Oregon Wins 23 Medals at 2023 Great American Beer Festival
The 2023 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) announced its 2023 medal winners earlier today and the Pacific Northwest fared quite well. Oregon breweries took home a total of 23 medals while breweries in Washington state were awarded 14 medals.
This year marked the 37th edition of the GABF competition that saw 2,033 breweries from all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico pay to enter the most respected beer competition in the United States. Over the course of nine days, 250 judges evaluated 9,298 beers and awarded a total of 303 medals to 263 breweries in 101 various beer categories.
The awards ceremony was held at the Bellco Theatre in Denver on Saturday, September 23, 2023. It kicked off with US Senator John Hickenlooper from Colorado and former owner of Wynkoop Brewing delivering the opening remarks. Hickenlooper spoke about the hard times that the brewing industry is currently facing. He even touched upon how the spirits industry is luring beer drinkers away from the beverage of the common man.
Chris Williams, GABF Competition Director, followed Hickenlooper where he gave props to all of the GABF sponsors and then quickly began into announcing the award winners.
“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,’” remarked Chris Williams, competition director for the Great American Beer Festival. “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.”
Regionally, the Pacific Northwest did quite well. Oregon breweries were awarded a total of 23 medals. Of these, there were 9 Gold Medals, 8 Silver Medals, and 6 Bronze Medals. Washington breweries were awarded a total of 14 medals. Of these, there were 3 Gold Medals, 7 Silver Medals, and 4 Bronze Medals.
Breaking down these a bit further saw Breakside Brewery taking home a total of four medals that were entered from three different brewery locations. pFriem Family Brewers were awarded three medals, all from its Cascade Locks facility. Joining pFriem with three medals was Deschutes Brewery with three medals with two from its Portland Public House and a Gold from its Bend Public House. 10 Barrel Brewing also was awarded three medals, a Gold and Silver from its production facility and another Gold from its Bend Pub. Rounding out the Oregon multiple winning breweries is Bend Brewing Co. with a Silver and a Bronze.
In Washington state, three breweries were multiple medal winners, each of these with two medals. Ghostfish Brewing earned a Gold and Silver in the Gluten-Free category. Fellow Seattle brewery, Cloudburst Brewing took home a Silver and a Bronze while Kulshan Brewing out of Bellingham was awarded a Gold and Silver.
Oregon Brewery Medal Winners
Category 4: Field Beer
Silver: Cucumber Crush, 10 Barrel Brewing Co., Bend, OR
Bronze: Heart Island, Grand Fir Brewing, Portland, OR
Category 18: Other Strong Beer
Gold: Breakside LIFE, Breakside Brewery & Taproom, Milwaukie, OR
Category 25: American Sour Ale
Gold: Brilliant, 10 Barrel Brewing Co., Bend, OR
Category 26: Fruited American Sour Ale
Silver: Poggers, Immersion Brewing, Bend, OR
Category 27: Brett Beer
Silver: Druif Blanc, pFriem Cascade Locks Barrelhouse, Cascade Locks, OR
Bronze: Neon Butterfly, Deschutes Brewery & Public House – PDX, Portland, OR
Category 30: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer
Bronze: Amaro Barrel Aged Barleywine, pFriem Cascade Locks Barrelhouse, Cascade Locks, OR
Category 31: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout
Gold: Breakside The Trappings and the Suits of Woe, Breakside Brewery – NW Slabtown, Portland, OR
Category 37: American-Style Lager
Silver: Bendelo Especial, Bend Brewing Co., Bend, OR
Category 47: Munich-Style Helles
Gold: Prinz Crispy, Deschutes Brewery & Public House – Bend, Bend, OR
Category 54: German-Style Doppelbock or Eisbock
Silver: Co-Munichator, Deschutes Brewery & Public House – PDX, Portland, OR
Category 64: American-Style India Pale Ale
Silver: Breakside IPA, Breakside Brewery & Taproom, Milwaukie, OR
Category 72: Extra Special Bitter
Gold: Velvet ESB, Hopworks Urban Brewery, Portland, OR
Category 76: American-Style Brown Ale
