Denver's Great American Beer Festival is Serious Business — Photo courtesy of deege@fermentarium.com
For American brewers, there's one festival that trumps them all... kind of like the Superbowl of football. This mighty event, The Great American Beer Festival, takes place each year, and evaluates literally thousands of beers from around the nation. But they don't just give out a prize or two. The GABF analyzes beers of all varieties, and officially compares beers within more than 80 categories. These include beer genres such as extra special bitter, German-style schwartzbier, session beer, and smoke beer. Even the most seasoned of beer aficionados would be hard-pressed to generate half the categories appearing in this competition each year.
Though this is nothing new for Utah locals, it may surprise some visitors: year after year, Utah is one of the winningest states in the nation at the GABF. One of the greatest highlights of this illustrious career was Red Rock Brewing's 2007 designation as the “Best Large Brewpub and Large Brewpub Brewer of the Year.” And this year was no different. Though no brewpubs were specifically given any awards, Salt Lake City's individual beers managed to pull in six awards - and not without tough competition. So when you're out and about, consider stopping by these brewpubs. Or look for their beers in restaurants and at the liquor store.
Fruit Beer, Silver Medal (of 56 entries), Brainless on Peaches
Imperial India Pale Ale, Bronze Medal (of 102 entries), Imperial IPA
American-Style Nut Brown Ale, Bronze Medal (of 49 entries), Red Rock Nut Brown Ale
Belgian-Style Lambic or Sour Ale, Gold Medal (of 51 entries), Fifth Element 2008
Squatters Pub Brewery (of the Utah Brewers Cooperative):
Session Beer, Gold Medal (of 44 entries), Provo Girl Pilsner
German-Style Märzen, Gold Medal (of 58 entries), Stein Knocker
Great Americn Beer Festival Pro-Am Competition, Silver Medal, Schwarzherz
