More than 127 judges labored for three days to evaluate 2,902 beers and pick the best entries and top breweries for this year’s Great American Beer Festival, now in its 27th year. A total of 222 medals were awarded in 75 beer style categories and top breweries and brewers were designated based on the total number of medals won. The five top awards recognize small, medium and large breweries and small and large brewpubs. The awards went to the following breweries:
Large Brewing Company and Large Brewing Company Brewer of the Year:
Anheuser-Busch, Inc.; Doug Muhleman
Mid-Size Brewing Company and Mid-Size Brewing Company Brewer of the Year:
Pyramid Breweries Inc.; Simon Pesch
Small Brewing Company and Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year:
AleSmith Brewing Co.; The AleSmith Brewing Team
Large Brewpub and Large Brewpub Brewer of the Year:
Rock Bottom Brewing; Rock Bottom Brewing Team
Small Brewpub and Small Brewpub Brewer of the Year:
Redwood Brewing Co.; Bill Wamby
Craft Beer Distributor of the Year:
Click Distributing, Seattle, WA
For a list of all the winners, visit the official GABF website. http://www.beertown.org/events/gabf/medals/medalists.aspx