Great American Beer Festival Awards 2012 Winners
Award-winning brewers received gold, silver and bronze medals in 84 beer categories covering 134 different beer styles. Winners were chosen from 4,338 competition entries from 666 breweries, hailing from 48 states, Washington, D.C. and Guam, indicating that ambitious brewers are opening breweries and producing extremely high-quality beer brands in once unlikely locations.
Since 2001, the most-entered category has been American-Style India Pale Ale (IPA), which saw 203 entries in 2012. Beer lovers around the country have shown their preference for hop-forward beers, and breweries are rising to meet demand with an ever-increasing selection of IPAs.
American-Style India Pale Ale
Silver: Barley Brown's Brew Pub, Baker City, Ore., Pallet Jack IPA
Bronze: Alpine Beer Co., Alpine, Calif., Duet
Imperial India Pale Ale
Silver: Bear Republic Brewing Co. - Healdsburg, Calif., Caf Racer 15
Bronze: Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Paso Robles, Calif., Double Jack
Herb and Spice Beer
Silver: Cambridge Brewing Co., Cambridge, Mass., CBC Heather Ale
Bronze: Epic Brewing Co., Salt Lake City, Utah, Utah Sage Saison
American-Style Strong Pale Ale
Silver: Lumberyard Brewing Co., Flagstaff, Ariz., Lumberyard IPA
Bronze: Laughing Dog Brewing, Ponderay, Idaho, Laughing Dog IPA
American-Style Pale Ale
Silver: Piece Brewery, Chicago, Ill., The Weight
Bronze: Three Floyds Brewing Co., Munster, Ind., Zombie Dust
The 2012 GABF competition featured the new Fresh Hop Ale category, with 34 entries. This category showcases ales that are hopped exclusively with fresh, undried, "wet" hops.
Matching its largest field of entries to date, this year's GABF competition saw its biggest panel of judges ever, with 185 beer experts from 11 countries participating.
Official sponsors of this year’s GABF included Snyder’s of Hanover and Yard House Restaurants.
For a complete list of GABF winners and sponsors, click here.