The beer garden at Crooked Can Brewing Co. in Winter Garden. (Photo by Stephen Kubiak, Visit Florida)
Beer is bipartisan, according to U.S. Reps. Aaron Bean, a Republican, and Jared Moskowitz, a Democrat.
The two came together to craft “Florida Man,” a kolsch they brewed at the Anheuser-Busch Jacksonville Brewery in competing for the company’s 2024 Brew Democracy Cup in the seventh annual Brew Across America Congressional Brewing competition.
The competition is held to “foster bipartisan bipartisan cooperation, reinforce the beer industry’s positive economic impact, and help create a future with more cheers,” according to Anheuser-Busch.
Aaron Bean via U.S. House
U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz via U.S. House
Moskowitz, who represents parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, and Bean, who represents Nassau, Clay, and Duval counties, were two of 12 members of Congress who participated in the contest, which included brewery tours and a final judging event at Nationals Park in Washington.
Contestants were tasked with brewing a beer with local flavors.
The Florida men did not win the contest.
Coastal Shine, a kolsch brewed by Reps. David Rouzer, a Republican from North Carolina, and Rick Larsen, a Democrat from Washington, won the title.
“The beer industry supports 2.4 million jobs and contributes more than $400 billion to the U.S economy and Anheuser-Busch is proud to bring lawmakers together for a friendly bipartisan competition over beer,” said Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth in a news release.
The alcohol industry giant donated a total of $75,000 to six charities assisting farmers as part of the contest.
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