The GABF 2024 Roundup of Nice Lakes Medal Winners

In the event you’re seeking to reinforce the assumption that GABF is very skewed in the direction of West Coast breweries, nicely, this yr’s medal winners provide you with loads of ammo.

By my rely, California took dwelling 71 medals, Colorado brewers earned 41 and Oregon brewers introduced dwelling 38.

That’s not even together with the Brewery of the Yr awards, three of which went to Oregon breweries – plus an Oregon producer gained the primary “finest cidermaker” award as nicely. California breweries ate up 4 of the remaining 5 Brewery of the Yr awards (the one outlier went to a Vermont brewer).

Out of 326 general medals, that’s so much to come back from simply three states. The truth is, by our math, which means about 45% of all medals went to California, Colorado and Oregon.

Within the Midwest, Illinois truly bested Ohio’s medal rely, which often doesn’t occur. IL’s 9 medals run the gamut from IPA to amber lager to German kinds to 3 award successful barrel-aged beers, demonstrating the breadth and flexibility of breweries round Chicagoland.

Past that … form of a sluggish yr. A lot of the press round GABF this yr has been in regards to the new expertise areas they’ve added, in addition to the expanded presence of ciders and different non-beer drinks, however one factor I haven’t seen anybody focus on but is the general drop in entries despatched to Denver for judging this yr.

In 2023, the BA mentioned they judged 9298 beers on the competitors. This yr, breweries from throughout America despatched about 5% fewer beers to compete: Simply 8,836, though the variety of breweries nationwide held comparatively regular and there have been 5 extra classes for cider makers to compete in as nicely. Not a precipitious drop, however … I’d have an interest to see if there’s ever been a decline that giant.

Truly, let’s check out the latest information.

Even in 2020, breweries despatched over 8,800 beers to be judged (not that there was a lot else occurring at taprooms that yr). That quantity jumped again up to 9,680 entries in 2021, so to fall again to 2020 ranges with out a world pandemic occurring kinda speaks to the malaise being felt by brewers as of late. Most of those medals had been determined from entry swimming pools of 30-60 beers or ciders submitted, so no less than those that despatched in beers had a reasonably first rate shot of coming away with some {hardware}.

Need much more perspective? Right here’s all our GABF protection relationship again a full decade. Now, right here’s who walked away a winner in our area at this yr’s GABF 2024:

Illinois: 9 Medals

• Gold:
  • Bateman Bier, Greenstar Brewing (American Amber Lager)
• Silver:
  • Altbier, Double Clutch Brewing Co (German-Type Altbier)
  • Door Code, Piece Brewery (German-Type Pilsener)
  • Humongous Sleepy Chungus Bear, Werk Drive Brewing Co. (Wooden- and Barrel-Aged Sturdy Stout)
• Bronze:
  • Lexical Hole, Pollyanna Brewing Co. (American-Type India Pale Ale)
  • Cassis, Moody Tongue Brewing Co. (Fruited Wooden- and Barrel-Aged Bitter Beer)
  • Tankbeer, Hopewell Brewing Co. (Kellerbier or Zwickelbier)
  • Wild Honey, Cruz Blanca Brewery (Specialty Saison)
  • Barrel Aged Dopplebock, MORE Brewing Co. (Wooden- and Barrel-Aged Beer)

Werk Drive Brewing additionally gained within the Collaboration Competitors, taking a Silver for his or her Silly Sticky Fingers made with Rocky Reef.

Indiana (3 Medals)

• Gold:
• Silver:
  • Kill the Lights, The Faucet Brewery (Imperial Stout)
  • Roggenschnizzle, Bier Brewery and Taproom (Rye Beers)
• Bronze:
  • Dill Pickle, Subject Artisan Brewing (Herb and Spice Beer)

Iowa (4 Medals)

• Gold:
  • Simple Eddy, Huge Grove Brewery & Taproom(Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale)
• Silver:
  • Lavender Haze, SingleSpeed Brewing (Experimental India Pale Ale)
  • Decorah Nordic Gruit, PIVO Brewery (Historic Beer)
  • Cedar Valley Mix, Paha Cider Co. (Tannic Cider)
• Bronze:

Michigan (2 Medals)

• Gold:
  • Wobbly Traveler, Silver Harbor Brewing Co. (Scotch Ale)
• Silver:
  • Bourbon Maple Needs and Pecan Desires, Odd Aspect Ales (Experimental Beer)
• Bronze:

Minnesota (3 Medals)

• Gold:
  • Eisbock, Northbound Smokehouse Brewpub (German-Type Doppelbock or Eisbock)
  • Haha Pils, Arbeiter Brewing Co. (German-Type Pilsener)
• Silver:
• Bronze:
  • Equanimity, Ursa Minor Brewing (Irish-Type Pink Ale)

Missouri (3 Medals)

• Gold:
  • Yankee Doodle Shandy, River Bluff Brewing (Fruit Wheat Beer)
• Silver:
  • Pacific Portal, Alma Mader Brewing (West Coast IPA)
• Bronze:
  • Outdated Tom Porter, Piney River Brewing Co. (Brown Porter)

Ohio (7 Medals)

• Gold:
  • Eau Rouge, Noble Beast Brewing Co. (Belgian-Type Bitter Ale)
  • Black Cats, Streetside Brewery (English-Type Brown Ale)
• Silver:
• Bronze:
  • Triple Chocolate Viator Obscura, Wandering Monsters Brewing Co. (Chocolate Beer)
  • Toasty, The Brew Brothers – Scioto Downs Racino (English Gentle or Bitter)
  • Brother Sam, Three Tigers Brewing Co. (Oatmeal Stout)
  • Moozie, Brink Brewing Co. (Candy Stout or Cream Stout)
  • IPA for Aliens, Masthead Brewing Co. (West Coast IPA)

Wisconsin (5 Medals)

• Gold:
  • Fairly Good, Third House Brewing (American Amber/Pink Ale)
  • Scaredy Cat, Classic Brewing Co. (Oatmeal Stout)
• Silver:
  • Non-Alcoholic Oktoberfest, Octopi Brewing / Untitled Artwork (Amber to Darkish Non-Alcohol Beer)
  • Cucumber Lime Blonde, Third House Brewing (Subject Beer)
• Bronze:
  • Brown Ale, Oliphant Brewing (English-Type Brown Ale)

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