2026 GABF Winners List – Awards, Medals & More

Denver, Colo. • October 11, 2026— The Brewers Association (BA) announced the beers and ciders taking home medals at this year’s Great American Beer Festival® (GABF) competition. New this year, the competition added categories including rice lager, hop water, and a one-time craft malt category, along with two new specialty beer subcategories and three new standalone gluten-free style categories.

A total of 243 breweries and cideries took home 336 medals in this year’s Great American Beer Festival competition. Over three days, 225 expert judges evaluated 7,267 beer and cider entries—including 54 Collaboration and 30 Pro-Am submissions—from breweries across 49 states, plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

“The submissions from this year’s competition continue to reflect just how far American brewing and cidermaking have come,” said Chris Williams, competition director for the Brewers Association. “The addition of multiple new styles and unique concepts like the ‘Craft Malt Beer’ and ‘Hop Water’ categories gave producers fresh ground to explore. The overarching quality presented by so many of the contenders underlines how intensive the judging process is and how competitively these contenders rise to the occasion with entries that pushed each category forward. GABF remains one of the most competitive stages in craft beer, and these winners represent the very best our industry has to offer. Congratulations to this year’s medalists.”

The awards ceremony was held at Levitt Pavilion and live-streamed on The Brewing Network on Sunday, October 11, 2026, as part of the Great American Beer Festival.

View the 2026 winners [PDF]

GABF Competition Statistics

• 7,267 entries (beer, cider, hop water) judges
• 1,300 breweries & cideries in the competition from 49 states, plus Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico
• 225 judges
• 200+ volunteers
• Average number of beers entered in each category: 67
• Category with the highest number of entries: Category 102: West Coast-Style India Pale Ale (277 entries)
• 336 total medals awarded
• 243 medal-winning breweries and cideries
• 125 first-time GABF competition entrants
• 12 first-time GABF competition winners
• Five cider categories
• New categories: Rice Lager, Hop Water, Craft Malt Category, Multi-Adjunct Beer (subcategory of Specialty Beer), Hybrid/Crossover Beer (subcategory of Specialty Beer), Gluten-Free divided into Classic Ale or Lager, Hoppy, Specialty

TOP 5 MOST-ENTERED BEER STYLE CATEGORY WINNERS

* Both categories tie for the fifth most-entered category, each with 161 entries.

Category 102: West Coast-Style India Pale Ale (277 entries) – Sponsored by Wyeast

GOLD: Before & After Science | Human People Beer | Seattle, WA

SILVER: Born Hoppy | TapRoom Beer Co. | San Diego, CA

BRONZE: Mosaic + Krush Cryo West Coast IPA | pFriem Family Brewers | Hood River, OR

Category 101: Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale (260 entries) – Sponsored by Wyeast

GOLD: Because Science | Bend Brewing Co. | Bend, OR

SILVER: Icy Fog | McMenamins Breweries | Portland, OR

BRONZE: The Goat |New York Beer Project – Beer Lodge | Orchard Park, NY

Category 56: German-Style Maerzen (184 entries)

GOLD: Altstadt Oktoberfest | Altstadt Brewery | Fredericksburg, TX

SILVER: Oktoberfest | Bingo Beer Co. | Richmond, VA

BRONZE: Oktoberfestfest | MainStage Brewing Co. | Boulder, CO

Category 100: American India Pale Ale (165 entries) – Sponsored by Stronger Can, Better Service

GOLD: Breakside IPA | Breakside Brewery & Taproom | Milwaukie, OR

SILVER: Built for Speed | Grains of Wrath Brewing | Camas, WA

BRONZE: Green Battles | Pinthouse Pizza – North | Austin, TX

Category 50*: German-Style Pilsener (161 entries)

GOLD: Altstadt Pils | Altstadt Brewery | Fredericksburg, TX

SILVER: Templin Family Fass Bier | Templin Family Brewing | Salt Lake City, U

BRONZE: Pazifik Coast Highway | Beachwood Brewing | Huntington Beach, CA

Category 54*: Dortmunder or German-Style Festbier (161 entries)

GOLD: Festbier | Wren House Brewing Co. | Phoenix, AZ

SILVER: 8th Anniversary Lager | Fat Head’s Brewery | Middleburg Heights, OH

BRONZE: Counter Weight Fest Bier | Counter Weight Brewing Co. | Cheshire, CT 

MOST-ENTERED Cider CATEGORY WINNERS

Category 203: Fruited Cider (58 entries)

GOLD: Gowan’s Heirloom Cider | Honey Citron | Philo, CA

SILVER: 2 Towns Ciderhouse |Golden Lime Cosmic Crisp | Corvallis, OR

BRONZE: 2 Towns Ciderhouse | Huckleberry Cosmic Crisp | Corvallis, OR

BREWERY OF THE YEAr

0-250 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year

Mieza Blendery | Alexandria, VA

>250–500 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year

UPP Liquids | Bend, OR

>500–1,000 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year

Cannonball Creek Brewing Co. | Golden, CO

>1,000–2,000 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year

Craft Coast | Oceanside, CA

>2,000–5,000 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year

Morgan Territory Brewing | Tracy, CA

>5,000–15,000 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year

Fieldwork Brewing Company | Berkeley, CA

>15,000–100,000 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year

Breakside Brewery & Taproom | Milwaukie, OR

>100,000+ Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year

Goose Island Beer Co. | Chicago, IL

Cidermaker of the Year

Snow Capped Cider | Austin, CO

Editor’s note: Photos for media use are available on the GABF website. Members of the media are encouraged to contact [email protected] with any questions.

