Submitted photo Sleepy Eye Brewing Co. brewer Arron Luebbert holds a glass and bottle of Five-Barley Wine that recently placed third in the Minnesota Brewers Cup Strong Beer category. He said the beer was brewed to celebrate the brewery’s five year anniversary.

Brown County-made beer made a strong showing at the Minnesota Brewers Cup held in the Twin Cities earlier this month with Sleepy Eye Brewing and Schell’s Brewery receiving awards.

Five Barley Wine of Sleepy Eye Brewing placed third in the strong beer category in blind taste-test competition that included 438 entries from 93 breweries and brewpubs in Minnesota.

“Sleepy Eye Brewing is proud of this win. It’s an honor to share the stage and be recognized along with the many other great breweries in the state of Minnesota,” said Sleepy Eye Brewing brewer Arron Luebbert said.

“We brewed Five Barley Wine to celebrate our five incredible years with all of you. It’s got a nice, sweet malt character with several kinds of malted barley. Cheers to strong beer, small towns and big dreams,” he said.

Described as a strong ale-style beer brewed to 10% ABV (alcohol by volume) with a rich, malty flavor profile with notes of caramel and coffee, Five Barley Wine will be served in the brewery tap room on a limited basis.

Sleepy Eye Brewery finished third in the 2022 Minnesota Brewers Cup fruit beer category and third in the 2021 amber lager category.

Luebbert said the Brewers Cup has impressed him lately.

“The competition has really evolved over the years. The judges really give us great feedback,” he said.

Schell’s Firebrick Vienna Lager won the 2025 Minnesota Brewer’s Cup amber lager category. Schell’s Notorius Pils placed third in the German and New Zealand pils and export lagers category. Schell’s Bock took third in the dark lager category.

Schell’s Brewery Digital Marketing Specialist Johnny Germsheid talked about the awards.

“It’s a testament to every hand that touches the process, from grain to glass. It’s a team win for Schell’s, our supporters and fans. The big win for Firebrick shows that classic styles, if done right, never go out of style. This is our 165th year of brewing. It’s moments like this that we keep pushing the craft forward to honor this tradition,” said Germsheid.

He described Notorious Pils, as “a new beer release has a little bit citrus in the hops and is a really good drinking summer beer.”

“I think Bock would have finished first if the blind taste-testers poked it first like we do at Bockfest. We love our Bock,” said Germsheid.

Brau Brothers Brewing Co. of Marshall placed second in the American amber, brown and pale ales category with its Moo Joos Oatmeal Stout.

For Brewers Cup results, visit https://www.mncraftbrew.org/mn-brewers-cup/