Silver: Upside Brown Ale, Falling Sky Brewing, Eugene, OR
Category 77: American Black Ale or American Stout
Gold: Breakside Cheat Codes, Breakside Brewery, Portland, OR
Category 78: German Sour Ale
Gold: Riviera, 10 Barrel Brewing Co. – Bend Pub, Bend, OR
Category 82: German Wheat Ale
Silver: Weizenheimer, Grains of Wrath PDX, Portland, OR
Category 86: Classic Saison
Bronze: Saison Parfait, Little Beast Brewing, Clackamas, OR
Category 91: Belgian Fruit Beer
Gold: Frambozen, pFriem Cascade Locks Barrelhouse, Cascade Locks, OR
Bronze: Raspberry Parliament, Alesong Brewing & Blending, Eugene, OR
Category 92: Brown Porter
Bronze: Old Normal, Bend Brewing Co., Bend, OR
Category 99: Old Ale or Strong Ale or Barley Wine
Gold: Ice Raptor, Ninkasi Brewing Co., Eugene, OR
Washington Brewery Medal Winners
Category 9: Coffee Beer
Gold: Cuppa Joe Coffee Brown Ale, Kulshan Brewing Co., Bellingham, WA
Category 16: Session India Pale Ale
Gold: Only Good Vibes, Halcyon Brewing Co., Seattle, WA
Category 23: Gluten-Free Beer
Gold: It Came From The Haze, Ghostfish Brewing Co., Seattle, WA
Silver: Lander Lager, Ghostfish Brewing Co., Seattle, WA
Category 34: Kellerbier or Zwickelbier
Silver: Chasing Trains, Formula Brewing, Issaquah, WA
Category 42: Other Hoppy Lager
Bronze: Day Beer, Trap Door Brewing – Whistle Stop Pub, Washougal, WA
Category 48: Dortmunder or German-Style Oktoberfest
Bronze: Dorty Work, Cloudburst Brewing, Seattle, WA
Category 66: West Coast-Style India Pale Ale
Bronze: Bright Side IPA, Uprise Brewing Co., Spokane, WA
Category 69: American Amber/Red Ale
Silver: Night Sky Red Ale, Sound2Summit Brewery, Snohomish, WA
Category 70: Strong Red Ale
Silver: Say Hi To Your Dad For Me, Cloudburst Brewing, Seattle, WA
Category 81: German-Style Altbier
Silver: Altbier, Four Generals Brewing, Renton, WA
Category 83: South German-Style Hefeweizen
Silver: Kulshan Hefeweizen, Kulshan Brewing Co. – K2, Bellingham, WA
Category 87: Specialty Saison
Bronze: 1710 Saison, Figurehead Brewing Co., Seattle, WA
Category 93: Robust Porter
Silver: Robust Porter, Reuben’s Brews – Production Brewery, Seattle, WA
Looking at the competition from a broader perspective, of the 2,033 breweries that entered, 325 were first time GABF entrants. Winning medals for the first time were 16 different breweries, one of these was Grand Fir Brewing from Portland, Oregon that has not even been open one year.
The category with the most entries was the Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale with 365 entries. It was followed by the West Coast-Style India Pale Ale category with 301 entries. Uprise Brewing from Spokane, Washington was awarded the Bronze for its Bright Side IPA.
Here’s a complete rundown on all 303 medal winning beers!
2023 Great American Beer Festival Medal Winners
Category 1: American Wheat Beer – 65 Entries
Gold: Sunsphere, Balter Beerworks, Knoxville, TN
Silver: Canebrake, Parish Brewing Co., Broussard, LA
Bronze: Uinta Brewing Golden Spike Hefeweizen, Uinta Brewing Co., Salt Lake City, UT
Category 2: American Fruit Beer – 118 Entries
Gold: Street Cart, Golden Road Brewing – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Silver: Big Sippin’, Odell Brewing Co. – Five Points Brewhouse, Denver, CO
Bronze: Lemonade, Surly Brewing Co., Minneapolis, MN
Category 3: Fruit Wheat Beer – 106 Entries
Gold: Guava Cart, Golden Road Brewing – Huntington Harbour, Huntington Beach, CA
Silver: Inclusion Criteria, Relative Risk Brewing Co., Penn Yan, NY
Bronze: Tuava Guava, Laguna Beach Beer Co., Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Category 4: Field Beer – 69 Entries
Gold: King of Carrot Flowers, Ratio Beerworks, Denver, CO
Silver: Cucumber Crush, 10 Barrel Brewing Co., Bend, OR
Bronze: Heart Island, Grand Fir Brewing, Portland, OR
Category 5: Pumpkin Beer – 71 Entries
Gold: Pumpkin Ale, Blackstone Brewing Co., Nashville, TN
Silver: Gourd Darn-it, Third Eye Brewing Co., Sharonville, OH
Bronze: Pumpkinslayer, Royal Docks Brewing Co. – Brewhouse + Cannery, Massillon, OH
Category 6: Chili Beer – 88 Entries
Gold: Chilis from the Grave, Family Business Beer Co., Dripping Springs, TX
