OVHA Chat

Hi all from Denver. The weather is gloomy and cold here but th delicious beers makes it all better. It's day -1 of the GABF. We had a long day of travel butmanaged to hit the Great Divide taproom, the former location of Flying Dog, and the downtown Rock bottom.

My favorite: Wood Aged Double IPA - man, does this light wood work with these American hops! All of their bittering is super smooth.


Great Divide Brewing Co.-Sour Whiske Aged Claymore Scotch Ale-SPECIALTY BEER-sour, malt,cherries-4
Great Divide Brewing Co.-Samurai-Blonde Ale-light ale with rice - spicy mix of herb and citrus hops-3
Great Divide Brewing Co.-Yeti-Imperial Stout-wow- caramel,coffee,roadt,hoppy!-5
Great Divide Brewing Co.-Titan IPA-American IPA-balanced IPA- citrus, etc.-3
Great Divide Brewing Co.-Hercules-Imperial IPA-super fresh - c hops and chinook maybe? Balanced but hoppy.-4
Great Divide Brewing Co.-Wood Aged Double IPA-Imperial IPA-great wood flavor works with the hoppy flavors.-4
Great Divide Brewing Co.-Tripel-Belgian Tripel-nice balanced kind of easy to drink-3
Great Divide Brewing Co.-Fresh Hop Ale-American Pale Ale-nice balanced c-hop ale... light on the malt and ez to drink.-4
Rock Bottom Brewery - Denver-Kolsch-K�lsch-clean,spicy, a bit of color-4
Rock Bottom Brewery - Denver-Wheat-American Wheat or Rye Beer-American wheat? Cloudy, kind of sweet, low hop.-3

Sounds like you're off to a good start. Keep up the posts if you can.

We took a trip up into the mountains about 40 min west of Denver to check out the mountains and Tommyknocker brewery in Idaho Springs, CO. High enough that we passed several homes with snow still on the roof from the night before. This is an old mining town turned ski/tourist town (but not obnoxiously so.) It is great to sit at the bar and look out the window3 at huge, steep rocky peaks.

The brewery operation is open to the bar and dining room. In fact it was loud because the bottling line was going. Funny, they have 2 fermenters next to tach other that they have named Cheech and Chong (seems fitting for the area.)

Beers were hit and miss. Highlight is an Imperial version of their Maple Nut Brown Ale. Their hard water is evident in the drinking water and it does seem to help their hoppy beers a bit.



Tommyknocker Brewery-Alpine Glacier Lager-LIGHT LAGER-clean, kinda hoppy - hallertau maybe-4
Tommyknocker Brewery-Tundraberry Ale-FRUIT BEER-cidery, a bit sweet for my taste, raspberry?-3
Tommyknocker Brewery-Maple Nut Brown Ale-SPECIALTY BEER-very mapely like candy in fact, sweet, malty-3
Tommyknocker Brewery-Black Powder Stout-STOUT-ez to drink, light roast, smooth-3
Tommyknocker Brewery-Butt Head Bock-BOCK-a bit hoppy, malty but not much, flat-3
Tommyknocker Brewery-Jack Whacker Wheat-American Wheat or Rye Beer-brewed with lemongrass, not bad, grapefruity-3
Tommyknocker Brewery-Fresh Hop Bitter-American Pale Ale-nice balanced hop and caramel malt, chinook, great-5
Tommyknocker Brewery-Ornery Amber Lager-American Amber Ale-copper, nice malt with willamette type hops fairly prominent\r\n-4
Tommyknocker Brewery-Pick Axe Pale-American Pale Ale-lots of late amarillo hops. Their hard water lends itself to hops.-4
Tommyknocker Brewery-Double Maple Nut Brown-SPECIALTY BEER-wow! This is a dried out version of the maple nut. Not sweet but actually almost dry, malt is perfect.-5
Tommyknocker Brewery-Dry Hopped Porter-PORTER-blech...this one is going bad. Sour.-1

GABF - Day 1

OK, this thing is huge. I keep seeing varying reports but I wouls say conservatively there are 2500+ beers here to sample. The booths are organized by region so we decided to do the Pacific side tonight. Lots of tasty IPAs of course and some really great sour beers as well.