The 2026 Great American Beer Festival was made possible in part by the generous support of its presenting sponsors: Amoretti, Antigo Zeon, Country Malt Group, John I. Haas, and Prairie Malt; its category sponsors, and through a partnership with the American Cider Association.

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About the Great American Beer Festival

The Great American Beer Festival® (GABF), hosted annually by the Brewers Association since 1982, is the longest-running, premier beer festival in the United States. GABF offers consumers thousands of beverage samples from producers around the country, and countless opportunities for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage discovery along the way. The Great American Beer Festival Competition, is the nation’s largest professional brewing competition where beers and ciders are awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals, and is the nation’s largest professional brewing competition where beers and ciders are awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals recognized around the world as symbols of brewing excellence.

About the Brewers Association 

The Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade organization representing more than 9,300 small and independent American brewers. The BA champions the independent craft brewer seal—a trusted symbol that helps consumers identify beer brewed by small and independent producers.

2026 GABF Winners List

It’s always exciting to see who medals each year at the Great American Beer Festival. With that in mind, I thought I’d bring you the big picture and the details as well

2026 Brewery & Brewer of the Year Winners

Several outstanding breweries claimed top honors across different production size brackets:

• 15,001–100,000 Barrels: Breakside Brewery & Taproom (Milwaukie, OR) – Secured the title behind a massive six-medal haul, including golds for Breakside IPA and Breakside Hello My Alien.
• 1,001–2,000 Barrels: Craft Coast Brewing (San Marcos, CA) – Won the category with two gold medals for Beeria (English-style Brown Ale) and Oscura (International Dark Lager).
• 251–500 Barrels: UPP Liquids (Bend, OR) – Took home the trophy with four medals, including gold wins for UPP Yours and Buzz Box.

Flagship IPA Winners

Winning a medal in the heavily entered India Pale Ale categories is widely considered one of the highest achievements at the festival:

• West Coast-Style IPA (277 entries): Gold was captured by Before & After Science from Human People Beer (Seattle, WA), beating out San Diego’s TapRoom Beer Co. (Born Hoppy).
  
• Juicy or Hazy IPA (260 entries): Gold was awarded to Because Science by Bend Brewing Co. (Bend, OR)

2026 GABF Winners List

The six categories with the most entries were, Category 102: West Coast-Style India Pale Ale with 277 entries, Category 101: Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale at 260 entries, Category 56: German-Style Maerzen with 184 entries, Category 100: American India Pale Ale which received 165 entries, Category 50: German-Style Pilsener with 161 entries and Category 54: Dortmunder or German-Style Festbier receiving 161 entries.

Here are the winners of the 2026 Great American Beer Festival.

Category 1: American Wheat Beer – 35 Entries

Gold: Summer Ale, Wormtown Brewery, Worcester, MA

Silver: Fuzztail, Sunriver Brewing Co., Sunriver, OR

Bronze: Jack Whacker Hazy Wheat, Tommyknocker Brewery & Pub, Idaho Springs, CO

Category 2: American Fruit Beer – 79 Entries

Gold: Agua Fresca, Los Dos Potrillos Cervecería, Parker, CO

Silver: Lime Drop, Wicked Weed Brewing, Asheville, NC

Bronze: Tow The Lime, Starr Hill Beer Hall – Richmond, Richmond, VA

Category 3: Fruit Wheat Beer – 64 Entries

Gold: Calamansi Wheat, The Sandlot Brewery At Coors Field, Denver, CO

Silver: Citrus Wheat, Beech Mountain Brewing Co., Beech Mountain, NC

Bronze: Raspberry Rush, Armored Cow Brewing Co., Charlotte, NC

Category 4: Field Beer – 34 Entries

Gold: UPP Yours, UPP Liquids, Bend, OR

Silver: Coconut GO, Verboten Brewing, Loveland, CO

Bronze: Migrating Coconuts, Roughtail Brewing Co., Oklahoma City, OK

Category 5: Pumpkin Beer – 69 Entries

Gold: Pumpkin Spice Whale, Community Beer Works, Buffalo, NY

Silver: Pumpkin Ale, Blackstone Brewing Co., Nashville, TN

Bronze: Drunken Punkin, New York Beer Project, Winter Garden, FL

Category 6: Chili Beer – 55 Entries

Gold: Fire Exit, Morgan Territory Brewing, Tracy, CA

Silver: Pyro’s Prost, Hop Dogma Brewing Co., Half Moon Bay, CA

Bronze: El Poblano Borracho, Liquid Mechanics Brewing Co., Lafayette, CO

Category 7: Herb and Spice Beer – 67 Entries

Gold: Biere de Noel, Alesong Brewing & Blending, Eugene, OR

Silver: Saison Automne, Third Window Brewing Co., Santa Barbara, CA

Bronze: Spruce Goose, BabyCat Brewery, Kensington, MD

Category 8: Chocolate Beer – 30 Entries

Gold: Sludge Factory, Misfit Brewing, Cypress, TX

Silver: Mama Rosa, Solano Brewing Co., Vacaville, CA

Bronze: Ghirardelli Chocolate Stout, San Francisco Brewing Co., San Francisco, CA