Silver: Green Chile Honey Kölsch, Bent Barley Brewing Co., Aurora, CO
Bronze: Hatch Nites, Lovelady Brewing Co., Henderson, NV
Category 7: Herb and Spice Beer – 90 Entries
Gold: Chai Eye Captain, Third Eye Brewing Co., Sharonville, OH
Silver: Hibiscus Lime Shandy, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. – Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA
Bronze: Kha Point, Pathlight Brewing, Shawnee, KS
Category 8: Chocolate Beer – 43 Entries
Gold: Double Astral, Third Eye Brewing Co., Sharonville, OH
Silver: Midnight Hike, River North Brewery, Denver, CO
Bronze: Because You’re Mine, The Bruery, Placentia, CA
Category 9: Coffee Beer – 69 Entries
Gold: Cuppa Joe Coffee Brown Ale, Kulshan Brewing Co., Bellingham, WA
Silver: Kurt’s Mile High Malt, Wynkoop Brewing Co., Denver, CO
Bronze: Conditions of My Parole, The Empourium Brewing Co., Denver, CO
Category 10: Coffee Stout or Porter – 68 Entries
Gold: Lil Zoomie, Brink Brewing Co., Cincinnati, OH
Silver: Super Tonic, Docent Brewing, San Juan Capistrano, CA
Bronze: Venti is Large, Hop Dogma Brewing Co., Half Moon Bay, CA
Category 11: Dessert Stout or Pastry Stout – 49 Entries
Gold: Board Meeting, Corporate Ladder Brewing Co., Palmetto, FL
Silver: Mega Devil’s Teeth: Double Dutch S’mores Edition, Modern Times Beer, San Diego, CA
Bronze: Chaos Grid: The Final Final Course, Modern Times Beer, San Diego, CA
Category 12: Rye Beers – 52 Entries
Gold: No. 68 Red Lager, The Freehouse, Minneapolis, MN
Silver: Steamy Wonder, Proper Brewing Co., Salt Lake City, UT
Bronze: Rye Dawn, Breakwater Brewing Co., Oceanside, CA
Category 13: Honey Beer – 67 Entries
Gold: Smashing Honey Blonde, Hoppin’ Frog Brewing, Akron, OH
Silver: Jetty, Great South Bay Brewery, Bay Shore, NY
Bronze: Valhallale, Coney Island Brewing Co., Brooklyn, NY
Category 14: Non-Alcohol Beer – 70 Entries
Gold: Free & Easy Belgian-Style White, Karbach Brewing Co., Houston, TX
Silver: Juicy NA IPA, Two Roads Brewing Co., Stratford, CT
Bronze: Night Strike, Leader Brewing, Palm Bay, FL
Category 15: Session Beer or Belgian-Style Table Beer – 42 Entries
Gold: Oblique & Bent, The Big Friendly, Oklahoma City, OK
Silver: Guillaume, Pizza Port Ocean Beach, San Diego, CA
Bronze: Tip the Calf, SingleSpeed Brewing Tap Room, Cedar Falls, IA
Category 16: Session India Pale Ale – 82 Entries
Gold: Only Good Vibes, Halcyon Brewing Co., Seattle, WA
Silver: The Next Chapter, Original Pattern Brewing Co., Oakland, CA
Bronze: Micro Blaster, Shred Beer Co., Rocklin, CA
Category 17: Strong Porter – 38 Entries
Gold: Barometer Drop, Ballast Point Brewing Co. – Little Italy, San Diego, CA
Silver: Herd of Turtles, Bagby Beer Co., Oceanside, CA
Bronze: Midnight Rider Imperial Porter, Great American Restaurants – Sweetwater Tavern Merrifield, Falls Church, VA
Category 18: Other Strong Beer – 33 Entries
Gold: Breakside LIFE, Breakside Brewery & Taproom, Milwaukie, OR
Silver: Skate Juice, Hideaway Park Brewery, Winter Park, CO
Bronze: Random Acts of Greatness, HopSaint Brewing Co., Torrance, CA
Category 19: Experimental India Pale Ale – 106 Entries
Gold: Tropical Terps IPA, Belching Beaver Brewery – Oceanside Brewhouse, Oceanside, CA
Silver: Forager IPA, Pumphouse Brewery & Restaurant, Longmont, CO
Bronze: Pina Colada Milkshake IPA, 14er Brewing Co., Denver, CO
Category 20: Experimental Beer – 83 Entries
Gold: Hill & Hollow: Cayuga, Cinderlands Foederhouse, Pittsburgh, PA
Silver: Apple Pomace Puncheon, Angel City Brewery, Los Angeles, CA
Bronze: Small Batch – Intinction Sauvignon Blanc, Russian River Brewing Co. – Windsor, Windsor, CA
Category 21: Experimental Wood-Aged Beer – 32 Entries
Gold: Soul Shakedown Party, Sun King Brewery, Indianapolis, IN
Silver: Boathouse Reserve Imperial Stout, Crystal Lake Brewing, Crystal Lake, IL
Bronze: Sugar Moon, Hobbs Tavern & Brewing Co., Ossipee, NH
Category 22: Historical Beer – 41 Entries
Gold: IZOLA Kvass, East Village Brewing Co., San Diego, CA
Silver: Derby Day, Roadmap Brewing Co., San Antonio, TX
Bronze: Grodziskie, Sketchbook Brewing Co., Skokie, IL
Category 23: Gluten-Free Beer – 47 Entries
Gold: It Came From The Haze, Ghostfish Brewing Co., Seattle, WA
