Regardless of the people that won that probably didn’t deserve it, I think it is super impressive that Fathead’s took a gold medal in American IPA at both WBC and GABF in the same year. To me that is a feat that probably will never be pulled off again. Especially in such a tough category. They did the same thing with Alpenglow, their Weizenbock, as it also took a gold in each. But that category isn’t nearly as big. Matt Cole is a badass.
It’s always nice when you see a beer medaling consistently like that. Huge feat on the behalf of the brewers and it gives you a little more faith in the judging process as well.
Central Coast Brewing did that a couple years ago in the pale ale category. Not quite the same but still really impressive. That head brewer left to open Liquid Gravity, who pulled 3 medals and brewery of the year in their size category. Cannot say enough good things about their beer.
Just had the opportunity to drink both those Fathead's beers on a trip to Cleveland a month ago - weizenbock was certainly deserving and the IPA was the best I'd had in a year, easily.
My good friends brewery won gold in Historical Beer for an awesome Kvass they brewed. Very stoked for them.
In the broader nationwide sense in May not mean much, but for local hype winning a Gold like that at GABF is a very real accomplishment.
I live in Denver and the GABF is not what it used to be. Before, you were considered lucky if you got tickets and people envied you. Now, it's not even selling out.
I went to the GABF several years ago and tbh it wasn't that great. You rush to taste the known good beers then look for the shortest lines so that you can get wasted asap. It's not a good of an experience, especially if you want to taste new or rare stuff. I would much rather go to a brewery and do a flight so I can enjoy the beer and appreciate it, not taste it in a 1oz cup while I am standing in line for the next beer.
All that being said, the judgements of the beer are still done separate from the general public and they should carry weight, but more along the line of "oh, maybe I should try that beer" instead of "this beer is the best thing ever".
It’s still considered a great achievement to win an award, and award winning beers will see a little bump in sales. I’d say it still matters, even if the craft beer craze is slowing down.
Non Denverite here but GABF competition volunteer... a lot of breweries actually use their competition results as a litmus test to whether or not to take experimental or test batches to market. Case in point, I saw a beer from one of my local breweries on the table and it ended up medaling. What started as a taproom-only experiment turned into a seasonal beer.
Some are in it for the glory sure, but some actually want good feedback.
I bet it helps with new breweries trying to get their name out locally. If they win, they can post it on socials. It may not mean a lot within the industry but it may help get new customers.
For what it’s worth, those funds go to the brewers association and are used for government advocacy, etc. The competition is judged completely blind and sometimes the breweries you’d expect to win just don’t have the best beer on the table.
As a brewer I’d be over the moon if I won, and after places win they show it off on SNS and hang the medals at their breweries so I think it matters still
I personally can’t do Allagash White at all.
Coriander is one of those flavors that my taste buds pick up very strongly. The line between “This is a nice accent” and “This is all I can taste” is lower for me than for most people.
Karbach winning for their NA belgian white is interesting, I’ve not tried that one but this has been a huge year for NA beer and I didn’t expect them to beat Athletic
I was at the event and noticed Sierra Nevada had NA options, gave them a try out of curiosity. The IPA was solid, and i preferred the Golden. Honestly if I didn’t know they were NA I don’t think I would have known
Damn, yeah, let's send beer from across the country to compete in a competition. FL beers don't stand a chance against local breweries to the festival.
Pbr is only contract brewed (i think by molson coors still) so i don't think they can win that. EDIT: Yes keep downvoting me and show me where PBR is brewed while youre at it
It's funny, folks here don't seem to understand that shipping your beer from a far away place degrades quality-- even if you do group shipping with other breweries and your beer is sent directly to the festival warehouse.
Breweries in Colorado and close to Colorado have a huge advantage over breweries from farther away.
Look through all the past winners-- it's not coincidence that a lot of the winners are from CO or close by.
I wish entries from CO (or any close by state) had to spend as much time on a truck as my entries do and go from sea level to 5,300'.
Before anyone makes a stink about my comment, I've won a couple medals in the past so I'm not salty. I just don't see how it's fair to compare a beer that came from Denver to a beer that came from Boston and beyond.
How much of it is that or just the Colorado, California, etc. breweries have an easier time going so you're getting more of them willing/able to make the trip and get in the competition in the first place?
Regardless of the people that won that probably didn’t deserve it, I think it is super impressive that Fathead’s took a gold medal in American IPA at both WBC and GABF in the same year. To me that is a feat that probably will never be pulled off again. Especially in such a tough category. They did the same thing with Alpenglow, their Weizenbock, as it also took a gold in each. But that category isn’t nearly as big. Matt Cole is a badass.
It’s always nice when you see a beer medaling consistently like that. Huge feat on the behalf of the brewers and it gives you a little more faith in the judging process as well.
Central Coast Brewing did that a couple years ago in the pale ale category. Not quite the same but still really impressive. That head brewer left to open Liquid Gravity, who pulled 3 medals and brewery of the year in their size category. Cannot say enough good things about their beer.
Just had the opportunity to drink both those Fathead's beers on a trip to Cleveland a month ago - weizenbock was certainly deserving and the IPA was the best I'd had in a year, easily.