Category 9: Coffee Beer – 40 Entries

Gold: Stay Calm, East Village Brewing Co., San Diego, CA

Silver: Coffee Blonde, The Vanguard Brewpub & Distillery, Hampton, VA

Bronze: Cuppa Joe, Kulshan Brewing Co., Bellingham, WA

Category 10: Coffee Stout or Porter – 53 Entries

Gold: Beatnik, East Village Brewing Co., San Diego, CA

Silver: Turbo, 93 Octane Brewery, Saint Charles, IL

Bronze: Wired Euphoria, Third Eye Brewing Co., Hamilton, OH

Category 11: Dessert or Pastry Beer – 67 Entries

Gold: 2025 Bourbon County Brand Proprietor’s Stout, Goose Island Beer Co., Chicago, IL

Silver: Kelly’s Private Stash Ferds Addition, Third Eye Brewing Co., Hamilton, OH

Bronze: 2026 Bourbon County Brand Apple Crisp Stout, Goose Island Beer Co., Chicago, IL

Category 12: Rye Beer – 30 Entries

Gold: Red Cat Rye Lager, Beach Cat Brewing, Bellingham, WA

Silver: Howdyfest, Lago Vista Brewing Co., Lago Vista, TX

Bronze: Road Dog, Grimm Artisanal Ales, Brooklyn, NY

2026 GABF Winners List

Category 13: Honey Beer – 54 Entries

Gold: Buzz Box, UPP Liquids, Bend, OR

Silver: Vinland Honey Lager, Local Time Brewing, Holly Springs, NC

Bronze: Ommegang Farm Fresh Ale, Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY

Category 14: Classic Non-Alcohol Ale or Lager – 39 Entries

Gold: Super Stoked, Deschutes Brewery, Bend, OR

Silver: Ommegang NA Belgian-Style Blonde, Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY

Bronze: Light American Pils, Best Day Brewing, San Francisco, CA

Category 15: Hoppy Non-Alcohol Beer – 48 Entries

Gold: Conehead Zero, Zero Gravity Craft Brewery, Burlington, VT

Silver: Zero Eddy, Big Grove – Production Facility, Iowa City, IA

Bronze: Hops Mirage, Primal Brewery, Huntersville, NC

Category 16: Specialty Non-Alcohol Beer – 26 Entries

Gold: Day Money, Fieldwork Brewing Co., Berkeley, CA

Silver: F*kin Pumpkin, Go Brewing, Naperville, IL

Bronze: New School, Go Brewing, Naperville, IL

Category 17: Session Beer – 67 Entries

Gold: Soulhound, Geisthaus Brewing Co., Sacramento, CA

Silver: Frequency of Expansion, The Big Friendly, Oklahoma City, OK

Bronze: Oblique & Bent, The Big Friendly, Oklahoma City, OK

Category 18: Session India Pale Ale – 67 Entries

Gold: Divi, Offset Bier Co., Park City, UT

Silver: Dopo, Offset Bier Co., Park City, UT

Bronze: Trump Hands, Cannonball Creek Brewing Co., Golden, CO

Category 19: Strong Porter – 20 Entries

Gold: The Gatekeeper, Little Brother Brewing, Greensboro, NC

Silver: Opposites Attract, Henceforth, Washington, DC

Bronze: Baltic Porter, Riverside Rhapsody Beer Co., Asheville, NC

Category 20: German-Style Strong Beer – 39 Entries

Gold: Winterbock, Kansas City Bier Co., Kansas City, MO

Silver: Eisbock, Northbound Smokehouse Brewpub, Minneapolis, MN

Bronze: Broyhan’s Bock, Gilde Brewery, Charlotte, NC

Category 21: Other Strong Beer – 24 Entries

Gold: Inferno, The Lost Abbey, Vista, CA

Silver: Colt 121, Old 121 Brewhouse, Lakewood, CO

Bronze: Doppelsticke Altbier, Giant Jones Brewing, Madison, WI

Category 22: Specialty Beer – 51 Entries

Gold: Honey Panda, The Empourium Brewing Co., Denver, CO

Silver: Summer Heat, Short’s Brewing Co. – Production Facility, Elk Rapids, MI

Bronze: Oak Aged Floral Saison, Boulevard Brewing Co., Kansas City, MO

Category 23: Specialty India Pale Ale – 65 Entries

Gold: Doom Sludge, Green Cheek Beer Co. – Costa Mesa, Costa Mesa, CA

Silver: Big Cone, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co., Buellton, CA