Silver: Lander Lager, Ghostfish Brewing Co., Seattle, WA
Bronze: Scarlet Sunset, Buck Wild Brewing, Oakland, CA
Category 24: American-Belgo-Style Ale – 34 Entries
Gold: DOL, Longtab Brewing Co., San Antonio, TX
Silver: Whitewall Wheat, Crank Arm Brewing Co., Raleigh, NC
Bronze: Paper Game, Ozark Beer Co., Rogers, AR
Category 25: American Sour Ale – 32 Entries
Gold: Brilliant, 10 Barrel Brewing Co., Bend, OR
Silver: The Sauer House Project: Ellie’s Version, Dostal Alley Brewpub & Casino, Central City, CO
Bronze: Fate Single Hop Sour, Fate Brewing Co., Scottsdale, AZ
Category 26: Fruited American Sour Ale – 160 Entries
Gold: Huckleberry pHin Sour, Lost Winds Brewing Co., San Clemente, CA
Silver: Poggers, Immersion Brewing, Bend, OR
Bronze: Fistful of Gummies, Second Chance Beer Co., San Diego, CA
Category 27: Brett Beer – 46 Entries
Gold: Tapestry From An Asteroid, The Big Friendly, Oklahoma City, OK
Silver: Druif Blanc, pFriem Cascade Locks Barrelhouse, Cascade Locks, OR
Bronze: Neon Butterfly, Deschutes Brewery & Public House – PDX, Portland, OR
Category 28: Mixed-Culture Brett Beer – 59 Entries
Gold: Loup et Renard Saison, Odd Breed Wild Ales, Pompano Beach, FL
Silver: Never Been Wrong, Thompson Island Brewing Co., Rehoboth Beach, DE
Bronze: Silent Sounds, Monday Night Brewing – Garage, Atlanta, GA
Category 29: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer – 30 Entries
Gold: Ye Olde Ale, Banded Oak Brewing Co., Denver, CO
Silver: Barrel Aged Maibock, Blue Moon Brewing Co., Denver, CO
Bronze: Bourbon Barrel Drafty Kilt, Monday Night Brewing – Garage, Atlanta, GA
Category 30: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer – 122 Entries
Gold: Rye Whiskey Barrel-Aged Atom Smasher, Rock Bottom Brewery – Bethesda, Bethesda, MD
Silver: 1314, Black Tooth Brewing Co., Sheridan, WY
Bronze: Amaro Barrel Aged Barleywine, pFriem Cascade Locks Barrelhouse, Cascade Locks, OR
Category 31: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout – 121 Entries
Gold: Breakside The Trappings and the Suits of Woe, Breakside Brewery – NW Slabtown, Portland, OR
Silver: Black Market Liver, Windmills Brewery & Restaurant, The Colony, TX
Bronze: Barrel Aged Count Chungus, Werk Force Brewing Co., Plainfield, IL
Category 32: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer – 28 Entries
Gold: Wet Hop Strata (2023), Barrique Brewing & Blending, Nashville, TN
Silver: Sea of Waves, True Anomaly Brewing Co., Houston, TX
Bronze: Speedy G, MAP Brewing Co., Bozeman, MT
Category 33: Fruited Wood- and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer – 53 Entries
Gold: I Don’t Want to Wait, 1840 Brewing Co., Milwaukee, WI
Silver: Passionfruit on Acid, Blue Mountain Barrel House, Arrington, VA
Bronze: Spring Reverb, HiDef Brewing Co., Los Angeles, CA
Category 34: Kellerbier or Zwickelbier – 70 Entries
Gold: Copper Midge, Spearfish Brewing Co., Spearfish, SD
Silver: Chasing Trains, Formula Brewing, Issaquah, WA
Bronze: Light Hike, Topa Topa Brewing Co. – HQ, Ventura, CA
Category 35: Smoke Beer – 73 Entries
Gold: Ilaria, Whistle Hop Brewing Co., Fairview, NC
Silver: Helles Rauchbier, Double Clutch Brewing Co., Evanston, IL
Bronze: Schmoke Em’ Up, NewSylum Brewing Co., Newtown, CT
Category 36: Light Lager – 284 Entries
Gold: Nashville Light, Nashville Brewing Co., Nashville, TN
Silver: Mexican Lager, Lone Tree Brewing Co., Lone Tree, CO
Bronze: Legendary Lager, MadTree Brewing, Cincinnati, OH
Category 37: American-Style Lager – 123 Entries
Gold: Sonrisa, Common Space Brewery, Hawthorne, CA
Silver: Bendelo Especial, Bend Brewing Co., Bend, OR
Bronze: Saca La Bolsita, Villains Brewing Co., Anaheim, CA
Category 38: Contemporary American-Style Lager – 104 Entries
Gold: Scout, True Anomaly Brewing Co., Houston, TX
Silver: Shouganai, Blue Point Brewing Co., Patchogue, NY
Bronze: Blackberry Smoke American Lager, New Realm Brewing Co. –
Category 39: American Pilsener – 141 Entries
Gold: Wibby Jibby, Wibby Brewing, Longmont, CO
Silver: Cerveza Mecanica, Liquid Mechanics Brewing Co., Lafayette, CO
Bronze: Week 365, Industrial Arts Brewing Co., Beacon, NY
Category 40: International-Style Pilsener – 141 Entries
