The 2009 Great American Beer Festival Shatters Records Despite the Economy
The Great American Beer Festival (GABF) Competition continued its record setting ways, crushing last year's entries by 16%. GABF remains the largest and most prestigious commercial beer competition in the world with 3,308 entries.
Colorado and California typically dominate the competition each year for the most medals won by each state, with Colorado breweries and brewpubs coming out ahead for 2009. The top five medal winning states were: CO (45), CA (39), OR (22), WA (13), PA (12).
2009 Great American Beer Festival Medals By Top States | ||||||||
State | Â | # of Medals Won | Â | % of Total Medals Awarded | Â | Total # of Entries | Â | % of Entries in the Competition |
Colorado | Â | 45 | Â | 19% | Â | 459 | Â | 14% |
California | Â | 39 | Â | 16% | Â | 594 | Â | 18% |
Oregon | Â | 22 | Â | 9% | Â | 172 | Â | 5% |
Washington | Â | 13 | Â | 5% | Â | 162 | Â | 5% |
Pennsylvania | Â | 12 | Â | 5% | Â | 126 | Â | 4% |
Michigan | Â | 9 | Â | 4% | Â | 138 | Â | 4% |
New York | Â | 8 | Â | 3% | Â | 117 | Â | 4% |
Virginia | Â | 8 | Â | 3% | Â | 58 | Â | 2% |
Illinois | Â | 7 | Â | 3% | Â | 93 | Â | 3% |
Maryland | Â | 7 | Â | 3% | Â | 63 | Â | 2% |
www.GreatAmericanBeerFestival.com | ||||||||
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The GABF competition attracted 132 international beer judges from ten countries. Award-winning brewers received gold, silver and bronze medals in 78 beer categories, establishing the best examples of each style in the U.S. A complete winners list is available on the Great American Beer Festival Web Site.
Gold, silver and bronze medals were also awarded in the GABF Pro-Am competition, which pairs amateur brewers with professional brewers, who scale up the award-winning homebrew recipes. American Homebrewers Association member Ben Miller teamed up with Chama River Brewing Co. in Albuquerque, N.M. to win gold for Herbal Joe's Columbarillo IPA.
The most competitive category was American Style India Pale Ale with 134 entries. The gold medal went to Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Paso Robles, CA for Union Jack for the second straight year. The second most hotly contested category was Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer with 110 entries (up from 79 in 2008). The gold medal went to Arcadia Brewing Co., Battle Creek, MI for Cereal Killer Barleywine.
Great American Beer Festival 2009 Statistics:
-457 breweries
in the festival hall
-2,100 beers served at the festival
-49,000
attendees (includes brewers, volunteers and ticket holders)
-3,000
volunteers
-495 breweries in the competition
-3,308 beers
judged in the competition
-78 categories judged + Pro-Am category
-132
judges from ten countries
-Average number of competition beers
entered in each category: 42
-Category with highest number of
entries: 134, American Style India Pale Ale
Browse the official winners list on-line.
Contacts:
Brewers Association
Cindy Jones, 303-447-0816 #144
cindy@brewersassociation.org
http://www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com