Bronze: Pepper and Peaches, Claremont Craft Ales, Claremont, CA

Category 24: Experimental Beer – 26 Entries

Gold: Dill You Take Me Higher?, Saddle Mountain Brewing Co., Goodyear, AZ

Silver: Picnic Party #4, Meanwhile Brewing Co., Austin, TX

Bronze: Negroni Ale, Pattern Break Brewing Co., Boulder, CO

Category 25: Historical Beer – 39 Entries

Gold: Counter Weight Grodziskie, Counter Weight Brewing Co., Cheshire, CT

Silver: Left Fork, Black Lung Brewing Co., Grayslake, IL

Bronze: Broyhan 500, Gilde Brewery, Charlotte, NC

Category 26: Classic Gluten-Free Ale or Lager – 21 Entries

Gold: Altbier, The Well In Wellington, Wellington, CO

Silver: Oktoberfest, Orange Bike Brewing Co., Portland, ME

Bronze: Favorite Blonde Ale, Holidaily Brewing Co., Golden, CO

2026 GABF Winners List

Category 27: Hoppy Gluten-Free Beer – 19 Entries

Gold: Hell Yeah, Armored Cow Brewing Co., Charlotte, NC

Silver: GF Ice Bucket, ALT Brew, Madison, WI

Bronze: Fat Randy’s IPA, Holidaily Brewing Co., Golden, CO

Category 28: Specialty Gluten-Free Beer – 17 Entries

Gold: Pumpkin Ale, Orange Bike Brewing Co., Portland, ME

Silver: Cactus Kiss, Otherwise Brewing, San Carlos, CA

Bronze: Nunya: Pumpkin Spiced Latte, Departed Soles Brewing Co., Jersey City, NJ

Category 29: American Sour Ale – 111 Entries

Gold: Guavacation, Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co., Orlando, FL

Silver: Mystic Voyage, Great Basin Brewing Co., Sparks, NV

Bronze: Second Pick, Eno River Brewing, Hillsborough, NC

Category 30: Brett Beer – 27 Entries

Gold: On Any Given Day, Wishful Thinking Brewing Co., Bethlehem, PA

Silver: This Must Be The Place, Syncopated Brewing Co., Lakewood, CA

Bronze: Alcove, Formula Brewing, Issaquah, WA

Category 31: Mixed Culture Brett Beer – 24 Entries

Gold: Orchard Pear, Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, MN

Silver: Elisabeth, ColdFire Barrel House, Eugene, OR

Bronze: Traditions, Alesong Brewing & Blending, Eugene, OR

Category 32: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer – 23 Entries

Gold: Marzen (Whiskey Barrel Aged), Wren House Brewing Co., Phoenix, AZ

Silver: What Fresh Helles This?, 1718 Brewing – Ocracoke, Ocracoke, NC

Bronze: Amber Hearth, Model A Brewing Co., Tega Cay, SC

Category 33: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer – 61 Entries

Gold: Soul Shakedown Party, Sun King Brewing, Fishers, IN

Silver: Perpetual Peace, No Label Brewing Co., Katy, TX

Bronze: 1314, Black Tooth Brewing Co., Sheridan, WY

Category 34: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout – 65 Entries

Gold: 2025 Demons Run Reserve, Urban Roots Brewing, Sacramento, CA

Silver: Cherry Decadence, Alesong Brewing & Blending, Eugene, OR

Bronze: Hell Bear, Werk Force Brewing Co., Plainfield, IL

2026 GABF Winners List

Category 35: Wood- and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer – 46 Entries

Gold: Madrigal, Monday Night Brewing, Atlanta, GA

Silver: Sulking in The Brush, Mieza Blendery, Alexandria, VA

Bronze: Minotaurs & Matadors, Mieza Blendery, Alexandria, VA

Category 36: Kellerbier or Zwickelbier – 48 Entries

Gold: Labuznik, Fast Fashion Brewing, Seattle, WA

Silver: Gravebier, Ghost Town Brewing, Oakland, CA

Bronze: Safety Dance, Smartmouth Brewing Pilot House, Virginia Beach, VA

Category 37: Smoke Beer – 42 Entries

Gold: Seventh Hill, Maple Branch Craft Brewery, Fort Worth, TX

Silver: Cypress Pils, Corbett Brewing Co., Tucson, AZ

Bronze: Direct Fire, Roaring Table Brewing, Lake Zurich, IL

Category 38: American-Style Light Lager – 104 Entries

Gold: Beer Project Light, New York Beer Project, Winter Garden, FL

Silver: Transmission Light, Transmission Brewing Co., Ventura, CA

Bronze: Club Haus, Barebottle Brewing Co., San Francisco, CA

Category 39: International Light Lager – 38 Entries

Gold: Road Pop, Akronym Brewing, Akron, OH

Silver: Dort Light, Great Lakes Brewing Co., Cleveland, OH

Bronze: Karakuchi Japanese Lager, Lucky Envelope Brewing, Seattle, WA

Category 40: Mexican-Style Light Lager – 39 Entries

Gold: Nueve Grados, Riip Beer Co., Huntington Beach, CA

Silver: Las Olas, HopSaint Brewing Co., Torrance, CA

Bronze: Pachanga, Sun King Brewing, Fishers, IN

Category 41: Mexican-Style Pale Lager – 146 Entries

Gold: Sereno Moreno, Wild Blue Yonder Brewing Co., Castle Rock, CO

Silver: Mexican Lager, 105 West Brewing Co., Castle Rock, CO

Bronze: Yucatan Sunrise, Full Distance Brewing, Stafford, VA

Category 42: American Lager – 94 Entries

Gold: Shower Beer, Masthead Brewing Co., Cleveland, OH

Silver: Hopfheiser Old Time Lager, DC Brau Brewing Co., Washington, DC

Bronze: Kick Back Lager, Goose Island Beer Co., Chicago, IL

Category 43: Contemporary American Lager – 46 Entries

Gold: Gold Leaf Lager, Devils Backbone Brewing Co., Roseland, VA

Silver: Classic City Lager, Creature Comforts Brewing Co., Athens, GA

Bronze: Zona, 12 West Brewing Co., Gilbert, AZ

Category 44: Rice Lager – 110 Entries

Gold: Oni Giri, Masthead Brewing Co., Cleveland, OH

Silver: Mundo Especial, Silver Branch Brewing Co., Silver Spring, MD

Bronze: Haru, Fremont Brewing, Seattle, WA

Category 45: International-Style Pilsener – 79 Entries

Gold: Tucker Lager, Tucker Brewing Co., Tucker, GA

Silver: Hi-Wire Lager, Hi-Wire Brewing – Big Top Production Facility, Asheville, NC