Gold: Little Wing, Horse Thief Hollow Brewing Co., Chicago, IL
Silver: Ofrenda, Device Brewing Co., Sacramento, CA
Bronze: Tora!, Fall Brewing Co., San Diego, CA
Category 41: American Cream Ale – 124 Entries
Gold: 307, Black Tooth Brewing Co., Sheridan, WY
Silver: Cinco Cinco Cinco!, Shred Beer Co., Rocklin, CA
Bronze: The Coloradan, Westbound & Down Brewing Co. – Westbound Mill, Lafayette, CO
Category 42: Other Hoppy Lager – 68 Entries
Gold: Jet Lag Lager, Vacancy Brewing, Austin, TX
Silver: Juicy Pilsner, Cinder Block Brewery, North Kansas City, MO
Bronze: Day Beer, Trap Door Brewing – Whistle Stop Pub, Washougal, WA
Category 43: India Pale Lager or Cold India Pale Ale – 134 Entries
Gold: Sound Sail, MadeWest Brewing Co., Ventura, CA
Silver: Orizaba Cold IPA, Cheluna Brewing Co., Aurora, CO B
ronze: Zero Degrees, Shred Beer Co., Rocklin, CA
Category 44: American Amber Lager – 126 Entries
Gold: Hometown Lager, Second Pitch Beer Co., San Antonio, TX
Silver: Vecino, Balter Beerworks, Knoxville, TN
Bronze: Bell’s Brewery Octoberfest, Bell’s Brewery, Comstock, MI
Category 45: German-Style Pilsener – 228 Entries
Gold: Prodigal Pils, Lazarus Brewing Co. – Laz 2, Austin, TX
Silver: Prost Pilsner, Prost Brewing Co., Denver, CO
Bronze: Don’t Fear The Answer, Tenma Beer Project, Oakland, CA
Category 46: Bohemian-Style Pilsener – 158 Entries
Gold: Crazy Horse, Lazarus Brewing Co., Austin, TX
Silver: Daytonian Rhapsody, Eudora Brewing Co., Dayton, OH
Bronze: Tahoe Pilz, FiftyFifty Brewing Co. – Production Facility, Truckee, CA
Category 47: Munich-Style Helles – 172 Entries
Gold: Prinz Crispy, Deschutes Brewery & Public House – Bend, Bend, OR
Silver: Templin Family Helles, Templin Family Brewing, Salt Lake City, UT
Bronze: Ein Helles, Counter Weight Brewing Co., Cheshire, CT
Category 48: Dortmunder or German-Style Oktoberfest – 134 Entries
Gold: Dortmunder Export, Cooperage Brewing Co., Santa Rosa, CA
Silver: Thunder from Dortmunder, Marble Brewery – MavLab, Albuquerque, NM
Bronze: Dorty Work, Cloudburst Brewing, Seattle, WA
Category 49: Vienna-Style Lager – 116 Entries
Gold: Oktoberfest, Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA
Silver: Oktoberfest, Silver Branch Brewing Co., Silver Spring, MD
Bronze: Cape May Oktoberfest, Cape May Brewing Co., Cape May, NJ
Category 50: German-Style Maerzen – 162 Entries
Gold: Seedstock Maerzen, Seedstock Brewery, Denver, CO
Silver: Festbier, Big Grove Brewery & Taproom, Iowa City, IA
Bronze: Oktoberfest, Golden Road Brewing – Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Category 51: German Dark Lager – 122 Entries
Gold: Goodnight Munich, Liquid Gravity Brewing Co., San Luis Obispo, CA
Silver: Wunder Bier, Red Leg Brewing Co., Colorado Springs, CO
Bronze: Black Hill, Silver Reef Brewing Co., Saint George, UT Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
Category 52: International Dark Lager – 79 Entries
Gold: Midnight Trucker, Rock Solid Brewing Co., Ball Ground, GA
Silver: Tmavé, Copper Furrow Brewing, Helena, MT
Bronze: Flek Me?? No Flek Ů!!, Brieux Carré Brewing Co., New Orleans, LA
Category 53: Bock – 70 Entries
Gold: Hootenanny, Bankhead Brewing Co., Rowlett, TX
Silver: Breakline Bock, Rip Current Brewing, San Marcos, CA
Bronze: Ain’t Afraid of No Goats, Metazoa Brewing Co., Indianapolis, IN
Category 54: German-Style Doppelbock or Eisbock – 44 Entries
Gold: Execrator, Resolute Brewing Co., Centennial, CO
Silver: Co-Munichator, Deschutes Brewery & Public House – PDX, Portland, OR
Bronze: Activator, Wallenpaupack Brewing Co., Hawley, PA
Category 55: Golden or Blonde Ale – 138 Entries
Gold: Fancy Lawnmower Beer, Saint Arnold Brewing Co., Houston, TX
Silver: Sunlight Cream Ale, Sun King Brewery, Indianapolis, IN
Bronze: Basecamp Blonde, Hutton & Smith Brewing Co. – Production Facility, Chattanooga, TN
Category 56: German-Style Koelsch – 195 Entries
Gold: Kodiak Kolsch, Bear Chase Brewing Co., Bluemont, VA
Silver: Rise & Climb, New Terrain Brewing Co., Golden, CO
Bronze: Cruzer, Real Ale Brewing Co., Blanco, TX
Category 57: English Ale – 69 Entries
Gold: Elissa IPA, Saint Arnold Brewing Co., Houston, TX
Silver: House Ale, 1849 Brewing Co., Grass Valley, CA