Had Alaskan Smked Porter and it was awesome. New stuff drom Dogfish Head that I seriously can't even explain... like a spice cabinet and herb garden fell into a fermenter. Had two sour beers from NewBelgium that were nothing short of spectacular. Firestone IPA was probably the best hoppy beer of the night.

Plenty of characters and people in crazy get-ups. Folks have these necklaces with pretzels (and one guy had bagels ...LOLs) so they can walk and munch. If you drop your tasting cup the place erupts. Saw a belt buckle that flips down forward to become a beer holder. One interesting brewing product...these balls that you put inyour carboy that are calibrated and float/sink at different gravities. http://www.brewballstore.com

Rare Beer tasting and Day 2 coming up soon.


Dogfish Head Brewery-Theobroma-SPECIALTY BEER-?-4
Dogfish Head Brewery-Sahtea-SPECIALTY BEER-spicy, champagne like, lots going on-5
Dogfish Head Brewery-Palo Santo-SPECIALTY BEER-great-5
Karl Strauss Brewing Company-IPA-American IPA--4
Kern River Brewing Company-Outstanding IPA-American IPA-not outstanding-3
Kona Brewing Company-Coconut Brown-SPECIALTY BEER-brown beer with coconut... absolutely delicious-5
Lagunitas Brewing Company-Hop Stoopid-Imperial IPA-oh yea, thats the stuff..super smooth latr American hops bigtime-5
Oggis Pizza and Brewing Co-Scottish-Scottish Light 60/--balanced but could use more malt-4
Los Gatos Brewing-Hefeweizen-GERMAN WHEAT AND RYE BEER-pretty good, bananna-4
Main Street Brewery-Tripel-Belgian Tripel-balanced, not fusely but belgiany for sure-4
Main Street Brewery-Old Woody Lambic-SOUR ALE-nice and sour with toasted barrel flavors-5
----5
Marin Brewing Company-Star Brew Wheat Wine-SPECIALTY BEER-drier than expected, a bit fusel, low to no hops-4
MateVeza-Yerba Mate IPA-INDIA PALE ALE (IPA)-interesting earthy but the damn taste lingers for 5 minutes.yuk-2
Maui Brewing Co.-Coconut Porter-PORTER-great subtle flavor in a smooth porter-5
Two Brothers Brewing Company-Flanders Red-Flanders Red Ale-good but needs more sour...a lot more-3
Spoetzl Brewery-100 Anniversary Dopplebock-Doppelbock-maybe the best dopplebock i have had... but i dont like these super malty ones.-4
Iron Springs Pub and Brewery-Imperial IPA-Imperial IPA-super hoppy with no malt ...seriously people-2
Hoppy Brewing Co.-Hoppy Face IPA-American IPA-meh, not bad not terrible ...thin-3
Firestone Walker Brewing Company-Firestone IPA-American IPA-yes! how do they get that hop profile ... late hops big and smooth-5
FiftyFifty Brewing Co.-Dor Du Truckee-Belgian Golden Strong Ale-wow, great think duvel -5
El Toro Brewing Company-Golden Ale-Blonde Ale-refreshing, nice subtle hop-4
Eel River Brewing Co.-Acai Berry Wheat-FRUIT BEER-DAMN wonderful berry taste ... i am new to acai berry but i love them-5
Drakes Brewing Company-Its Fity-SOUR ALE-damnit this is great!!! oak , merlot barrell, super -5
Dale Bros Brewery-Daylight Lager-LIGHT LAGER-simple, probably better if not betewwn sour and ipa-3
New Belgium Brewing Company-LeTerroir-SOUR ALE-5++ sour, fruit, cherry, peach, gawd damn-5
New Belgium Brewing Company-TransAtlantique Kreik-SOUR ALE-great sour cherry, not fake or candy like, niiiiice-5
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales-Saison-Saison-another 5+ a super dry somewhat sour saison. how do they do that-5

Sounds like you're having fun.

You know what is funny is that I was just drinking a lemon yerba mate freash leaf tea this morning and wondering about using it in a beer. That sucks you had a bad experience with a yerba beer. Makes me second guess it now but they just may not have done it well. I didn't even realize someone had already done it. lol

drink on soldier.

