It must be the water!
Or, the fact that Colorado still makes more beer than any other state â€" thus supporting the thriving, vibrant craft beer industry.
Or, maybe some bizarre cosmic alignment provided the beers of Colorado with better hops, fresher malts, and some sort of space-borne yeast cultivated on an ice-laden distant planet notorious for producing incredible intergalactic beer.
Maybe.
Or, maybe Colorado just has some damn good brewers in their midst.
I would presume the later.
Nonetheless, at this year's Great American Beer Fest Colorado breweries accumulated more awards than any other state! In fact, Colorado gathered six more awards than California, a state with thirty-one-million more people, and a slightly higher number of breweries. A rather gratifying accomplishment for the 38th state of the republic.
Recent up-starts such as Colorado Boy Pub and Brewery in Ridgeway, Colorado Brewing in Boulder, Upslope Brewing in Boulder, and Trinity Brewing in Colorado Springs all picked up awards for brews that have just begun to trickle onto the palates of Colorado beer aficionados.
Dry Dock Brewing in Aurora, hardly through celebrating an award rich showing at the Colorado State Fair, garnered three additional medals at the GABF. Dry Dock's Bismark Alt won gold, and along with two other silvers, the impressive, recently-expanded brewery walked away with the coveted “Small Brewing Company and Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year” award. Apparently the dock's over at Dry Dock aren't so dry!
MillerCoors, the “super-macrobrewery-conglomerate” situated in Golden, and it's laundry list of acquired brands, absorbed fifteen awards spanning categories from American-style Lager to European-style Dunkel. Even the 144 year old brew responsible for the culturally-ingrained “beer bear” found recognition at the GABF. Hamm's, a beer that has passed through more hands than a crowded blackjack table, won a silver in the American-style Cream Ale or Lager category.
All of these award-winning breweries and brewpubs and hundreds of others served frothy libations to 46,000 thirsty attendees! 2,100 brews were served by 457 breweries and brewpubs in the festival hall. 495 breweries and brewpubs entered 3,308 beers for judging in 78 categories. 103 judges from 10 countries tasted, analyzed, discussed, and ultimately passed judgment upon the suds wrestling in competition. In the end, Colorado left the festival with 45 medals!
Congratulations to all those who won awards!
A list of all the Colorado brewery and brewpub winners can be found below. A full list can be found at the GABF website website.
2009 Brewery and Brewer of the Year Awards
Large Brewing Company & Large Brewing Company Brewer of the Year
Coors Brewing Company, Golden, CO - Dr. David Ryder
Small Brewing Company and Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year
Dry Dock Brewing Company, Aurora, CO - Dry Dock Brewing Team
Or, the fact that Colorado still makes more beer than any other state â€" thus supporting the thriving, vibrant craft beer industry.
Or, maybe some bizarre cosmic alignment provided the beers of Colorado with better hops, fresher malts, and some sort of space-borne yeast cultivated on an ice-laden distant planet notorious for producing incredible intergalactic beer.
Maybe.
Or, maybe Colorado just has some damn good brewers in their midst.
I would presume the later.
Nonetheless, at this year's Great American Beer Fest Colorado breweries accumulated more awards than any other state! In fact, Colorado gathered six more awards than California, a state with thirty-one-million more people, and a slightly higher number of breweries. A rather gratifying accomplishment for the 38th state of the republic.
Recent up-starts such as Colorado Boy Pub and Brewery in Ridgeway, Colorado Brewing in Boulder, Upslope Brewing in Boulder, and Trinity Brewing in Colorado Springs all picked up awards for brews that have just begun to trickle onto the palates of Colorado beer aficionados.
Dry Dock Brewing in Aurora, hardly through celebrating an award rich showing at the Colorado State Fair, garnered three additional medals at the GABF. Dry Dock's Bismark Alt won gold, and along with two other silvers, the impressive, recently-expanded brewery walked away with the coveted “Small Brewing Company and Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year” award. Apparently the dock's over at Dry Dock aren't so dry!
MillerCoors, the “super-macrobrewery-conglomerate” situated in Golden, and it's laundry list of acquired brands, absorbed fifteen awards spanning categories from American-style Lager to European-style Dunkel. Even the 144 year old brew responsible for the culturally-ingrained “beer bear” found recognition at the GABF. Hamm's, a beer that has passed through more hands than a crowded blackjack table, won a silver in the American-style Cream Ale or Lager category.
