Consider this your brewery bucket list.
Another class , anotherGreat American Beer Festival(GABF ) in which the interior competition and brewery - filled assemblage crown virtually 200 beersthe beneficial of the good . Earlier this month , the 40th edition of thecountry ’s most well-thought-of beerevent consume office in Denver , where 40,000 fan sipped beers from over 500 breweries .
Behind the scenes , the annual GABF Awards Ceremony host 235 attest beer judges vet beer from all fifty states , Puerto Rico , and the District of Columbia , who collectively tried a flux 9,904 beers and issued Au , silver , and bronze ribbon in 177 dissimilar registered beer fashion .
“ GABF is one of those height events , ” suppose Kelsey McNair , founder and heading beer maker at this class ’s most present brewery , California’sNorth Park Beer Co. “ The integrity behind it is unbelievable . ”
Photo © Brewers Association
If you could n’t make it to Denver this year , we ’ve compiled the most important takeout food fromseveral day of heavy imbibing — er , enquiry — at the great beer fete and award ceremony in the United States .
IPA still rules the roost. But not all IPAs are created equal.
The better - selling and most popular beer stylus in America is still the India Pale Ale . However , “ American Style India Pale Ale ” overtook “ Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale ” as the most competitive category at the GABF Awards Ceremony .
The winner of the gold medal for this year ’s American Style India Pale Ale class was More Dodge Less RAM , a West Coast IPA made by local - to - Denver Comrade Brewing Co. The beer was named to commemorate an occasion six years ago when a Dodge Ram truck tug through the front of the taproom and put the brewery out of production for two week .
Asked about the IPAs enduring success , Comrade Brewing Co. Brewmaster Marks Lanham guide to its potential for innovation .
“ It ’s a style that go along evolve , ” allege Lanham , who has been brew for almost twenty long time . “ Since I started , IPAs have gotten a lot lighter . They used to focus on rancor whereas now brewers are highlighting odour and savor . They ’re ironical and they use less crystal , which makes them easier to salute . And farmer and breeder keep coming out with new form of hops that retain to capture peoples ’ aid . ”
German-style beers are making a comeback
For the past decade , the campaign jape amongst beer writer has been that every year is the year that German - way beer are going to make a retort . We sympathize it ’s not that risible . But this year , we might actually prove ourselves correct .
After American Style India Pale Ale and Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale , the most competitive category at the GABF Awards Ceremony was … German - Style Pilsener . Top marks in that category were taken by The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. ( ABGB ) , a Texas - based brewery widely known for its German - style beers .
The 4th most popular class ? German Wheat Ale . The fifth ? Not Pale Ale . Not Stout . Nay — it was German - Style Maerzen .
“ laager have always been a potent production for us , but I ’d say that as of late , laager have been even more pop , ” says Mac McAlister , Director of Retail and Sales Operations at North Park Brewing Co. At the 2022 GABF Awards Ceremony , North Park was the most medaled brewery , taking home four different medallion — all for hoppy mode . And yet , despite the winner of North Park ’s hoppy beer , many of their brewery customers are showing an pursuit in more traditional style .
“ We just released our rye whisky pilsner , ” says McAlister . “ We sold out of cans more quickly than we trade out some of our hazies and IPAs . ”
Perhaps the yr of the lager beer is at last make out to fruition .
GABF Attendance was down, but everyone celebrated
Historically , the festival has receive 60,000 attendee into the Colorado Convention Center . In its first springy event since the attack of the COVID pandemic , however , attendance hovered closer to 40,000 . Does that mean less beer than usual got consumed in Denver ? Unclear . But for those at the consequence , that lower - than - common attending was hardly felt up .
“ On Thursday , there was a Broncos biz five blocks away and we still had a full sign , ” says Ann Obenchain , Marketing and Communications Director for the Brewers Association , the not - for - profit organisation that throws GABF . “ hoi polloi were just stand outside , waiting to come in . You could find the buildup . ”
After three year of pandemic - rush cancellation , those who attended the effect were quick to socialize . Even the Awards Ceremony — a particularly tense time for industry professionals — was a supportive , raucous affaire .
Bars, breweries, and restaurants came to party
While much of the GABF magic happened inside the Colorado Convention Center , this twelvemonth ’s case stay to form by turning the metropolis of Denver into a full - week , beer - themed political party . Local bars , brewery , and eating place put on and twist out , host dozens of interesting consequence . A full docket would be an article in itself , but highlights include :
“ Iron Maidens : A solemnization of Female have / Operated Breweries , ” a rap - putsch discombobulate by Denver - base TRVE Brewing with a list of beer from hold Together ( NM ) , Salud Cerveceria ( NC ) , Wahg Waan ( CO ) , Resident Culture ( NC ) , Lady Justice ( CO ) , and many more …
“ Denver Rare Beer Tasting , ” an yearly taste event protrude in 2009 that serves pours of the mankind ’s rarest beers and supports Pints for Prostates , a 501c3 that promote early screenings for prostate Crab …
“ Great Mexican Beer Fiesta , ” a street company thrown by Cerveceria Colorado that feature Mexican - instigate beer , Lucha Libre , Folklorico dances , and local craftsman …
do it to say , everyone was quick to celebrate the 40th GABF after a few year of doubt in the beer manufacture .
