges for the finals were 9 News anchor Kyle Clark, Women Enjoying Beer founder Ginger Johnson, 2012 winner J. Wilson, and Wynkoop head brewer Andy Brown.

For his “bribing of the judges” segment, Monteiro tapped and served a firkin of a special homebrew he made based on Russian River Brewing’s popular Pliny the Elder.

For winning the 2013 title, Monteiro wins free beer for life at the Wynkoop Brewing Company, a $250 bar tab at the Blind Tiger, and clothing proclaiming him the 2013 Beerdrinker of the Year.

His name will be engraved on Wynkoop’s famed Beerdrinker of the Year trophy. For next year’s Beerdrinker of the Year contest, he’ll brew batch of beer of his own design at Wynkoop with head brewer Andy Brown.

Wynkoop Brewing covers all travel costs to Denver for the Beerdrinker finalists. The finalists stay at Denver’s famed Brown Palace Hotel & Spa during the finals weekend.

For interviews with Monteiro, a copy of his beer resume and more information, contact Marty Jones at 303-860-7448 (office), 720-289-9345 (cell) or mailto:marty@wynkoop.com marty@wynkoop.com .

For more details on the Beerdrinker of the Year search and Wynkoop Brewing Company visit www.wynkoop.com.
2012 Beerdrinker of the Year
J. Wilson
Prescott, Iowa

2011 Beerdrinker of the Year
Phil Farrell
Cumming, Georgia

2010 Beerdrinker of the Year
Bill Howell
Sterling, Alaska

2009 Beerdrinker of the Year
Cody Christman
Golden, Colorado

2008 Beerdrinker of the Year
Matt Venzke
Yorktown, Virginia

2007 Beerdrinker of the Year
Diane Catanzaro

2006 Beerdrinker of the Year
Tom Schmidlin
Seattle, Washington
Home Brewpub: Big Time Brewery & Alehouse in Seattle, Washington

2005 Beerdrinker of the Year
Tom Ciccateri
Alexandria, Virginia
Home brewpub: Founders Restaurant & Brewing Company in Alexandria, Virginia.

2004 Beerdrinker of the Year
John Marioni
Seattle, Washington
Home Brewpub: McMenamins in Mill Creek, Washingtson.

2003 Beerdrinker of the Year
Ray McCoy
Clemmons, North Carolina
Home Brewpub: Liberty Steakhouse & Brewery, High Point, NC

2002 Beerdrinker of the Year
Gary Steinel
White Plains, New York
Home Brewpub: Southampton Publick House, Southampton, NY

2001 Beerdrinker of the Year
Cornelia Corey
Clemmons, North Carolina
Home Brewpub: Liberty Steakhouse & Brewery, High Point, NC

2000 Beerdrinker of the Year
Steve Pawlowski
Roselle Park, New Jersey
Home Brewpub: J.J. Bitting Brewing Company, Woodbridge, NJ

1999 Beerdrinker of the Year
James Robertson
Pomona, California
Home Brewpub: Westwood Brewing Company, Westwood, CA

1998 Beerdrinker of the Year
Bobby Bush, Jr.
Hickory, North Carolina
Home Brewpub: Olde Hickory Brewery, Hickory, NC

1997 Beerdrinker of the Year
Jack McDougall
Cranford, NJ
Home Brewpub: J.J. Bitting Brewing Company, Woodbridge, NJ