Toured New Belgium today. It was quite impressive. the employee owners are passionate about their company. They are quite generous with their beer as well. If you're ever in the Denver area it's definitely a worthwhile side trip. I echo Chris' sentiments about the GABF. It's massive.

Live from the GABF...I'm progressing through the pro-am beers. These are beers designed by homebrewers and brewed for this occasion at and with the assistance of commercial breweries. I'm sure Chris will agree that these are generally as good as or better than most of the commercial brews.

I tried a few of the pro-am beers and they were definitely high quality.

Inagural Denver Rare Beer Tasting - Wynkoop Brewery

This was easily the most amazing tasting I have ever attended. Each beer was donated by the brewery to benefit the Pints for Prostates orgainization. All beers are special projects, one offs, or experiments and most are not for sale and half are not even available at the brewery. We met Sam Calgione from Dogfish Head, Garrett Oliver from Brooklyn, Steve Dressler from Sierra. All were serving beers and all were very nice.

Oak seemed to be the theme of the day with bourbon and scotch barrels being favored. It would be impossible for me to name my favorite beer here. They were mostly huge and had so much going on that my attempts at explaining them would be a failure.

If you ever go to the GABF ... you MUST get tickets for this small tasting.


New Glarus Brewing Co-Golden Ale With Brett-SPECIALTY BEER-Dry and not sour, great, I finally get brett v. sour bugs. Whoda thunk sour golden but it works great.-5
Odell Brewing Co.-Crimson Shennanigans-SPECIALTY BEER-Great wood flavor, rich, almost port or burbon like. Huge.-5
Stoudt Brewing Company-Old Abominable Barleywine 2007-English Barleywine-Suprisingly easy to drink for 8.5%. Oak. Blend of US and UK barleywines.-5
Wynkoop Brewing Company-Barrel Aged Berzerker Mead 2008-Mead-Aged in Stranahans wiskey barrels... almost tawny not yellow like many meads, wildflower honey, 11% - tasty but potent.-4
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.-Barrel Aged Scotch Ale-Scottish Export 80/--Wee heavy aged in Scotch barrels from Glengoyne Distilery. Malt, coconut, smoke, vanilla, rum.-5
Stone Brewing Co.-2008 Guardian Barleywine -American Barleywine-Aged in Red Wine barrels. 11% with huge malt and huge hops (95 IBU) Despite it was very easy to drink and actually somewhat dry.-5
Oskar Blues Brewery-Wet Hop Barrel Aged Gordon-SPECIALTY BEER-Described as as Double-Red it's a toasty barrel aged amber with 10% alcohol and fairly low hops. Very woody.-5
Rogue Ales-John John Hazlenut-ENGLISH BROWN ALE-A brown ale aged in Rogues Hazlenut Rum barrels. The nut flavor comes through as a help to to the toasty malts. I though this was great.-5
New Belgium Brewing Company-TrIp II-SPECIALTY BEER-Golden ale with Magnum and Citra (55 IBU) Belgian yeast. Kind of hoppy Belgian Golden Strong.-4
Michelob Brewing Company-Mich Brett-Belgian Golden Strong Ale-Yes, Michelob. They made 1 keg and this is it. Darker than a golden with dried out characteristisc of brett. Best Michelob beer ever (obviously)-5
Highland Brewing Company-Big Butte Smoked Porter-SMOKE-FLAVORED & WOOD-AGED BEER-Homebrewers recipe. Generous smoke, nice beer overall balanced. Roast, coffee. Used bamberg smoked malt, fuggle.-4
Lost Abbey-Angels Share 08 Brandy Barrel-English Barleywine-So full of stuff it is everywhere. 15 months in brandy barrels. Too many flavors to name, really fantabulous.-5
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales-Bier De Mars-BELGIAN AND FRENCH ALE-Great mix of one beer on oak for 27 years and one for 1 year. Belgian yeast character with smooth vanilla that goes well with the fruit.-5
Harpoon Brewery-100 Barrel Series Glacier Wet Hop-American Pale Ale-Glacier is good! Fresh of course with a little herb character matched with spicy citrus. I really enjoy this .-5
Saranac / F.X. Matt Brewing Company-Imperial IPA-Imperial IPA-WOW! 10 different malts and 10 different hops. HUGE finish. 85 IBU.-5
Foothills Brewing-23 Year Pappy Van Winkle Stout-STOUT-My tasting comment was simply: Holy S***! Bourbon, vanilla, coffee, toffee, lots and lots. Wonderful.-5
Dogfish Head Brewery-Raison DExtra 2006-SPECIALTY BEER-18% My god. green raisins, beet sugar, Belgian yeast. Huge, so so malty. Server by Sam Calgione himself.-5
Great Divide Brewing Co.-Old Ruffian Barleywine 2008-American Barleywine-Very hoppy version of a nice malty barleywine. Aged for 1 yr. 10% and 90 IBU.-5
Deschutes Brewery-Double Black Butte Porter XX-PORTER-Porter plus specially sourced coffee, cocoa nibs, bourbon barrel aging. 11% , 55 IBU. Really enjoyed the coffee aspect.-5
Avery Brewing Company-Voltron-SOUR ALE-Super sour Flanders style.-5
Samuel Adams-Utopias-SPECIALTY BEER-27% This is just basically a malt wine. Fairly tasty but it is so bit that it is tough to take much more than a sip. It's not beer but it is good.-5
Alaskan Brewing Company-2008 Smoked Porter-SMOKE-FLAVORED & WOOD-AGED BEER-Great smoke, plum, rasin, roast, chocolate.-5