All of these award-winning breweries and brewpubs and hundreds of others served frothy libations to 46,000 thirsty attendees! 2,100 brews were served by 457 breweries and brewpubs in the festival hall. 495 breweries and brewpubs entered 3,308 beers for judging in 78 categories. 103 judges from 10 countries tasted, analyzed, discussed, and ultimately passed judgment upon the suds wrestling in competition. In the end, Colorado left the festival with 45 medals!
Congratulations to all those who won awards!
A list of all the Colorado brewery and brewpub winners can be found below. A full list can be found at the GABF website website.
2009 Brewery and Brewer of the Year Awards
Large Brewing Company & Large Brewing Company Brewer of the Year
Coors Brewing Company, Golden, CO - Dr. David Ryder
Small Brewing Company and Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year
Dry Dock Brewing Company, Aurora, CO - Dry Dock Brewing Team
Gold
American-Style Cream Ale or Lager
Milwaukee?s Best
Miller Brewing Co.
Golden, CO
Other Strong Beer
Cardiff
Glenwood Canyon Brewing Co.
Glenwood Springs, CO
Experimental Beer
TPS Report
Trinity Brewing Co
Colorado Springs, CO
Smoked Beer
Smokejumper
Left Hand Brewing Co.
Longmont, CO
Dortmunder or German-Style Oktoberfest
Move Back
The SandLot
Denver, CO
American-Style Lager or Premium Lager
Coors Banquet
Coors Brewing Co.
Golden, CO
American Style Specialty Lager
Keystone Ice
Coors Brewing Co.
Golden, CO
American Style Amber Lager
Durango Colorfest
Durango Brewing Co.
Durango, CO
German Style Doppelbock or Eisbock
The Kaiser
Avery Brewing Co.
Boulder, CO
German Style Altbier
Bismarck Altbier
Dry Dock Brewing Co.
Aurora, CO
Silver
Belgian-Style Dark Strong Ale or Belgian-Style Quadrupel
Séréneté Grand Cru
Bruz Beers
Denver, CO
Emerging India Pale Ale
Vladimir Brutin
Cannonball Creek Brewing Co.
Golden, CO
Session India Pale Ale
Trump Hands
Cannonball Creek Brewing Co.
Golden, CO
Specialty Saison
Westfield
Cellar West Artisan Ales
Lafayette, CO
Ordinary or Special Bitter
Cousin Jack
Dostal Alley Brewpub & Casino
Central City, CO
Bock
Maibock
Dry Dock Brewing Co. - South Dock
Aurora, CO
English-Style Brown Ale
Eclipse Brown Ale
Equinox Brewing
Fort Collins, CO
Aged Beer
Belgian Quad
Green Mountain Beer Co.
Lakewood, CO
German-Style Koelsch
Ice Cutter Kölsch
Joyride Brewing Co.
Edgewater, CO
Irish-Style Red Ale
Balefire Irish Red
Mirror Image Brewing Co.
Frederick, CO
Australian-Style Pale Ale
Mountain Standard IPA
Odell Brewing Co.
Fort Collins, CO
Experimental Beer
Shibbleshabble
Primitive Beer
Longmont, CO
German-Style Altbier
Howitzer Amber
Red Leg Brewing Co.
Colorado Springs, CO
Fruited American-Style Sour Ale
Hoochie Mama
Storm Peak Brewing Co.
Steamboat Springs, CO
International-Style Dark Lager
El Corn
The Post Brewing Co.
Lafayette, CO
International-Style Pilsener
Upslope Craft Lager
Upslope Brewing Co. - Flatiron Park
Boulder, CO
Oatmeal Stout
Yonder Mountain Stout
Vine Street Pub & Brewery
Denver, CO
Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale
Itsy Bits
WeldWerks Brewing Co.
Greeley, CO
Imperial India Pale Ale
Westbound Double IPA
Westbound & Down Brewing Co.
Idaho Springs, CO
Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer
Double Barrel Louie
Westbound & Down Brewing Co.
Idaho Springs, CO
Dortmunder or German-Style Oktoberfest
Lindauer Lager
Wit's End Brewing Co.
Denver, CO
Bronze
Light Lager
Lightner Creek Lager
Carver Brewing Co.
Durango, CO
American-Style Amber Lager
Grist Maerzen
Grist Brewing Co.
Highlands Ranch, CO
Session Beer
Peacekeeper
Launch Pad Brewery
Aurora, CO
Pro-Am Comp
Chess with Checkers
New Belgium Brewing Co.
Fort Collins, CO
Australian-Style Pale Ale
Pete's Stash
Vail Brewing Co. - Vail Village Pilot
Vail, CO
Herb and Spice Beer
Deck Daze
Vail Brewing Co. - Vail Village Pilot
Vail, CO
