Bed-Stuy Brewer Evil Twin Among James Beard Semifinalists

BEDFORD-STUYVESANT, BROOKLYN — A Bed-Stuy-based brewer might win one of the nation’s top culinary honors, the James Beard Foundation announced Thursday.

Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø, the owner of Evil Twin Brewing, is one of 20 people named as a semifinalist in the James Beard Foundation’s quest for the most “outstanding wine, spirits, or beer professional” in the nation.

"It's exciting and an honor," Jarnit-Bjergsø said of the nomination, which is his third. "To be nominated in such a broad category, shows me that my work with beer expands to more than just beer."

Evil Twin Brewing, founded in 2010, currently produces 100 beers — with names like “Wet Dream” and “Mission Hipster Ale” — from five breweries across the globe and is run from offices in Bed-Stuy, according to the brewery website.

Evil Twin beers are exported to 35 countries and served in some of the world’s fanciest restaurants, such as Noma in Denmark and Eleven Madison in New York, according to the Brooklyn brewers.

Jarnit-Bjergsø is also famous for an ongoing feud with his identical twin brother Mikkel Borg Bjergso who also brews world-renowned craft beers in Copenhagen. The New York Times reported in-depth on the twin's rivalry and noted the two brothers, "can’t stand each other."

Jarnit-Bjergsø is one of more than 20,000 culinary professionals to be nominated for an 28th annual James Beard Foundation award, which offers 21 categories that include bakers, restaurateurs and, of course, chefs.

New Yorker Jordan Salcito, of Ramona, was also nominated in this boozy category for her line of canned high-end wine spritzers.

Brooklynites were among the nominees for outstanding baker (Zachary Golper of Bien Cuit), bar program (Clover Club), restaurant (Frankie 457 Spuntino) and restaurateur (Andrew Tarlow of Williamsburg’s Diner, Marlow & Sons and Reynard).

And five of 20 outstanding chefs in New York City hailed from Brooklyn restaurants: Greg Baxtrom of Olmsted in Prospect Heights, Rawia Bishara of Tanoreen in Bay Ridge, Carlo Mirarchi of Blanca in Bushwick, Erik Ramirez of Llama Inn in Williamsburg and Missy Robbins of Lilia in Williamsburg.

Awards will be handed out at The James Beard Foundation Awards Gala in Chicago on May 7, 2018.

Photo by Signe Birck Photography courtesy of Evil Twin Brewing