This past weekend, The Brewers Association awarded 272 medals to 240 breweries at the 2020 Great American Beer Festival. The festival is typically held in Denver – but due to COVID-19, the event took place virtually. Each beer was organized into 91 categories and awarded either a gold, silver or bronze medal. Among the 240 breweries, 23 Colorado-based breweries earned a medal for their beer.
The festival – which includes beer samples and an elite judge panel – is attended by industry professionals from around the world. The extensive judging process takes place over the course of three days in five separate three-hour segments. From American-Style Pale Ales to Fruit Wheat Beer, here are the breweries that made the cut:
Gold Medal Winners
Volksbier Vienna, American Amber Lager — Wibby Brewing, Longmont
Liliko’i Kepolo, Fruit Wheat Beer — Avery Brewing Co., Boulder
Amburana Dream, Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer — Denver Beer Co., Arvada,
Amber’s Lager-Amber Lager, German-style Maerzen — Irwin Brewing Co., Crested Butte
Howitzer Amber, German-style Altbier — Red Leg Brewing Co., Colorado Springs
Featherweight pale ale, American-style Pale Ale — Cannonball Creek Brewing Co., Golden
Moon Haze, Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale — Blue Moon Brewing Co., Denver
Balefire Irish red, Irish-style Red Ale — Mirror Image Brewing Co., Frederick
Silver Medal Winners
Prost Pils, German-style Pilsener — Prost Brewing Co., Denver
Superpower IPA, American-style Strong Pale Ale — Comrade Brewing Co., Denver
Coconut Bligh’s Barleywine, Field Beer — Dry Dock Brewing Co.-North Dock, Aurora
Dear You, American-Belgian-style Ale — Ratio Beerworks, Denver
Poblano Pills, Chili Beer — Cervecería Colorado, Denver
Seedstock Gratzer, Historical Beer — Seedstock Brewery, Denver
Mirage, American-style Sour Ale — New Terrain Brewing Co., Golden
Déluge, Mixed-Culture Brett Beer — Sanitas Brewing Co., Boulder
It Takes a Tribe red ale, Scottish-style Ale — Goat Patch Brewing Co., Colorado Springs
Amburana Graham Cracker Porter, Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer — Denver Beer Co., Denver
Justin’s Easy Going Amber, American-style Amber/Red Ale — Zuni Street Brewing Co., Denver
Bronze Medal Winners
Let’s Talk About Mex, American-style Cream Ale — Cannonball Creek Brewing Co., Golden
Afternoon Delight, Fruit Wheat Beer — Storm Peak Brewing Co., Steamboat Springs,
Dry Stout, Stout — The Post Brewing Co., Lafayette
Powder Run, Herb and Spice Beer — Living the Dream Brewing Co., Littleton
Sour IPA, American-style Sour Ale — New Belgium Brewing Co., Fort Collin
Inner Light, International Pale Ale — Our Mutual Friend Brewing Co., Denver
Vladimir Brutin, Experimental India Pale Ale — Cannonball Creek Brewing Co., Golden
Click here for more information on other award-winning breweries from across the nation.
Editor’s note: a previous version incorrectly stated the number of craft breweries that won at GABF. We have updated accordingly.