Bronze: Prickly Pear Pale Ale, Lewis & Clark Brewing Co., Helena, MT
Category 58: International-Style Pale Ale – 123 Entries
Gold: Hand of Josh, Highland Park Brewery – Chinatown, Los Angeles, CA
Silver: Carlsbad Crush, Burgeon Beer Co., Carlsbad, CA
Bronze: Extra Pale Ale, Firestone Walker Brewing Co. – The Propagator, Marina del Rey, CA
Category 59: New Zealand India Pale Ale – 104 Entries
Gold: Kiwi (The Bird), Rhinegeist Innovation Brewery, Cincinnati, OH
Silver: Spirit of the West, Westbound & Down Brewing Co. – Westbound Mill, Lafayette, CO
Bronze: Docta-Ron, Russian River Brewing Co. – Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa, CA
Category 60: American-Style Pale Ale – 149 Entries
Gold: Featherweight, Cannonball Creek Brewing Co., Golden, CO
Silver: Snow Crest, Outlaw Brewing Co., Bozeman, MT
Bronze: Double Nickels, Docent Brewing, San Juan Capistrano, CA
Category 61: Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale – 118 Entries
Gold: Cloudy Joose, New Belgium Brewing Co. – Mission Bay, San Francisco, CA
Silver: Sneakbox, Kane Brewing Co., Ocean, NJ
Bronze: Lil’ Space Booties, MORE Brewing Co., Huntley, IL
Category 62: American-Style Strong Pale Ale – 123 Entries
Gold: Mai Tai, Alvarado Street Brewery & Bistro, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA
Silver: Chaos Erupts, Unsung Brewing Co., Tustin, CA
Bronze: Liquid Gravity IPA, Liquid Gravity Brewing Co., San Luis Obispo, CA
Category 63: Juicy or Hazy Strong Pale Ale – 140 Entries
Gold: PB Haze, TapRoom Beer Co., San Diego, CA
Silver: Modern Melody, Corn Coast Brewing Co., Lincoln, NE
Bronze: Tropical Mirage, Flix Brewhouse – ABQ, Albuquerque, NM
Category 64: American-Style India Pale Ale – 206 Entries
Gold: Head Hunter, Fat Head’s Brewery & Saloon, North Olmsted, OH
Silver: Breakside IPA, Breakside Brewery & Taproom, Milwaukie, OR
Bronze: Downtown Tom, Three Mile Brewing Co., Davis, CA
Category 65: Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale – 365 Entries
Gold: Away Days, 1852 Brew Co., Visalia, CA
Silver: Juicy Mid-Tones, Corn Coast Brewing Co., Lincoln, NE
Bronze: Make it Rain, Side Hustle Brewing Co., Hilton Head Island, SC
Category 66: West Coast-Style India Pale Ale – 301 Entries
Gold: Westbound Select, Westbound & Down Brewing Co., Idaho Springs, CO
Silver: Untold Prophecy, Slice Beer Co., Lincoln, CA
Bronze: Bright Side IPA, Uprise Brewing Co., Spokane, WA
Category 67: Imperial India Pale Ale – 130 Entries
Gold: Triple IPA, Claremont Craft Ales, Claremont, CA
Silver: Drama King, Liquid Gravity Brewing Co., San Luis Obispo, CA
Bronze: Double MO7, Del Cielo Brewing Co., Martinez, CA
Category 68: Juicy or Hazy Imperial India Pale Ale – 135 Entries
Gold: DDH Pillow, Highland Park Brewery, Los Angeles, CA
Silver: X-Raying Flowers, North Park Beer Co., San Diego, CA
Bronze: Blue Quad Roller Skates, Wren House Brewing Co., Phoenix, AZ
Category 69: American Amber/Red Ale – 130 Entries
Gold: Blown Tire, Knuckle Puck Brewing, Longmont, CO
Silver: Night Sky Red Ale, Sound2Summit Brewery, Snohomish, WA
Bronze: Azalea City Amber, Georgia Beer Co., Valdosta, GA
Category 70: Strong Red Ale – 50 Entries
Gold: Wreak Havoc, Bootstrap Brewing, Longmont, CO
Silver: Say Hi To Your Dad For Me, Cloudburst Brewing, Seattle, WA
Bronze: Contemplation Time, Half Batch Brewing, Hendersonville, TN
Category 71: English Mild or Bitter – 66 Entries
Gold: Sawtooth Ale, Left Hand Brewing Co., Longmont, CO
Silver: Toasty, The Brew Brothers – Eldorado Scioto Downs Racino, Columbus, OH
Bronze: Good Talk, Gusto Brewing Co., North Cape May, NJ
Category 72: Extra Special Bitter – 49 Entries
Gold: Velvet ESB, Hopworks Urban Brewery, Portland, OR
Silver: Railhead Red, Lumberyard Brewing Co. – Taproom & Grille, Flagstaff, AZ
Bronze: Hooks & Dun, Wren House Brewing Co., Phoenix, AZ
Category 73: Scottish-Style Ale – 51 Entries
Gold: William Walrus, Metazoa Brewing Co., Indianapolis, IN
Silver: Laughing Lab Scottish Ale, Bristol Brewing Co., Colorado Springs, CO
Bronze: Glenlongbeach, Beachwood Brewing – Huntington Beach, Huntington Beach, CA
Category 74: Irish-Style Red Ale – 87 Entries
Gold: Rock Hill Irish Red, Barley Naked Brewing Co., Stafford, VA