Winners of the GABF:
http://www.beerinfo.com/index.php/pages/gabf2009.html

Great American Beer Festival Winners - 2009

American-Style Cream Ale or Lager
Gold: Milwaukee’s Best, Miller Brewing Co., Golden, CO
Silver: Hamm’s, Miller Brewing Co., Golden, CO
Bronze: Red Dog, Miller Brewing Co., Golden, CO

American-Style Wheat Beer
Gold: County Seat Wheat, Blind Tiger Brewery & Restaurant, Topeka, KS
Silver: Shredders Wheat, Barley Brown’s Brew Pub, Baker City, OR
Bronze: Double Eagle Ale, Rockyard Brewing Co., Castle Rock, CO

American-Style Wheat Beer With Yeast
Gold: Haywire Hefeweizen, Pyramid Breweries, Seattle, WA
Silver: Hefeweizen, Widmer Brothers Brewing, Portland, OR
Bronze: UFO Hefeweizen, Harpoon Brewery, Boston, MA

Fruit Beer or Field Beer
Gold: Raspberry Creek, Breakwater Brewing Co., Oceanside, CA
Silver: Magnolia’s Peach, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery, Huntington Beach, CA
Bronze: Raspberry Tart, New Glarus Brewing Co, New Glarus, WI

Herb and Spice or Chocolate Beer
Gold: Stillwater Rye, Montana Brewing Co., Billings, MT
Silver: Imperial Chocolate Stout, Rogue Ales, Newport, OR
Bronze: Rude Elf’s Reserve, Fegley’s Allentown & Bethlehem Brew Works, Allentown, PA

Coffee Flavored Beer
Gold: Dude! Where’s My Vespa?, Rock Bottom Brewery - Arlington, Arlington, VA
Silver: Overcast Espresso Stout, Oakshire Brewing, Eugene, OR
Bronze: Coffee Bender, Surly Brewing Co., Brooklyn Center, MN

Specialty Beer
Gold: Chateau Jiahu, Dogfish Head Brewery, Milton, DE
Silver: Palo Santo Marron, Dogfish Head Brewery, Milton, DE
Bronze: Drunken Angel, Rock Bottom Brewery - Chicago, Chicago, IL

Rye Beer
Gold: Crazy Jackass Ale, Great American Restaurants, Centreville, VA
Silver: Blue Point Brewing Co. RastafaRye, Blue Point Brewing Co., Patchogue, NY
Bronze: Hoss, Great Divide Brewing Co., Denver, CO

Specialty Honey Beer
Gold: Countdown Honey Brown, Thunder Canyon Brewery, Tucson, AZ
Silver: George’s Fault, Nodding Head Brewing Co., Philadelphia, PA
Bronze: Midas Touch, Dogfish Head Brewery, Milton, DE|

