(LANSING, Mich) – Michigan craft breweries were awarded five medals at the 30th Annual Great American Beer Festival (GABF) Competition, held this past weekend in Denver, Colorado.
New Holland Nabs the Silver Medal for Blue Sunday, Category: Belgian Style Lambic or Sour Ale
This year’s GABF competition attracted 167 beer judges from nine countries, with 3,930 entries from 526 breweries in 48 states plus Washington DC and Puerto Rico (96 breweries were first-time entrants this year). Award-winning brewers received prestigious gold, silver and bronze medals in 83 beer categories (with four new categories this year) establishing the best examples of each style in the U.S.
Michigan Brewers Guild member received the following awards:
GOLD
- Expedition Stout – Bell’s Brewery, Comstock
Category: Aged Beer - Mangalista Pig Porter – Right Brain Brewery, Traverse City
Category: Experimental Beer
SILVER
- Blue Sunday – New Holland Brewing Company, Holland
Category: Belgian Style Lambic or Sour Ale - Cream Stout – Redwood Brewing Company, Flint
Category: Sweet Stout
BRONZE
- Pin Up Blonde – Bastone Brewery, Royal Oak
Category: Belgian & French Style Ale
In addition to the individual beer medals presented, Short’s Brewing Company out of Bellaire was recognized for the “Best Booth” at this year’s festival.
The Great American Beer Festival (www.
Five different three-hour judging sessions take place over the three-day period during the week of the festival, with judges assigned to evaluate beers in their specific area of expertise. Breweries are awarded points, which are tabulated to arrive at the top three place medals in each category. The judging panel awards gold, silver or bronze medals that are recognized around the world as symbols of brewing excellence. These awards are among the most coveted in the industry and heralded by the winning brewers in their national advertising. Medal distinctions are as follows:
- GOLD: A world-class beer that accurately exemplifies the specified style, displaying the proper balance of taste, aroma and appearance.
- SILVER: An excellent beer that may vary slightly from style parameters while maintaining close adherence to the style and displaying excellent taste, aroma and appearance.
- BRONZE: A fine example of the style that may vary slightly from style parameters and/or have minor deviations in taste, aroma or appearance.
The Great American Beer Festival is the granddaddy of all U.S. beer festivals, offering the largest collection of U.S. beer ever assembled. Sponsored by The Brewers Association, the festival features more than 1900 different beers from 400 breweries throughout the country. A highlight of the festival is that many of the beers are served by their makers, allowing aficionados the chance to meet many of their beer heroes.
Michigan’s thriving brewing industry contributes over $24 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $133 million. In terms of overall number breweries, microbreweries and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #5 in the nation – thus supporting its claim as “The Great Beer State.”
The Michigan Brewers Guild exists to unify the Michigan brewing community; to increase sales of Michigan-brewed beer through promotions, marketing, public awareness and consumer education; and to monitor and assure a healthy beer industry within the state. Each year, the Guild hosts four annual craft beer festivals, with the next – Detroit Fall Beer Festival – scheduled for October 22 (1-6pm) at Eastern Market in Detroit.
For more information about the Michigan Brewers Guild, including a dates of upcoming events and a list of member micro-breweries, log on to www.michiganbrewersguild.org.
