Great Basin Brewing Company Wins Gold Medal at the 2019 Great American Beer Festival®

From Great Basin:

Great Basin Brewing Company was awarded a gold medal at the 2019 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) competition, the world’s largest commercial beer competition. The GABF, presented by the Brewers Association, recognizes the most outstanding beers produced in the United States. Gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded on October 5 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, in 107 beer categories covering 174 different beer styles (including all subcategories), establishing the best examples of each style in the country.

Great Basin Brewing Company accepting their gold medal at the 2019 Great American Beer Festival®
Left to right: Tom Young, Brewmaster; Patrick Dalton, Restaurant General Manager; Bonda Young, Owner; Garrett Braun, Marketing Manager; and Charlie Papazian, the founder of the Great American Beer Festival.

Great Basin Brewing Company was recognized in the Fruit Wheat beer-style category for its Bitchin’ Berry, a fruit-forward ale brewed with real raspberries and blackberries. It has a deep-red color and fresh berry flavor, complimented by a light and crisp malt base. Great Basin Brewing Company is Nevada’s most award-winning brewery with three locations in Reno and Sparks, Nevada.

“We’ve been brewing a version of Bitchin’ Berry since we opened in 1993,” said Tom Young, Brewmaster, Great Basin Brewing Company. “It’s a difficult beer to brew because the beer undergoes a complex fermentation regimen using real raspberries and blackberries, never extracts. We’ve been refining the recipe year after year and I couldn’t be prouder of our world-class brew crew and all of the hard work and effort they’ve put into making Bitchin’ Berry the gold medal-winning craft beer it is today.”

Bitchin’ Berry was given one of only 107 gold medals awarded in the 33rd edition of the GABF competition where 9,497 entries were submitted to the general competition. There was 2,295 breweries represented from across the nation, with entries from all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Judging took place over the course of three days, with an international panel of 322 judges from 18 countries. This win marks Great Basin Brewing Company’s 15th medal from the Great American Beer Festival since first entering the competition in 1994.

Bitchin’ Berry is available to enjoy on tap at Great Basin’s Reno and Sparks locations, as well as in 6-pack long neck bottles across Nevada.

“This year’s GABF competition was the largest and most competitive to date,” said Chris Swersey, competition manager, Great American Beer Festival. “The beers and talent were as impressive as ever, and I’m thrilled to congratulate this year’s winners for their achievements in brewing.”

For more information about Great Basin Brewing Company and their craft beer, visit GreatBasinBrewing.com.