Bronze: Breakside The Sublime, Breakside Brewery & Taproom, Milwaukie, OR

Category 46: American Pilsener – 78 Entries

Gold: Alexandr, Schilling Beer Co., Littleton, NH

Silver: Crunchy Boi, Ladd & Lass Brewing, Seattle, WA

Bronze: Precept, Bissell Brothers Brewing, Portland, ME

Category 47: Hoppy Lager – 57 Entries

Gold: Rancho Cowabunga, Grains of Wrath Brewing, Camas, WA

Silver: High & Fine, Fieldwork Brewing Co., Berkeley, CA

Bronze: Breakside Wanderjack, Breakside Brewery & Taproom, Milwaukie, OR

Category 48: West Coast-Style Pilsener – 97 Entries

Gold: Breakside Summer Classic, Breakside Brewery & Taproom, Milwaukie, OR

Silver: Nowhere To Be, Cellarmaker Brewing Co., Oakland, CA

Bronze: Coral Crush, Alma Mader Brewing, Kansas City, MO

Category 49: American Amber Lager – 94 Entries

Gold: Cloud Gazer Oktoberfest Lager, Falling Sky Brewing, Eugene, OR

Silver: Oktoberfest, Mighty Squirrel, Waltham, MA

Bronze: Tack Shack, Grand Fir Brewing, Portland, OR

Category 50: German-Style Pilsener – 161 Entries

Gold: Altstadt Pils, Altstadt Brewery, Fredericksburg, TX

Silver: Templin Family Fass Bier, Templin Family Brewing, Salt Lake City, UT

Bronze: Pazifik Coast Highway, Beachwood Brewing, Huntington Beach, CA

Category 51: Czech-Style Pale Lager – 104 Entries

Gold: Bohemian Pilsner, Von Trapp Brewing, Stowe, VT

Silver: Bobber Lager, Logboat Brewing Co., Columbia, MO

Bronze: Czech Your Head, Hermosa Brewing Co., Torrance, CA

Category 52: Italian-Style Pilsener – 77 Entries

Gold: Italian Pilsner, pFriem Family Brewers, Hood River, OR

Silver: Wolf of the Woods, Second Dawn Brewing Co., Aurora, CO

Bronze: Zombi Shark Fight, Green Cheek Beer Co. – Costa Mesa, Costa Mesa, CA

2026 GABF Winners List

Category 53: Munich-Style Helles – 123 Entries

Gold: Ein Helles, Counter Weight Brewing Co., Cheshire, CT

Silver: Clutch, Transmission Brewing Co., Ventura, CA

Bronze: Prost Helles, Prost Brewing Co. – Northglenn, Northglenn, CO

Category 54: Dortmunder or German-Style Festbier – 161 Entries

Gold: Festbier, Wren House Brewing Co., Phoenix, AZ

Silver: 8th Anniversary Lager, Fat Head’s Brewery, Middleburg Heights, OH

Bronze: Counter Weight Fest Bier, Counter Weight Brewing Co., Cheshire, CT

Category 55: Vienna-Style Lager – 82 Entries

Gold: Oktoberfest, Port City Brewing Co., Alexandria, VA

Silver: Dueling Grounds, DC Brau Brewing Co., Washington, DC

Bronze: Rocktoberfest, Almanac Beer Co., Alameda, CA

Category 56: German-Style Maerzen – 184 Entries

Gold: Altstadt Oktoberfest, Altstadt Brewery, Fredericksburg, TX

Silver: Oktoberfest, Bingo Beer Co., Richmond, VA

Bronze: Oktoberfestfest, MainStage Brewing Co., Boulder, CO

Category 57: International-Style Amber Lager – 50 Entries

Gold: Fèileadh Mòr, Ghost Tree Brewing Co., Amherst, OH

Silver: Czech Amber, Field Day Brewing Co., North Liberty, IA

Bronze: Pueblo Vienna Lager, Fate Brewing Co., Scottsdale, AZ

2026 GABF Winners List

Category 58: Munich-Style Dunkel – 49 Entries

Gold: Dunkel, Von Trapp Brewing, Stowe, VT

Silver: Step Drunkle, Quarter Celtic Brewpub, Albuquerque, NM

Bronze: Black Mesa Dunkel, Boxing Bear Brewing Co., Albuquerque, NM

Category 59: German-Style Schwarzbier – 59 Entries

Gold: Nachtkrapp, Ogopogo Brewing, San Gabriel, CA

Silver: Graveyard Ghosts, ODD Muse Brewing, Dallas, TX

Bronze: Friend of the Devil, Locavore Beer Works, Littleton, CO

Category 60: International Dark Lager – 71 Entries

Gold: Oscura, Craft Coast, Oceanside, CA

Silver: Puesto Negra, Puesto Cerveceria, San Diego, CA

Bronze: Czech Dark, Field Day Brewing Co., North Liberty, IA

Category 61: Bock – 36 Entries

Gold: The Last Bockbuster, Flix Brewhouse – MAN, Mansfield, TX

Silver: Rough & Tumble, Fieldwork Brewing Co., Berkeley, CA

Bronze: Day Drink Believer, Silver Reef Brewing Co., Saint George, UT

Category 62: German-Style Koelsch – 112 Entries

Gold: Silent G, 10 Barrel Brewing Co., San Diego, CA