Session Beer
Gold: KinderPils, Triumph Brewing Co. of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Silver: Firestone Xtra Pale, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Paso Robles, CA
Bronze: Bam Biere, Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, Dexter, MI

Other Strong Beer
Gold: Cardiff, Glenwood Canyon Brewing Co., Glenwood Springs, CO
Silver: Winter Wheatwine, Rubicon Brewing Co., Sacramento, CA
Bronze: FiftyFifty Imperial Stout, FiftyFifty Brewing Co., Truckee, CA

Experimental Beer
Gold: TPS Report, Trinity Brewing Co, Colorado Springs, CO
Silver: Bloody Beer, Shorts Brewing Co., Bellaire, MI
Bronze: Brabant, Avery Brewing Co., Boulder, CO

Out of Category – Traditionally Brewed Beer
Gold: W ‘10, Widmer Brothers Brewing, Portland, OR
Silver: Brooklyner-Schneider Hopfen-Weisse, Brooklyn Brewery, Brooklyn, NY
Bronze: S1NIST0R Black Ale, 10 Barrel Brewing Co., Bend, OR

Gluten Free Beer
Gold: Celia Framboise, The Alchemist, Waterbury, VT
Silver: Redbridge, Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Saint Louis, MO
Bronze: Celia IPA, The Alchemist, Waterbury, VT

American-Belgo-Style Ale
Gold: Exit 4, Flying Fish Brewing Co., Cherry Hill, NJ
Silver: The Crow and The Sparrow, Rock Bottom Brewery - Chicago, Chicago, IL
Bronze: Temperance, Mountain Sun Pub and Brewery, Boulder, CO

American-Style Sour Ale
Gold: Rosso e Marrone, Captain Lawrence Brewing Co, Pleasantville, NY
Silver: Raspberry Torte, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, Wilmington, DE
Bronze: Diamond Kings ‘09, Brugge Brasserie, Indianapolis, IN

Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer
Gold: Humidor Series IPA, Cigar City Brewing, Tampa, FL
Silver: Red Woody, Goose Island Beer Co., Chicago, IL
Bronze: Red Brick Anniversary Ale 15, Red Brick-Atlanta Brewing Co., Atlanta, GA

Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer
Gold: Cereal Killer Barleywine, Arcadia Brewing Co., Battle Creek, MI
Silver: Barrel Aged Gonzo, Flying Dog Brewery, Frederick, MD
Bronze: Duck-Rabbit Barrel Aged Baltic Porter, The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery, Inc., Farmville, NC

Wood- and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer
Gold: Bourbonic Plague, Cascade Brewery Co. LLC, Portland, OR
Silver: Vlad the Imp Aler, Cascade Brewery Co. LLC, Portland, OR
Bronze: Phruit Phunk, Nodding Head Brewing Co., Philadelphia, PA

Aged Beer
Gold: Horn Dog Vintage 2007, Flying Dog Brewery, Frederick, MD
Silver: St. Bob’s Imperial Stout, IL Vicino Brewing Co., Albuquerque, NM
Bronze: Winterfest 2008, Utah Brewers Co-op, Salt Lake City, UT

Kellerbier/Zwickelbier
Gold: Hell In Keller, Uncle Billy’s Brew & Que, Austin, TX
Silver: Natural Born Keller, Devil’s Backbone Brewing Co., Roseland, VA
Bronze: Red Rock Organic Zwickel Bier, Red Rock Brewing Co., Salt Lake City, UT

Smoked Beer
Gold: Smokejumper, Left Hand Brewing Co., Longmont, CO
Silver: Up In Smoke, Fat Head’s Brewery & Saloon, North Olmsted, OH
Bronze: Diesel Imperial Smoked Porter, 21st Amendment Brewery, San Francisco, CA

International-Style Pilsener
Gold: Gold Leaf Lager, Devil’s Backbone Brewing Co., Roseland, VA
Silver: OE800, Miller Brewing Co., Golden, CO
Bronze: Gold Mountain Pilsner, Silver City Brewery, Silverdale, WA

