Oregon Breweries, Cideries Take Home 35 Medals at Great American Beer Festival, Third Most in the Country

Oregon breweries earn 35 Great American Beer Festival medals

Oregon breweries have another strong showing to point to, and this year’s Great American Beer Festival results give the state’s beer and cider industry something worth celebrating at a time when independent producers could use a little good news. Oregon breweries and cideries collected 35 medals at the Brewers Association’s annual competition, placing the state third nationally for total awards, behind California and Colorado. That’s a substantial result in a competition that attracts entries from breweries and cider makers across the country and around the world, and it reinforces Oregon’s long-running reputation for producing award-winning beer.

But the medal count only tells part of the story. Oregon has built a brewing culture that stretches from Portland’s established craft beer scene to smaller communities where independent breweries, brewpubs, taprooms and cideries have become part of the local economy. These businesses create jobs, support agricultural suppliers, draw visitors and give their communities gathering places that are difficult to replicate. Winning at the Great American Beer Festival helps put those businesses in the spotlight, but keeping them open requires customers to walk through the doors long after the awards have been handed out.

The pressure is real. Brewery closures, changing drinking habits and a more challenging market have made it harder for independent beer producers to count on the kind of steady growth that once seemed more attainable. Oregon’s 35 Great American Beer Festival medals are a reminder that quality and creativity remain strong across the state, although a medal doesn’t automatically translate into a healthier balance sheet or a packed taproom. That is where the people who buy the beer and cider come in. Good beer deserves a local following.

Two Oregon breweries also earned brewery-of-the-year honors in their respective production categories, giving the state additional recognition beyond the individual beer and cider medals. Those wins, combined with Oregon’s third-place national medal total, make this year’s Great American Beer Festival results worth a closer look.

Here’s the announcement from the Oregon beverage industry.

The Brewers Association’s annual competition receives thousands of beer and cider entries from around the world and Oregon continues to dominate.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Over the weekend, Oregon breweries and cidermakers celebrated 35 wins at the prestigious Great American Beer Festival.

“Year after year, Oregon is among the most medal winners. We have the accolades to prove we’re among the world’s best,” said Brett Thomas, Vice President of the Oregon Brewers Guild and founding brewer of Sunriver Brewing Company, who won three medals this year. “Oregon breweries are facing major challenges with record closures and people drinking less. Please, seek out these award winners and toast to keeping breweries alive so they can win even more awards next year.”

Yet another year in the top three, Oregon took home 35 awards out of 336, the third most of any state, behind California with 80 and Colorado with nearly 40. You can see the full list of winners here.

Two Oregon breweries also took home best brewery of the year within their category size – Upp Liquids for a brewery between 251-500 barrels and Breakside Brewery between 15,001-100,000 barrels.

According to Beer Serves America data, Oregon is home to 300 breweries, brewpubs and taprooms generating more than $8.9 billion in economic output, $2.8 billion in wages, creating 46,700 jobs in the state. It’s so important to the local economy, Oregon is the fifth most beer-job reliant state, accounting for 1 out of every 633 jobs in Oregon.

Explore these related MyBeerBuzz stories for additional Great American Beer Festival results, Oregon brewery recognition and previous medal winners:
pFriem Family Brewers wins Mid-Sized Brewing Company of the Year at GABF — Oregon brewery recognition, including a brewery-of-the-year honor and individual beer medals. 2026 GABF winners list – awards, medals and more — The current competition results, including brewery-of-the-year winners and individual medal-winning beers. The Great American Beer Festival announces the nation’s medal-winning beers and ciders — Coverage of the 2025 competition, with medal-winning breweries and cider makers. Great American Beer Festival 2021 award winners announced — A look back at the competition’s national award results.

