Summer is heating up — with brewery competitions, and multiple San Antonio-area breweries made some noise at two recent events. Meanwhile, the business of beer distribution keeps changing, so let's take a look at what's happening.

San Antonio brewers take on the world
Six San Antonio-area breweries received medals at the annual U.S. Open Beer Championship held in Oxford, Ohio, earlier in July. That is where judges juried 9,000-plus beers representing more than 170 different styles.

Flix Brewhouse San Antonio, a popular beer-producing movie theater, medaled in three categories. First up, two gold medals: The brewhouse's Helles Fury was named the best Munich-Style Helles in the contest, while their Italian Stallion topped the Italian Pilsner category. Also, its Stay Golden was awarded a silver medal in the Belgian Tripel category.

Elsewhere in San Antonio, Wild Barley Kitchen and Brewery and their Wild Dreams Chapter 1 scored a silver in the Foeder and Cask Aged Beer category.

Alamo Beer Co.’s Ultimus received a silver medal in the German Wheat Beer – South German Weizenbock/Weissbock category.

Additionally, three Texas Hill Country brewpubs tallied wins at the U.S. Open Beer Championship. Save the World Brewing Co. in Marble Falls and its Chasing Broncos got a gold, thus named the best New England/Juicy IPA.

The Radler from Altstadt Brewery in Fredericksburg got a silver in the American Fruit – Peach category. All Ryte All Ryte, crafted by Old 290 Brewery near Fredericksburg, was awarded a silver in the Rye Beer category.

Alamo City challenges the Hill Country
The fourth Fredericksburg Craft Beer Festival, held June 13 and 14, featured dozens of Texas breweries vying for sudsy supremacy in the Hill Country. Numerous brewpubs located in and around San Antonio left the event with a hefty haul of awards.

Pecan Street Brewing Co.’s Kentucky Waterfall, a Kentucky common, was named best Amber and Brown American Beer. Cactus Land Brewing placed second in the same category with its Billie Irish, an American amber ale. Pecan Street, based in Johnson City, was also awarded first and second place in the Amber Bitter European category with its Love and Work, respectively: a Vienna lager and Road Devil altbier.

Altstadt’s Bock, a Dunkles bock, placed second in the Amber Malty European category. Its Radler – definitely popular at beer competitions – was named best fruit beer. Finally, its Lager placed second in the Pale Malty European Lagers-Munich Helles category.

In the same competition, Old 290’s Hawkshaw Helles finished in third place. Its Czech Baby, a Czech dark lager, won the Czech Lager category, followed right behind by Cactus Land’s Czech Yes, a pale lager. Old 290 Brewery also placed third in the International Lager category with its El Bigote pale lager. Rounding out a healthy four wins, its Hell Raiser, a brown ale, was named in the top among Wood-Aged Beers.

Kerrville’s Pint and Plow Brewing Co. snagged third place in the American and Specialty IPA category with its Tchoupitoulas IPA.

Man Overboard Brewing Co., situated in downtown San Antonio, placed first in the British/Irish Stout and Strong Ale category with its Weavy, a wee heavy. Boerne’s Free Roam Brewing Co. followed Man Overboard in the same category with its North Coast Stag, a Baltic porter.

Free Roam’s All Y’all weissbier also placed first among German Wheat Beers, followed by two Alamo Beer products, the Hefe and the Ultimus. Its Scotsman, a smoked Scotch ale, snagged second place in the Specialty and Spiced Beer category.

Blanco’s Real Ale Brewing Co. landed in third place in the Pale Bitter European category with its ever-popular Hans’ Pils.

Silver Eagle Beverages sells to Sunkey
Sunkey Beverage Holdings, a Miami company, recently finished its purchase of San Antonio-based wholesaler Silver Eagle Beverages.

Silver Eagle is a renowned regional distributor of several key domestics, imports, and craft beers, including Budweiser, Beck’s, Freetail Brewing, and Weathered Souls Brewing Co. They also distribute a number of alternatives, non-alcoholic beers, and spirits.

Sunkey initially announced plans to acquire Silver Eagle back in May. According to company officials, Greg Mitchell is serving as president, and Tim Mitchell is operating as chief executive officer.

Silver Eagle employs 500-plus workers servicing bars, restaurants, and stores in Bexar County and 12 surrounding counties.

“We have great appreciation and respect for John Nau’s leadership in the beer industry for the past 40 years," said Tim Mitchell in a statement. "He has positioned this company for growth and success and we look forward to building upon his legacy."