German-Style Pilsener
Gold: 106 Pilsner, Rock Bottom Brewery - Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
Silver: Pilsner, Chuckanut Brewery, Bellingham, WA
Bronze: Troegs Sunshine Pils, Troegs Brewing Co., Harrisburg, PA

Bohemian Style Pilsener
Gold: Vermont Lager, Otter Creek Brewing/Wolaver’s Organic Ales, Middlebury, VT
Silver: Gordon Biersch Czech Pilsner, Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant Group, Broomfield, CO
Bronze: Bell’s Lager Beer, Bell’s Brewery, Inc., Galesburg, MI

Munich Style Helles
Gold: Saint Arnold Summer Pils, Saint Arnold Brewing Co., Houston, TX
Silver: Where the Helles Bill?, The SandLot, Denver, CO
Bronze: Gordon Biersch , Golden Export, Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant Group, Broomfield, CO

Dortmunder or German-Style Oktoberfest
Gold: Move Back, The SandLot, Denver, CO
Silver: Greenside Up, The SandLot, Denver, CO
Bronze: Capital Bavarian Lager, Capital Brewery Co., Inc., Middleton, WI

American Style Light Lager
Gold: Budweiser Select, Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Saint Louis, MO
Silver: Keystone Light, Coors Brewing Co., Golden, CO
Bronze: Michelob Ultra, Anheuser-Busch, Inc., Saint Louis, MO

American-Style Lager or Premium Lager
Gold: Coors Banquet, Coors Brewing Co., Golden, CO
Silver: Miller High Life, Miller Brewing Co., Golden, CO
Bronze: Totally Naked, New Glarus Brewing Co, New Glarus, WI

American Style Specialty Lager
Gold: Keystone Ice, Coors Brewing Co., Golden, CO
Silver: Pre-Pro, Coors Brewing Co., Gol, Golden, CO
Bronze: Steel Reserve, Miller Brewing Co., Golden, CO

Vienna Style Lager
Gold: Vienna Lager, Chuckanut Brewery, Bellingham, WA
Silver: Vienna Lager, Devil’s Backbone Brewing Co., Roseland, VA
Bronze: Clipper City Marzhon Vienna Lager, Clipper City Brewing Co., Baltimore, MD

German Style Märzen
Gold: Dogtoberfest, Flying Dog Brewery, Frederick, MD
Silver: Reines Marzen, Dry Dock Brewing Co., Aurora, CO
Bronze: Rocktoberfest, Rock Bottom Brewery - Long Beach, Long Beach, CA

American Style Amber Lager
Gold: Durango Colorfest, Durango Brewing Co., Durango, CO
Silver: Killian’s Red, Coors Brewing Co., Golden, CO
Bronze: Michelob Marzen, Michelob Brewing Co., Saint Louis, MO

European Style Dunkel
Gold: Dunkel, Chuckanut Brewery, Bellingham, WA
Silver: Gordon Biersch Dunkles, Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant Group, Broomfield, CO
Bronze: Dunkel, AC Golden Brewing Co., Golden, CO

American-Style Dark Lager
Gold: Session Black Premium Lager, Full Sail Brewing at Riverplace, Portland, OR
Silver: Roadrunner Red Lager, Thunder Canyon Brewery, Tucson, AZ
Bronze: Saranac Black Forest, Saranac/F.X. Matt Brewing Co., Utica, NY

German Style Schwarzbier, 34
Gold: Schwarzbier, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, Wilmington, DE
Silver: Schwarzbier, Chuckanut Brewery, Bellingham, WA
Bronze: Dark Helmet, Titletown Brewing Co., Green Bay, WI

Bock
Gold: Troegenator, Troegs Brewing Co., Harrisburg, PA
Silver: May Bock, Backcountry Brewery, Frisco, CO
Bronze: Fornicator, Piece Brewery, Chicago, IL

German Style Doppelbock or Eisbock
Gold: The Kaiser, Avery Brewing Co., Boulder, CO
Silver: Samuel Adams Double Bock, Boston Beer Co., Boston, MA
Bronze: Carbonator, Glenwood Canyon Brewing Co., Glenwood Springs, CO