About the Oregon Beverage Alliance

The Oregon Beverage Alliance is made up of local brewers, winemakers, cidermakers, distillers and their supply and hospitality partners creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and generating $17 billion in economic activity for Oregon annually. Learn more: www.DontTaxMyDrink.org

The Oregon Beverage Alliance represents a broad community of beverage producers and industry partners who contribute to Oregon’s agricultural, manufacturing, hospitality and tourism economies. Its membership includes local brewers, winemakers, cidermakers and distillers, along with the suppliers and hospitality businesses that help bring locally produced beverages to consumers.

Oregon is widely recognized for its independent craft beer industry, with breweries ranging from small neighborhood operations to larger regional producers. The state’s beverage sector also includes cideries, wineries and distilleries that draw on local ingredients, regional expertise and established traditions of fermentation and production. The Oregon Beverage Alliance brings these interests together around shared economic concerns and the long-term sustainability of beverage businesses throughout the state.

Supporting Oregon’s independent beverage industry

Oregon’s beverage industry extends well beyond the businesses that manufacture beer, cider, wine and spirits. Agricultural producers supply ingredients, including hops, fruit and other raw materials, while manufacturers provide cans, bottles, labels, kegs and packaging. Distributors move products to retailers, restaurants and taprooms, and hospitality workers help connect consumers with the businesses producing them.

This interconnected system makes the health of Oregon’s beverage industry relevant to communities throughout the state. Breweries and cideries create direct employment while also supporting jobs in farming, transportation, equipment maintenance, hospitality, tourism and retail. Their customers contribute to local economies when they visit tasting rooms, attend brewery events or purchase products from independent producers.

The Great American Beer Festival offers a visible example of the quality coming from this industry. Oregon’s 35 medals in the reported competition results demonstrate that local breweries and cider makers continue to earn recognition on a national stage. Awards help introduce consumers to new products and give established customers another reason to explore the state’s beverage offerings.

Advocating for responsible beverage policy

The Oregon Beverage Alliance also brings attention to public policy issues that affect beverage producers and their business partners. Taxation, regulatory requirements, operating costs and the broader economic environment can influence whether a small producer can expand, maintain its workforce or continue serving its community.

The organization’s work reflects a shared interest among beverage businesses in maintaining an environment where producers can operate sustainably and contribute to the state’s economy. Breweries and cideries face many of the same challenges as other independent businesses, including changing consumer preferences, labor expenses, distribution costs and competition for customers.

As alcohol consumption patterns change, producers must also respond to consumers who are drinking less, choosing different beverage categories or adjusting how often they visit bars and taprooms. For independent breweries, this can mean finding new ways to reach customers while continuing to invest in product quality, staff and local relationships.

Economic contributions across Oregon

The economic figures cited by the Oregon Beverage Alliance illustrate the scale of Oregon’s beverage sector. Beer Serves America data cited in the Great American Beer Festival announcement places the state’s breweries, brewpubs and taprooms at approximately 300 businesses, generating more than $8.9 billion in economic output, $2.8 billion in wages and 46,700 jobs.

These figures underline the importance of beer production and related businesses to Oregon’s workforce. They also help explain why brewery closures and changing consumer demand have implications beyond individual owners. When a brewery closes, the effects can reach employees, suppliers, distributors and nearby businesses that benefit from customer traffic.

The Alliance describes Oregon’s broader beverage industry as generating $17 billion in annual economic activity and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs when its various beverage sectors and industry partners are considered together.

Keeping Oregon beverage businesses connected to consumers

Oregon’s reputation as a destination for craft beer and other locally produced beverages depends on the businesses that continue to invest in their products and communities. Competition awards provide recognition, but long-term success also depends on customer relationships, responsible business practices and an operating environment that allows producers to adapt.

For Oregon breweries and cideries, the Great American Beer Festival provides a moment to celebrate the work of brewers, cidermakers and their teams. The Oregon Beverage Alliance’s broader mission connects that achievement to the economic and policy issues affecting the industry throughout the year.

Consumers who want to support local beverage producers can visit breweries and cideries, explore independent products at retailers and restaurants, and learn more about the businesses operating in their communities.

For more information about the Oregon Beverage Alliance and its work, visit DontTaxMyDrink.org

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