Piney River Brewing Company has once again earned top honors at the prestigious U.S. Open Beer Championship. The brewery’s Float Trip® Lager took home the gold medal for the second consecutive year in the “American-style Wheat Beer” category, solidifying its reputation as a standout craft brew.
This year’s competition featured over 8,000 entries across 170 beer styles, judged by an international panel from the U.S., Canada, and England. Float Trip’s 2025 gold marks the beer’s fifth medal at the U.S. Open and highlights the success of a recent change from ale to lager yeast, which co-founder Brian Durham says gives the beer a smoother finish.
“Float Trip was already easy to drink, but the lager yeast has taken it to another level,” Durham said. “It’s a true team effort, and we’re proud to be recognized for making great beer in rural Missouri.”
To celebrate the win, Piney River Brewing is hosting a “We Win, You Win” event this weekend at the BARn, the brewery’s taproom. Guests can enjoy discounts on Float Trip drafts and six-packs, along with live music by old-time string band One More Dollar at 5 p.m. Saturday. The event is free and open to families and pets.
Founded in 2010 on the Durham family’s 160-acre farm in Texas County, Piney River Brewing has grown from a small operation into an award-winning regional brewery, now distributing across Missouri and Arkansas. With this year’s win, the brewery has earned 25 U.S. Open Beer Championship medals in a decade.
More information is available at www.pineyriverbrewing.com.