Baltic-Style Porter
Gold: Duck-Rabbit Baltic Porter, The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery, Inc., Farmville, NC
Silver: Danzig, Devil’s Backbone Brewing Co., Roseland, VA
Bronze: Veles Baltic Porter, FireHouse Grill & Brewery, Sunnyvale, CA

Golden or Blonde Ale
Gold: Golden Spike, Tustin Brewing Co., Tustin, CA
Silver: Kiwanda Cream Ale, Pelican Pub & Brewery, Pacific City, OR
Bronze: Red Rock Blonde Ale, Red Rock Brewing Co., Salt Lake City, UT

German Style Kölsch
Gold: Kolsch, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, CA
Silver: Clearwater Kolsch, Ram Restaurant & Brewery (2), Tacoma, WA
Bronze: Stoudts Kolsch, Stoudt Brewing Co., Adamstown, PA

English-Style Summer Ale
Gold: Light Rock Ale, RJ Rockers Brewing Co., Spartanburg, SC
Silver: Surfer’s Summer Ale, Pelican Pub & Brewery, Pacific City, OR
Bronze: True Blonde Ale, Ska Brewing Co., Durango, CO

Classic English Style Pale Ale
Gold: Mactarnahan’s Amber, Pyramid Breweries, Seattle, WA
Silver: Mirror Pond Pale Ale, Deschutes Brewery, Bend, OR
Bronze: Hopfish, Flying Fish Brewing Co., Cherry Hill, NJ

English-Style India Pale Ale
Gold: Beech Street Bitter, Pizza Port Carlsbad, Carlsbad, CA
Silver: IPA, Goose Island Beer Co., Chicago, IL
Bronze: Brewer’s Alley India Pale Ale, Brewer’s Alley Restaurant and Brewery, Frederick, MD

American Style Pale Ale
Gold: Sweetgrass IPA, Grand Teton Brewing Co., Victor, ID
Silver: 44 Pale Ale, Colorado Brewing Co./Draft House, Boulder, CO
Bronze: Tumble Off Pale Ale, Barley Brown’s Brew Pub, Baker City, OR

American-Style Strong Pale Ale
Gold: Racer 5 IPA, Bear Republic Factory Five, Cloverdale, CA
Silver: Hopshot IPA, Beaver St. Brewery, Flagstaff, AZ
Bronze: IPA Nectar, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Paso Robles, CA

American-Style India Pale Ale
Gold: Union Jack, Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Paso Robles, CA
Silver: Sculpin IPA, Ballast Point Brewing Co, San Diego, CA
Bronze: Blind Pig IPA, Russian River Brewing Co., Santa Rosa, CA

Imperial India Pale Ale
Gold: Organic Ace of Spades Imperial IPA, Hopworks Urban Brewery, Portland, OR
Silver: Denogginizer, Drake’s Brewing Co., San Leandro, CA
Bronze: Hip Hop Double IPA, Hollister Brewing Co., Goleta, CA

American Style Amber/Red Ale
Gold: Organic Rise Up Red, Hopworks Urban Brewery, Portland, OR
Silver: Red Rock, Triple Rock Brewery and Alehouse, Berkeley, CA
Bronze: Hop Head Red, Green Flash Brewing Co., Vista, CA

Imperial Red Ale
Gold: Shark Attack, Pizza Port Solana Beach, Solana Beach, CA
Silver: 547 Haight - The Toronado San Francisco’s 20th Anniversary Imperial Red Ale, Pizza Port Carlsbad, Carlsbad, CA
Bronze: Organic Deranger Imperial Red, Laurelwood Brewing Co., Portland, OR

English Style Mild Ale
Gold: Sara’s Ruby Mild, Magnolia Gastropub & Brewery, San Francisco, CA
Silver: AK Session, Snake River Brewing, Jackson, WY
Bronze: Coyote Moon, Snipes Mountain Brewing Inc., Sunnyside, WA

Ordinary or Special Bitter
Gold: Big Rapid Red, Beaver St. Brewery, Flagstaff, AZ
Silver: Cutthroat Pale Ale, Uinta Brewing Co., Salt Lake City, UT
Bronze: Numbers Ale, Red Brick-Atlanta Brewing Co., Atlanta, GA

