More than 260 breweries were awarded medals Saturday in Denver at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF).
The Brewers Association (BA) gave out 303 medals to 263 breweries in the 37th year of the competition and 41st year of the festival, according to a press release.
Gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded across 99 beer categories and 175 beer styles, in addition to three GABF Collaboration medals (for beers created by two or more professional breweries) and three GABF Pro-Am medals (for beers created by professional brewers and amateur homebrewers).
The competition was judged by 250 beer experts from 10 countries over the course of nine days. The judges evaluated entries from 9,298 commercial breweries representing all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, as well as 95 Collaboration entries and 50 Pro-Am entries.
“The Great American Beer Festival competition serves as a platform for the finest beers from across the nation to undergo rigorous scrutiny and vie for the title of ‘Best in Class,’” GABF competition director Chris Williams said in the release. “The beer community’s unwavering commitment to pushing the frontiers of innovation and quality is truly commendable. The Brewers Association takes great pride in recognizing the achievements of this year’s winners.”
An average of 92 beers were entered into each style category, with the juicy/hazy IPA category receiving the most entries (365), according to the release. Winners for the category include:
- Gold – Away Days (Visalia, California-based 1852 Brew Co.);
- Silver – Juicy Mid-Tones (Lincoln, Nebraska-based Corn Coast Brewing Co.);
- Bronze – Make It Rain (Hilton Head Island, South Carolina-based Side Hustle Brewing).
The next four most popular categories were West Coast IPA (301 entries), light lager (284), German-style pilsner (228) and American-style IPA (206).
Sharonville, Ohio-based Third Eye Brewing Co. took home the most medals on Saturday, receiving two gold medals (herb and spice beer category and chocolate beer category) and two silver medals (pumpkin beer category and the Collaboration Competition).
The gold medal for the Collaboration Competition went to Luna Mexican Export Lager from Cheluna Brewing Co. and Prost Brewing Co. Silver went to Mounds of Importance by Third Eye Brewing and Narrow Path Brewing Co., while the bronze medal went to Two’s Daze from Attic Brewing Co. and Two Locals Brewing Co.
The gold medal for the Pro-Am Competition went to She Fancies Herself a Little Bit French from CooperSmith’s Pub & Brewing and amateur brewer Mark Pennick. The silver medal went to Rob’s Baltic Porter from New Belgium Brewing and amateur brewer Rob Hardisty, while the bronze was awarded to What Is That? From Decipher Brewing Co. and amateur brewer Joel Miller.
The BA also named eight different brewery of the year winners based on brewery size, with winners determined by the amount of medals won in the competition:
- 0-250 barrels: Rocklin, California-based Shred Beer Co.;
- 251-500 barrels: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma-based The Big Friendly;
- 501-1,000 barrels: Knoxville, Tennessee-based Balter Beerworks;
- 1,001-2,000 barrels: Sharonville, Ohio-based Third Eye Brewing Co.;
- 2,001-5,000 barrels: San Luis Obispo, California-based Liquid Gravity Brewing Co.;
- 5,001-15,000 barrels: Longmont, Colorado-based Wibby Brewing;
- 15,001-100,000 barrels: Houston, Texas-based Saint Arnold Brewing Co.;
- Brewery Group (multiple production locations): Portland, Maine-based Allagash Brewing Co.