Even though the Great American Beer Festival had to bump the festival, this year marked the largest competition to date, with medals awarded in 97 different beer categories covering 175 different beer styles.
“Despite being forced to cancel the festival portion of GABF, our brewing community rallied together to make this year’s GABF competition one for the books—our largest competition judged to date,” said Chris Swersey, competition director, Great American Beer Festival. “Judges continue to be impressed with the quality and innovation of all entries they evaluated. The Brewers Association is proud to honor this year’s deserving winners. We look forward to celebrating in person together next year.”
Judging for the event took place in 34 sessions over 17 days with 9680 beers were submitted this year from 2192 different breweries and all 50 states.
In total, San Diego independent brewers received 19 medals this year – earning a grand total of almost 300 medals since 1993.
Gold:
Specialty Beer – Maple Smoked Maibock, Kilowatt Brewing
Non-Alcoholic Beer – Enough Said N/A Helles, Two Roots Brewing Co.
American Sour Ale – Vice Sans Fruit, Wild Barrel Brewing Co.
German-Style Doppelbock – Unfrozen Caveman Lager, Belching Beaver Brewery
English/New Zealand IPA – Palm Sway, Coronado Brewing Co.
Imperial Stout – Dark Seas, Mission Brewery
International Pale Ale – BONKEUR Mosaic Pale Ale, Rouleur Brewing Co.
Silver:
Session Beer – Natural Bridge: Vienna Lager, Eppig Brewing
Smoke Beer – Ashes from the Grave, TapRoom Beer Co.
International Dark Lager – Puesto Negra, Puesto Cervecería
English/New Zealand IPA – Flight of the Kiwis, My Yard Live Beer Co.
Belgian-Style Session Ale – Austere Abbot, Deft Brewing
Juicy/Hazy IPA – Art is Hard, North Park Beer Co.
Belgian-Style Strong Specialty Ale – Jan Quadrupel Vincent 16, Belching Beaver Brewery
Bronze:
Coffee Beer – Golden Stout, Karl Strauss Brewing Co. (Brewed at the Anaheim, CA location)
Hoppy Lager – Haole Island, WestBrew
Imperial IPA – Army of the Kinda Dead-Ish, North Park Beer Co.
English-Style Brown Ale – Beería, Craft Coast
Juicy/Hazy IPA – Blissed, Attitude Brewing Co.