Silver: Kolsch, Liquid Mechanics Brewing Co., Lafayette, CO

Bronze: Twin Suns, Frogtown Brewery, Los Angeles, CA

Category 63: American Cream Ale – 70 Entries

Gold: Padron, The Tank Brewing Co., Miami, FL

Silver: 307, Black Tooth Brewing Co., Sheridan, WY

Bronze: Snap Shot, Morgan Territory Brewing, Tracy, CA

Category 64: Berliner-Style Weisse – 38 Entries

Gold: Coming To Fruition: Cherry (2024), Oregon City Brewing Co., Oregon City, ORSilver: German Sparkle Party Zwei, UPP Liquids, Bend, OR

Bronze: Guava Dreams, Del Cielo Brewing Co., Martinez, CA

Category 65: Gose – 36 Entries

Gold: Flower Child, UPP Liquids, Bend, OR

Silver: Tiki Pontoon, Eden Town Brewing Co., Denton, MD

Bronze: Matcha Tart, Ikasu Brewing, Los Angeles, CA

Category 66: European-Style Amber Ale – 49 Entries

Gold: Biere de Garde, White Bluffs Brewing, Richland, WA

Silver: BierKraft Biere de Garde, BierKraft, McAlester, OK

Bronze: Stein Altbier, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, CA

Category 67: South German-Style Wheat Beer – 120 Entries

Gold: Zoigl-Weiss, Zoiglhaus Brewing Co., Portland, OR S

ilver: Southern Storm, Tucker Brewing Co., Tucker, GA

Bronze: Hefeweizen, Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant, Topeka, KS

Category 68: Golden or Blonde Ale – 84 Entries

Gold: Brig Blonde, Ketch Brewing, San Diego, CA

Silver: Lawnmower Beer, Saint Arnold Brewing Co., Houston, TX

Bronze: Bold Rush, Drake’s Brewing Company/Bear Republic, San Leandro, CA

Category 69: English-Style Pale Ale – 47 Entries

Gold: Beachcomber 1355, Pelican Brewing Co., Tillamook, OR

Silver: DBA, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Paso Robles, CA

Bronze: Pub Ale, Strong Rope Brewery, Brooklyn, NY

Category 70: English-Style ESB or IPA – 51 Entries

Gold: Uncle Dave’s IPA, Discretion Brewing, Soquel, CA

Silver: Lollygagger, Field Artisan Brewing, Westfield, IN

Bronze: Central Time IPA, Third Space Brewing, Milwaukee, WI

Category 71: Scottish-Style Ale – 34 Entries

Gold: Satan’s Pony, South Street Brewery, Charlottesville, VA

Silver: Cameron’s Crest, Sunriver Brewing Co., Sunriver, OR

Bronze: Monticello Mountain Ale, Blue Mountain Brewery, Afton, VA

Category 72: Irish-Style Red Ale – 50 Entries

Gold: Red Right Return, Marker 48 Brewing, Brooksville, FL

Silver: Red Molly, Pale Fire Brewing Co., Harrisonburg, VA

Bronze: Dragonfire, LogOff Brewing, Rancho Cordova, CA

Category 73: English-Style Brown Ale – 43 Entries

Gold: Beería, Craft Coast, Oceanside, CA

Silver: Before the Break, Worthy Brewing, Bend, OR

Bronze: Nut Brown Ale, Blackstone Brewing Co., Nashville, TN

Category 74: Belgian-Style Witbier – 51 Entries

Gold: Allagash White, Allagash Brewing Co., Portland, ME

Silver: White Rascal, Avery Brewing Co., Boulder, CO

Bronze: Hidden Dawn, Goose Island Beer Co., Chicago, IL

Category 75: Saison – 73 Entries

Gold: House of Zest, False Idol Brewing, North Richland Hills, TX

Silver: Stable Genius, Redwood Brewing Co., Flint, MI

Bronze: Saison Été, Third Window Brewing Co., Santa Barbara, CA

Category 76: Belgian-Style Abbey Ale – 49 Entries

Gold: Feral Garden Gnome, Liability Brewing Co., Greenville, SC

Silver: Room For More, Peticolas Brewing Co., Dallas, TX

Bronze: WestSKAlle, SKA Brewing, Durango, CO

Category 77: Belgian-Style Tripel – 33 Entries

Gold: Tripel Dog Dare, Big Dog’s Brewing Co., Las Vegas, NV

Silver: Trippel, New Belgium Brewing Co., Fort Collins, CO

Bronze: Templin Family Albion Tripple, Templin Family Brewing, Salt Lake City, UT

Category 78: Belgian-Style Strong Specialty Ale – 46 Entries

Gold: Last Best Quad, Old Bull Brewing, Frenchtown, MT

Silver: Diabolique, Monk’s Cellar, Roseville, CA B

ronze: Quandary, River North Brewery, Denver, CO

Category 79: Belgian-Style or Spontaneous Sour Ale – 31 Entries

Gold: Flanders Red Ale, Firestone Walker Barrelworks, Buellton, CA

Silver: Templin Family Tomatillo Bier, Templin Family Brewing, Salt Lake City, UT