Silver: Megaphone, Inside the Five Brewing Co., Sylvania, OH
Bronze: Engine 402, Orange Hat Brewing Co., Knoxville, TN
Category 75: English-Style Brown Ale – 48 Entries
Gold: Classic Version, Agile Brewing, Baton Rouge, LA
Silver: Stone Fort, Seventh Son Brewing Co., Columbus, OH
Bronze: Nut Brown, AleSmith Brewing Co., San Diego, CA
Category 76: American-Style Brown Ale – 80 Entries
Gold: Restraint, Institution Ale Co., Camarillo, CA
Silver: Upside Brown Ale, Falling Sky Brewing, Eugene, OR
Bronze: Trabuco, Docent Brewing, San Juan Capistrano, CA
Category 77: American Black Ale or American Stout – 59 Entries
Gold: Breakside Cheat Codes, Breakside Brewery, Portland, OR
Silver: Hoppa Emeritus, Beachwood Brewing – Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
Bronze: Midnight Oil, Tustin Brewing Co., Tustin, CA
Category 78: German Sour Ale – 43 Entries
Gold: Riviera, 10 Barrel Brewing Co. – Bend Pub, Bend, OR
Silver: Restless Seas Gose, Narrow Path Brewing Co., Loveland, OH
Bronze: Athena, Creature Comforts – Production Facility At Southern Mill, Athens, GA
Category 79: Specialty Berliner-Style Weisse – 42 Entries
Gold: Saft, Narrow Gauge Brewing Co., Florissant, MO
Silver: Jersey Vice, Bolero Snort Brewery, Carlstadt, NJ
Bronze: La Cabrona, Hound Song Brewing Co., Columbus, TX
Category 80: Contemporary Gose – 71 Entries
Gold: Citrus Snack, Flying Basset Brewing, Gilbert, AZ
Silver: In Bloom, Basin+Range, Tucson, AZ
Bronze: MexicAle, Shortleaf Brewing, O’Fallon, MO
Category 81: German-Style Altbier – 48 Entries
Gold: Alt 140, Sew Hop’d Brewery, Huntley, IL
Silver: Altbier, Four Generals Brewing, Renton, WA
Bronze: BierKraft Altbier, BierKraft, McAlester, OK
Category 82: German Wheat Ale – 24 Entries
Gold: Alpenglow, Fat Head’s Brewery, Middleburg Heights, OH
Silver: Weizenheimer, Grains of Wrath PDX, Portland, OR
Bronze: Der Hexenmeister, Magnanimous Brewing – Bradenton, Bradenton, FL
Category 83: South German-Style Hefeweizen – 158 Entries
Gold: Goggle Fogger, Fat Head’s Brewery, Middleburg Heights, OH
Silver: Kulshan Hefeweizen, Kulshan Brewing Co. – K2, Bellingham, WA
Bronze: Hoofer’s Hef, Bankhead Brewing Co., Rowlett, TX
Category 84: Belgian-Style Ale or French-Style Ale – 63 Entries
Gold: Vincianne, True North Ale Co., Ipswich, MA
Silver: DOMESTIQUE Blonde Ale, Rouleur Brewing Co., Carlsbad, CA
Bronze: LMM Belgian Amber, Lone Man Mountain Brewing Co., Driftwood, TX
Category 85: Belgian-Style Witbier – 68 Entries
Gold: White Rascal, Avery Brewing Co., Boulder, CO
Silver: Allagash White, Allagash Brewing Co., Portland, ME
Bronze: White Goblin, Mathews Brewing Co., Lake Worth, FL
Category 86: Classic Saison – 62 Entries
Gold: Kal-El, Protagonist Beer, Charlotte, NC
Silver: Disco Elephant, New York Beer Project, Lockport, NY
Bronze: Saison Parfait, Little Beast Brewing, Clackamas, OR
Category 87: Specialty Saison – 63 Entries
Gold: Shadow Saison Ale with Hibiscus, Musings Fermentation Underground, Newark, DE
Silver: Freedom Fries w/ Cherry, Call To Arms Brewing Co., Denver, CO
Bronze: 1710 Saison, Figurehead Brewing Co., Seattle, WA
Category 88: Belgian-Style Sour Ale – 51 Entries
Gold: All the Love You Won’t Forget, Autumn Arch Beer Project, Newark, DE
Silver: Earth & Aether, Noble Creature Wild Ales & Lagers, Youngstown, OH
Bronze: Trois Années Cuvée, Angel City Brewery, Los Angeles, CA
Category 89: Belgian-Style Strong Specialty Ale – 83 Entries
Gold: Quadrupel Donker, Evans Brewing Co., Corona, CA
Silver: Thor’s Hammer, Redwood Brewing Co., Flint, MI
Bronze: Delta Quadrant, The Tap Brewery, Bloomington, IN
Category 90: Belgian-Style Abbey Ale – 87 Entries
Gold: Tripel, Allagash Brewing Co., Portland, ME
Silver: Over There, Attic Brewing Co., Philadelphia, PA
Bronze: Hubble Dubbel, Apogee Brewing Co., Grover Beach, CA
Category 91: Belgian Fruit Beer – 52 Entries
Gold: Frambozen, pFriem Cascade Locks Barrelhouse, Cascade Locks, OR
Silver: Island Rascal, Avery Brewing Co., Boulder, CO
Bronze: Raspberry Parliament, Alesong Brewing & Blending, Eugene, OR
Category 92: Brown Porter – 52 Entries
Gold: Dark Matter Porter, Logboat Brewing Co., Columbia, MO
Silver: Night Swim, Coppertail Brewing Co., Tampa, FL