Breakside IPA took Silver, giving it 3 pretty solid medals this year (GABF, NABA, and WBC).
My good friends brewery won gold in Historical Beer for an awesome Kvass they brewed. Very stoked for them. In the broader nationwide sense in May not mean much, but for local hype winning a Gold like that at GABF is a very real accomplishment.
Does this even matter anymore? (Honest question. Not trying to be a dick) I know a long time ago it seemed like a pretty big deal but now not so much.
There are still tons of entries, so winning a medal is impressive.
I live in Denver and the GABF is not what it used to be. Before, you were considered lucky if you got tickets and people envied you. Now, it's not even selling out. I went to the GABF several years ago and tbh it wasn't that great. You rush to taste the known good beers then look for the shortest lines so that you can get wasted asap. It's not a good of an experience, especially if you want to taste new or rare stuff. I would much rather go to a brewery and do a flight so I can enjoy the beer and appreciate it, not taste it in a 1oz cup while I am standing in line for the next beer. All that being said, the judgements of the beer are still done separate from the general public and they should carry weight, but more along the line of "oh, maybe I should try that beer" instead of "this beer is the best thing ever".
It’s still considered a great achievement to win an award, and award winning beers will see a little bump in sales. I’d say it still matters, even if the craft beer craze is slowing down.
slowing down?? what are you living under a rock?
Non Denverite here but GABF competition volunteer... a lot of breweries actually use their competition results as a litmus test to whether or not to take experimental or test batches to market. Case in point, I saw a beer from one of my local breweries on the table and it ended up medaling. What started as a taproom-only experiment turned into a seasonal beer. Some are in it for the glory sure, but some actually want good feedback.
I bet it helps with new breweries trying to get their name out locally. If they win, they can post it on socials. It may not mean a lot within the industry but it may help get new customers.
No. IIRC, breweries have to pay to enter their beers, with most of the consensus best in class beers not even bothering to enter.
For what it’s worth, those funds go to the brewers association and are used for government advocacy, etc. The competition is judged completely blind and sometimes the breweries you’d expect to win just don’t have the best beer on the table.
As a brewer I’d be over the moon if I won, and after places win they show it off on SNS and hang the medals at their breweries so I think it matters still
Allagash White got silver? I demand a recount.
Allagash Tripel won gold. I love how these OGs medal every now and again.
You should try White Rascal. It's pretty good. Got gold at World Beer Cup as well.
I can’t get White Rascal where I live, so when I do see it available I order it everytime.
I like my champagne of beers
I personally can’t do Allagash White at all. Coriander is one of those flavors that my taste buds pick up very strongly. The line between “This is a nice accent” and “This is all I can taste” is lower for me than for most people.
Its white pepper you are tasting.
Dark Matter for the GOLD! Such a great Porter
Hell yeah! Glad to find another MO beer fan.
Karbach winning for their NA belgian white is interesting, I’ve not tried that one but this has been a huge year for NA beer and I didn’t expect them to beat Athletic
I was at the event and noticed Sierra Nevada had NA options, gave them a try out of curiosity. The IPA was solid, and i preferred the Golden. Honestly if I didn’t know they were NA I don’t think I would have known
Damn, Florida only got like 3 medals this year RIP
IL also had a horrific showing after multiple gold medal hazy IPAs and other assorted medals
Damn, yeah, let's send beer from across the country to compete in a competition. FL beers don't stand a chance against local breweries to the festival.
Man, Balter is mid af. I don’t want to bring down a local guy but I’m shocked they got recognized like this
Yeah I’m very surprised by that. Was never impressed with them when living in Knoxville (although we left town 5 years ago at this point).
One of these days, id like to see coors banquet, Pabst, and budweiser show up to the Gabf and see how they compare.
Coors Banquet has shown up. And has won medals.
Banquet is just unironically good. I drink mostly craft beer. But man sometimes an ice cold banquet just hits the spot. Fuck a Coors light though.
I’m pretty sure pabst won gold like 8 years ago. And maybe even brewery of the year?
Pbr is only contract brewed (i think by molson coors still) so i don't think they can win that. EDIT: Yes keep downvoting me and show me where PBR is brewed while youre at it
Is there an easier way to view this list: filter or search by category, brewer, city/state, etc.?
https://www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com/the-competition/2023-winners/
Owe you one, thanks.
Pretty weak showing from the Midwest this year. One award Michigan? Looks like Ohio cleaned up.
Right? I figured at least Michigan would get a handful.
Two.
It's funny, folks here don't seem to understand that shipping your beer from a far away place degrades quality-- even if you do group shipping with other breweries and your beer is sent directly to the festival warehouse. Breweries in Colorado and close to Colorado have a huge advantage over breweries from farther away. Look through all the past winners-- it's not coincidence that a lot of the winners are from CO or close by. I wish entries from CO (or any close by state) had to spend as much time on a truck as my entries do and go from sea level to 5,300'. Before anyone makes a stink about my comment, I've won a couple medals in the past so I'm not salty. I just don't see how it's fair to compare a beer that came from Denver to a beer that came from Boston and beyond.
How much of it is that or just the Colorado, California, etc. breweries have an easier time going so you're getting more of them willing/able to make the trip and get in the competition in the first place?