Bronze: Vintage 2026, New Glarus Brewing Co., New Glarus, WI

Category 80: Belgian-Style Fruit Beer – 31 Entries

Gold: Pineapple 3 Way, Bull & Bush Brewery, Denver, CO

Silver: Krieky Koelschip, Firestone Walker Barrelworks, Buellton, CA

Bronze: Funk Yeah Montmorency Cherry, Beachwood Blendery, Long Beach, CA

Category 81: American Brown Ale – 45 Entries

Gold: Buffalo Creek Brown, Titonka Brewing Co., Titonka, IA

Silver: Stone Lifeblood, Stone Brewing, Paso Robles, CA

Bronze: Brown Ale, Second Street Brewery, Santa Fe, NM

Category 82: Porter or Stout – 54 Entries

Gold: Dry Irish Stout, Bent Barley Brewing Co., Aurora, CO

Silver: Dark Matter, Logboat Brewing Co., Columbia, MO

Bronze: Barrio Nolan’s Porter, Barrio Brewing Co., Tucson, AZ

2026 GABF Winners List

Category 83: Robust Porter – 36 Entries

Gold: Powell Street Porter, Bartlett Hall, San Francisco, CA

Silver: Weather Re-Porter, Riverside Rhapsody Beer Co., Asheville, NC

Bronze: Porch Song Porter, Bentonville Brewing Co., Bentonville, AR

Category 84: Sweet Stout or Cream Stout – 42 Entries

Gold: Chugga Chocolate Milk Stout, Bearded Lamb Brewing Co., Plymouth, MI

Silver: Oats, Pizza Port Solana Beach, Solana Beach, CA

Bronze: Higher Purpose, Third Eye Brewing Co., Hamilton, OH

Category 85: American or Export Stout – 41 Entries

Gold: Stone Cimmerian Portal, Stone Brewing, Paso Robles, CA

Silver: Starway, Barrel Mountain Brewing, Battle Ground, WA

Bronze: No Tricks, Urban Roots Brewing, Sacramento, CA

Category 86: Imperial Stout – 38 Entries

Gold: Raven’s Home, Morgan Territory Brewing, Tracy, CA

Silver: Shiva The Destroyer, Hidden Moon Brewing, Pittsfield, NH

Bronze: Imperial Stout, Oak Highlands Brewery, Hickory, NC

Category 87: British Strong Ale or Aged Beer – 40 Entries

Gold: Wee Heavy, Northwoods Brewing Co., Northwood, NH

Silver: Clash of the Tartans, Urban Roots Brewing, Sacramento, CA

Bronze: Wee Heavy Wilson, MudHen Brewing Co., Wildwood, NJ

Category 88: Barley Wine or Wheat Wine – 28 Entries

Gold: Grow Old With You, Verboten Brewing, Loveland, CO

Silver: Barrel Aged Bee’s Knees 2025, Rickety Cricket Brewing, Kingman, AZ

Bronze: Old Diablo, Morgan Territory Brewing, Tracy, CA

Category 89: International-Style Pale Ale – 53 Entries

Gold: Breakside Hello My Alien, Breakside Brewery & Taproom, Milwaukie, OR

Silver: Breakside Lunch Break ISA, Breakside Brewery & Taproom, Milwaukie, OR

Bronze: How’s The Serenity, Original Pattern Brewing Co., Oakland, CA

Category 90: New Zealand-Style Pale Ale – 39 Entries

Gold: Southern Hemi, Transmission Brewing Co., Ventura, CA

Silver: Endless Groove, Glenwood Canyon Brewing Co., Glenwood Springs, CO

Bronze: Day Cruise, Ketch Brewing, San Diego, CA

Category 91: New Zealand-Style India Pale Ale – 89 Entries

Gold: No Fly Zone, 8 Bit Brewing Co., Murrieta, CA

Silver: Dream Logic, Meanwhile Brewing Co., Austin, TX

Bronze: Potion Crusher, Barebottle Brewing Co., San Francisco, CA

Category 92: American Pale Ale – 98 Entries

Gold: Papermaker, Grains of Wrath Brewing, Camas, WA

Silver: Featherweight, Cannonball Creek Brewing Co., Golden, CO

Bronze: Pure Intention, HopSaint Brewing Co., Torrance, CA

Category 93: Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale – 62 Entries

Gold: Stoop Kid, Corn Coast Brewing, Lincoln, NE

Silver: Sneakbox, Kane Brewing Co., Ocean, NJ

Bronze: Waddle, Able Baker Brewing Co., Las Vegas, NV

Category 94: American-Style Strong Pale Ale – 89 Entries

Gold: Mindbender, Cannonball Creek Brewing Co., Golden, CO

Silver: Trap Door IPA, Trap Door Brewing, Washougal, WA

Bronze: Tropic Pines, Bend Brewing Co., Bend, OR

Category 95: Juicy or Hazy Strong Pale Ale – 108 Entries

Gold: Broke & Famous, Indio Brewing Co., Sugar Hill, GA

Silver: Perpetual Fog, Urbanrest Brewing Co., Ferndale, MI

Bronze: Rhyme To The Rhythm, MachineHead Brewing Co., Clovis, CA

Category 96: American Amber/Red Ale – 85 Entries

Gold: Planet 4, Billsburg Brewery, Williamsburg, VA

Silver: Old Head Red, Cellarmaker Brewing Co., Oakland, CA

Bronze: Buttface Amber, RAM Restaurant and Brewery, Tacoma, WA

Category 97: Strong Red Ale – 32 Entries

Gold: Happy Days, Claremont Craft Ales, Claremont, CA

Silver: The Fourth Colour, Worthy Brewing, Bend, OR

Bronze: Serpent Sun, Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co., Buellton, CA

