The only in-house brewery in Vandergrift is brewing up global accolades.

Allusion Brewing Co. recently won Best Tap Handle, Best Charitable Partnership and Best RTD (ready-to-drink) Cocktail at the Craft Beer Marketing Awards.

Co-owner and head brewmaster John Bieranoski attended the weeklong Craft Beer Conference in Nashville in May.

“We love that the CBMA recognizes all of the other aspects of a brewery besides just brewing the beer,” said Allusion co-owner Robert Buchanan. “We’re so proud of our team that has come up with the collaborations and ideas that led to our brewery awards.”

Allusion Brewing garnered Best Tap Handle for a second consecutive year, and its winning nonbeer beverage was Winter Wassail, made with liquor, brandy, apples and other spices.

The Best Tap Handle win went to the Halloween-themed Waning Moon Blackberry Cobbler Sour Ale.

The CBMAs were created in 2020 and expanded internationally in 2021 to recognize and award the best marketing in the brewing industry around the globe.

Courtesy of Allusion Brewing Co. Allusion Brewing Co. co-owners John Bieranoski (left) and Robert Buchanan celebrate onstage with their 2022 “Crushie” awards for craft beer marketing at the Craft Beer Marketing Awards Conference and BrewExpo America in Minneapolis. Allusion Brewing won three global 2023 “Crushies” this year at the same conference held in Nashville.  

There are more than 9,700 craft breweries in the U.S., according to the 2022 Annual Craft Brewing Industry Production Report.

Winners receive “Crushies,” awards shaped to resemble a tattooed arm crushing a beer and a play on the term “crushing it” in the beer industry.

Allusion Brewery’s charitable Special Brew was created for Rock for Life Concert Series, a nonprofit providing financial support to families residing in Western Pennsylvania.

Courtesy of Allusion Brewing Co. Allusion Brewing Co. is the only in-house beer brewery in Vandergrift. Featured here is a Halloween-themed Mexican lager with lime zest.  

“We let them (Rock for Life) choose the type of beer and design the label. They chose a Mexican lager with lime zest, and they usually raise from $7,000 to $10,000 annually for a selected family,” Buchanan said.

Allusion offers a draft menu with more than 10 craft beers, sold by the growler, crowler (can growler) or pint.

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