Bronze: Old Normal, Bend Brewing Co., Bend, OR
Category 93: Robust Porter – 62 Entries
Gold: Foggy London Town, Rock Bottom Brewery – Denver, Denver, CO
Silver: Robust Porter, Reuben’s Brews – Production Brewery, Seattle, WA
Bronze: Tabula Rasa, Second Chance Beer Co., San Diego, CA
Category 94: Stout – 67 Entries
Gold: Slainte, Legion Brewing Co., Charlotte, NC
Silver: Shinobi, Byway Brewing Co., Hammond, IN
Bronze: Silent Neighbor, Atlas Brew Works, Washington, DC
Category 95: Sweet Stout or Cream Stout – 46 Entries
Gold: Scout, Vibrissa Beer, Front Royal, VA
Silver: Milk Stout, Waredaca Brewing Co., Gaithersburg, MD
Bronze: Moozie, Brink Brewing Co., Cincinnati, OH
Category 96: Oatmeal Stout – 48 Entries
Gold: Mountain Moonlight, Wild Fields Brewhouse, Atascadero, CA
Silver: Wall of Sound, Stereo Brewing Co., Placentia, CA
Bronze: Buttons the Bear, Bear Chase Brewing Co., Bluemont, VA
Category 97: Imperial Stout – 67 Entries
Gold: Gatling Gun, BNS Brewing & Distilling Co., Santee, CA
Silver: Big Deluxe, Ritual Brewing Co., Redlands, CA
Bronze: Postcard from St. Petersburg, Bartlett Hall, San Francisco, CA
Category 98: Scotch Ale – 39 Entries
Gold: Real Heavy, Real Ale Brewing Co., Blanco, TX
Silver: Scottish Wildcat, Wild Blue Yonder Brewing Co., Castle Rock, CO
Bronze: Old Chub Scotch Ale, Oskar Blues Brewery & Tasty Weasel Taproom, Longmont, CO
Category 99: Old Ale or Strong Ale or Barley Wine – 53 Entries
Gold: Ice Raptor, Ninkasi Brewing Co., Eugene, OR
Silver: Populator, Diebolt Brewing Co., Denver, CO
Bronze: Chris Barley in a Little Coat, Wichita Brewing Co. – Production, Wichita, KS
Category : Pro-Am Competition – 50 Entries
Gold: She Fancies Herself A Little Bit French, CooperSmith’s Pub & Brewing – Mark Pennick, Fort Collins, CO
Silver: Rob’s Baltic Porter, New Belgium Brewing Co. – Rob Hardisty, Fort Collins, CO
Bronze: What Is That?, Decipher Brewing Co. – Joel Miller, Charlottesville, VA
Category : Collab Competition – 96 Entries
Gold: Luna Mexican Export Lager, Cheluna Brewing Co. / Prost Brewing Co., Aurora, CO
Silver: Mounds of Importance, Third Eye Brewing Co. / Narrow Path Brewing Co., Sharonville, OH
Bronze: Two’s Daze, Attic Brewing Co. / Two Locals Brewing Co., Philadelphia, PA
2023 Brewery of the Year Awards
0-250 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year
Shred Beer Co., Rocklin, CA Zack Frasher & Amy Heller
251–500 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year
Sponsored by Beer Law Center
The Big Friendly, Oklahoma City OK Will Quinlin & Joe Quinlin
501–1,000 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year
Sponsored by Prairie Malt
Balter Beerworks, Knoxville, TN Balter Brewing Team
1,001–2,000 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year
Sponsored by ABS Commercial
Third Eye Brewing Co., Sharonville, OH Third Eye Brew Crew
2,001–5,000 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year
Sponsored by Brewers Supply Group
Liquid Gravity Brewing Co., San Luis Obispo, CA Brendan Gough & Beau Sorenson
5,001–15,000 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year
Sponsored by Country Malt Group
Wibby Brewing, Longmont, CO Team Wibby Brewing
15,001–100,000 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year
Sponsored by Briess Malt & Ingredients Co.
Saint Arnold Brewing Co., Houston, TX Saint Arnold Brew Crew
Brewery Group Brewery and Brewer of the Year
Sponsored by Encompass Technologies
Allagash Brewing Co., Portland, ME Team Allagash
And save the date for next year as the 2024 Great American Beer Festival takes place from October 10-12, 2024!
About The Author
DJ
D.J. is a Portland, Oregon based writer that spent his formative years in the Midwest. With over 25 years under his belt of drinking beer at festivals across America and the world, he has developed a strong appreciation and understanding of craft beer and the industry that surrounds it. He can be found in any of the great breweries or beer bars that make Portland the best beer city in the world. His writing can also be found in the archives of Northwest Brewing News and can be followed on Twitter and Instagram at @hopapalooza.