Peer Recognition for a Dedication to Craft
“It means so much to me to receive any honor, but it’s even more impactful to be recognized by my industry peers,” Ashleigh Carter said.
The co-founder and head brewer of Denver’s Bierstadt Lagerhaus has been named Brewer of the Year in Food & Wine magazine’s 2026 Drinks Visionary program, westword.com reported. Now in its second year, the magazine’s program recognizes influential and forward-thinking voices in the beverage industry, with selections made by the publication based on nominations from industry leaders.
Gold Medal Success in Denver
The national recognition arrives directly on the heels of a gold medal win for Bierstadt Lagerhaus at the Great American Beer Festival. The brewery secured the top prize for its Japanese rice lager, Infinite Hotel, crafted in collaboration with Wayfinder Beer.
“Since our opening, we’ve made it a point to brew traditionally-inspired beers and leave the pressure of following trends behind, honoring both the timeless styles and still exploring what lager means to us,” Carter told westword.com.
The Philosophy Behind the Seven-Minute Pour
Food & Wine highlighted Bierstadt’s flagship Slow Pour Pils, a lager that famously requires a seven-minute pour. While the American craft brewing industry remains heavily focused on hop-forward ales with fickle consumer followings, brewers routinely gravitate toward lagers during their own off-hours. When those brewers look to learn, they visit Bierstadt, where Carter has earned a reputation as a gracious mentor.
I don’t like the idea of not being able to dial something in. I like doing the same thing over and over and over again, and lager lends itself to that.”
A Decade on Blake Street
The profile described the cavernous Blake Street facility, located down the road from Coors Field, as a central hub of the craft beer community. The RiNo brewery recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, operating out of a space anchored by a 35-barrel all-copper German brewhouse built in 1932 and shipped directly from Germany.
Over the past decade, Carter has expanded her industry footprint beyond the brew deck, traveling internationally to speak at events, judge competitions, and consult on brewing operations.
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