BRISTOL, PA — Dad’s Hat Rye Founders Herman C. Mihalich and John S. Cooper have been nominated as semifinalists for The James Beard Foundation Awards in the category of “Outstanding Wine, Beer, or Spirits Professional”.

The James Beard Foundation Awards are presented annually by the James Beard Foundation in recognition of excellence in cuisine, culinary writing, and culinary education in the United States. Established in 1990, The Beard Awards are often regarded in the culinary industry as “The Oscars of Food.”

The Foundation’s mission is to celebrate, nurture, and honor chefs and other leaders making America’s food culture more delicious, diverse, and sustainable for everyone. The entire list of semifinalists for the 2017 Restaurant and Chef Awards can be found here. The list of finalists will be announced in Los Angeles on Wednesday, March 15 and revealed in real time simultaneously on Facebook Live and Twitter.