Category 98: Imperial India Pale Ale – 87 Entries

Gold: Power Plants, Barebottle Brewing Co., San Francisco, CA

Silver: Blah Blah Blah, Formula Brewing, Issaquah, WA

Bronze: Chance Favors The Prepared Mind, Green Cheek Beer Co., Orange, CA

Category 99: Juicy or Hazy Imperial India Pale Ale – 107 Entries

Gold: Panda, Mothfire Brewing Co., Ann Arbor, MI

Silver: NPBC10 Hazy Triple IPA, North Park Beer Co., San Diego, CA

Bronze: DDH Pillow, Highland Park Brewery, Los Angeles, CA

Category 100: American India Pale Ale – 165 Entries

Gold: Breakside IPA, Breakside Brewery & Taproom, Milwaukie, OR

Silver: Built for Speed, Grains of Wrath Brewing, Camas, WA

Bronze: Green Battles, Pinthouse Pizza – North, Austin, TX

Category 101: Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale – 260 Entries

Gold: Because Science, Bend Brewing Co., Bend, OR

Silver: Icy Fog, McMenamins Breweries, Portland, OR

Bronze: The Goat, New York Beer Project – Beer Lodge, Orchard Park, NY

Category 102: West Coast-Style India Pale Ale – 277 Entries

Gold: Before & After Science, Human People Beer, Seattle, WA

Silver: Born Hoppy, TapRoom Beer Co., San Diego, CA

Bronze: Mosaic + Krush Cryo West Coast IPA, pFriem Family Brewers, Hood River, OR

Category 103: Fresh Hop Beer – 72 Entries

Gold: Fresh Hop King Crispy, Deschutes Brewery, Bend, OR

Silver: Fresh Hop Linoleum, Vice Beer, Vancouver, WA

Bronze: Figata Fresca, Sunriver Brewing Co., Sunriver, OR

Category 104: Craft Malt Beer – 132 Entries

Gold: Jacob Mack Mild Ale, Dostal Alley Brewpub & Casino, Central City, CO

Silver: Two Track ESB, Free State Brewing Co., Lawrence, KS

Bronze: Admiral Chiperton Sausageton III, Hop Dogma Brewing Co., Half Moon Bay, CA

Category 105: Hop Water – 37 Entries

Gold: Hoppy Mood, Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, MI

Silver: Froth Water, Alvarado Street Brewery, Salinas, CA

Bronze: Hop Spritz, Kansas City Bier Co., Kansas City, MO

Category 201: Tannic Cider – 28 Entries

Gold: Kingston Black 26, Snow Capped Cider, Austin, CO

Silver: 1876, Gowan’s Heirloom Cider, Philo, CA

Bronze: Classic Dry, Gowan’s Heirloom Cider, Philo, CA

Category 202: No/Low Tannin Cider – 53 Entries

Gold: The Russets, Snow Capped Cider, Austin, CO

Silver: Harrison Reserve, Snow Capped Cider, Austin, CO

Bronze: Pink Pearl, Snow Capped Cider, Austin, CO

Category 203: Fruited Cider – 58 Entries

Gold: Honey Citron, Gowan’s Heirloom Cider, Philo, CA

Silver: Golden Lime Cosmic Crisp, 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Corvallis, OR

Bronze: Huckleberry Cosmic Crisp, 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Corvallis, OR

Category 204: Botanical or Spiced Cider – 21 Entries

Gold: Spiced Apple, Sweet Heart Brands, Loveland, CO

Silver: Spiced Apple, Gowan’s Heirloom Cider, Philo, CA

Bronze: Spiced, Snow Capped Cider, Austin, CO

Category 205: Experimental, Barrel-Aged or Specialty Cider – 28 Entries

Gold: Newtown Ice CIder, Haykin Family Cider, Aurora, CO

Silver: LUCY Ice Cider, Haykin Family Cider, Aurora, CO

Bronze: Rosé, Gowan’s Heirloom Cider, Philo, CA

Category 500: Pro-Am Comp – 30 Entries

Gold: The Burden of Being Wonderful, Wild Blue Yonder Brewing Co. – Geoff Humphrey, Castle Rock, CO

Silver: Three Kings, Maple Branch Craft Brewery – Karl King, Fort Worth, TX

Bronze: Lunch Time!, Smog City Brewing – Joe St. John, Torrance, CA

Category 501: Collab Comp – 54 Entries

Gold: Infinite Hotel, Wayfinder Beer / Bierstadt Lagerhaus, Portland, OR

Silver: Neon Lady, Offset Bier Co. / New Image Brewing, Park City, UT

Bronze: Stupid Sticky Fingers, Werk Force Brewing Co. / Rocky Reef Brewing Co., Plainfield, IL

2026 GABF Winners List