This weekend, brewers from around the country gathered for the annual Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado. Put on by the Brewers Association, the GABF is among the largest in the world. More than 700 breweries poured 1oz samples of 3,500 beers from all over the America to about 49,000 attendees. One of the highlights of the weekend long madness is the beer competition. The competition is comprised of brewing industry professionals evaluating approximately 5,700 entries from over 1,300 breweries, in 90 unique beer categories.

Six Minnesota brewers were awarded medals during the brewing competition award ceremony on Saturday afternoon. Minnesota was well represented, bringing home two more awards than in 2013, and 3 three more than in 2012. Gold medals went to Badger Hill Brewing for White IPA in the American-Belgo category, and Steel Toe Brewing for Wee Heavy in the Scotch Ale Category. Indeed Brewing took home a silver for Mexican Honey in the Specialty Honey Beer Category. Summit Brewing won Bronze for Extra Pale Ale (EPA) in the Classic English-Style Pale Ale. Arguably the king of barrel aging beer in Minnesota, Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery was awarded Bronze for Buffalo Bock, a Weizenbock aged in Buffalo Trace Barrels, among the the Wood and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer. Rounding out the Minnesota winners list is relative newcomers, Bent Paddle Brewing. The Duluth brewery captured a Bronze with 14° ESB in the Extra Special Bitter category.

Award Criteria A world-class beer that accurately exemplifies the specified style, displaying the proper balance of taste, aroma and appearance. An excellent beer that may vary slightly from style parameters while maintaining close adherence to the style and displaying excellent taste, aroma and appearance. A fine example of the style that may vary slightly from style parameters and/or have minor deviations in taste, aroma or appearance.

Gold – White IPA – Badger Hill Brewing – American-Belgo-Style Ale 2014

Gold – Wee Heavy – Steel Toe Brewing – Scotch Ale 2014

Silver – Mexican Honey – Indeed Brewing Co. – Specialty Honey Beer 2014

Bronze – Extra Pale Ale – Summit Brewing Co. – Classic English-Style Pale Ale 2014

Bronze – Buffalo Bock – Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery – Wood and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer 2014

Bronze – 14° ESB – Bent Paddle Brewing Co. – Extra Special Bitter 2014

Congratulations to all the winners!

Full list of Great American Beer Festival winners can be found here.

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