Firestone Walker DBA Earns GABF Gold For 2nd Straight Year

Paso Robles, CA—Firestone Walker Brewing Company’s flagship “DBA” was awarded the gold medal for the highest honor in its category for the second year in a row at the Great American Beer Festival Competition held in Denver, Colorado.

"Back-to-back gold medals speak volumes in arguably the most competitive beer judging in the world,” said co-proprietor David Walker. “Anyone who has been to this event can appreciate how tough it is for any beer to win a medal, let alone two gold medals in a row.”

Added co-proprietor Adam Firestone, “We first sent DBA to the Great American Beer Festival for judging 15 years ago. It’s a lesson in perseverance and consistency, and we are very proud."

The Great American Beer Festival is the nation’s largest and most prestigious domestic beer festival. The 2012 Great American Beer Festival Competition included 676 breweries from 48 states and more than 4,000 beers. The judging panels consisted of 188 professionals from 11 countries. The 2012 competition results were announced this weekend.

DBA won the gold medal in the Ordinary or Special Bitter category. Firestone Walker’s new release “Wookey Jack” also earned the lone gold medal in the category of American-Style Black Ale in its debut at the Great American Beer Festival Competition. The brewery’s “Double Jack” also earned the bronze medal in the category of Imperial India Pale Ale. Only one gold, one silver and one bronze medal were awarded in each category.

The medals at the Great American Beer Festival Competition follow Firestone Walker’s recent honor of being named Champion Mid-Sized Brewery at the 2012 World Beer Cup® for an unprecedented fourth time.

"When we started our brewery, the Great American Beer Festival in Denver was a small get together for American brewers,” Walker said. “Today, at 50,000 attendees and more than 4,000 beer entries, it now feels like Woodstock, and it reflects the craft beer revolution that is now in full swing.”
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