Extra Special Bitter or Strong Bitter
Gold: ESB, Redhook Ales - Woodinville, Woodinville, WA
Silver: Motorboat ESB, SweetWater Brewing Co., Atlanta, GA
Bronze: Colorado Boy IPA, Colorado Boy Pub & Brewery, Ridgway, CO

Scottish Style Ale
Gold: Railbender Ale, Erie Brewing Co, Erie, PA
Silver: Kilt Lifter, Four Peaks Brewing Co., Tempe, AZ
Bronze: Cold Smoke Scotch Ale, Kettlehouse Brewing Co., Missoula, MT

Irish Style Red Ale
Gold: Ridgetop Red, Silver City Brewery, Silverdale, WA
Silver: Colorado Boy Irish, Colorado Boy Pub & Brewery, Ridgway, CO
Bronze: Saranac Irish Red Ale, Saranac/F.X. Matt Brewing Co., Utica, NY

English Style Brown Ale
Gold: Longboard Brown, Rock Bottom Brewery - La Jolla, La Jolla, CA
Silver: Buster Nut Brown, Ska Brewing Co., Durango, CO
Bronze: Good Grief Brown, Pizza Port Carlsbad, Carlsbad, CA

American Style Brown Ale
Gold: Dirty Helen Brown Ale, Barley Island Brewing Co., Noblesville, IN
Silver: Cheyenne Cañon Ale, Bristol Brewing Co., Colorado Springs, CO
Bronze: Great American Brown, Pizza Port Carlsbad, Carlsbad, CA

German Style Altbier
Gold: Bismarck Altbier, Dry Dock Brewing Co., Aurora, CO
Silver: Boca Alt, Brewzzi West Palm, West Palm Beach, FL
Bronze: Gordon Biersch Alt Bier, Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant Group, Broomfield, CO

German-Style Sour Ale
Gold: Berliner Weisse, Southampton Publick House, Southampton, NY
Silver: NBB Love, New Belgium Brewing Co., Inc., Fort Collins, CO
Bronze: Bad Kitty, Brugge Brasserie, Indianapolis, IN

South German Style Hefeweizen
Gold: Top Heavy Hefeweizen, Piece Brewery, Chicago, IL
Silver: U-Boat Hefeweizen, Dry Dock Brewing Co., Aurora, CO
Bronze: Wiezen, Redhook Ales - Portsmouth, Portsmouth, NH

German-Style Wheat Ale
Gold: Hefeweizen, Triumph Brewing Co. of New Hope, New Hope, PA
Silver: Weizenbock, The Covey Restaurant & Brewery, Fort Worth, TX
Bronze: Upslope Dunkel Weizen, Upslope Brewing Co., Boulder, CO

Belgian-Style Witbier
Gold: ZON, Boulevard Brewing Co, Kansas City, MO
Silver: Belgian White, Big Dog’s Brewing Co., Las Vegas, NV
Bronze: Wits End, Great American Restaurants, Centreville, VA

French- and Belgian Style Saison
Gold: Saison Vautour, McKenzie Brew House, Glen Mills, PA
Silver: Belgian Summer Ale, Great Adirondack Brewing Co., Lake Placid, NY
Bronze: Saison Du Bastone, Bastone Brewery, Royal Oak, MI

Belgian and French-Style Ale
Gold: Carnevale, The Lost Abbey, San Marcos, CA
Silver: Demolition, Goose Island Beer Co., Chicago, IL
Bronze: Collaborative Evil-Sacramento, Sacramento Brewing Co., Sacramento, CA

Belgian-Style Lambic or Sour Ale
Gold: Duck Duck Gooze, The Lost Abbey, San Marcos, CA
Silver: Red Rock, Big Rock Chop House & Brewery, Birmingham, MI
Bronze: Supplication, Russian River Brewing Co., Santa Rosa, CA

Belgian-Style Abbey Ale
Gold: Signature Dubbel, Choc Beer Co., Krebs, OK
Silver: Tripel, Allagash Brewing Co., Portland, ME
Bronze: Deschutes Brewery Quad, Deschutes Brewery, Bend, OR

Belgian Style Strong Specialty Ale
Gold: Revelations, Pizza Port Carlsbad, Carlsbad, CA
Silver: “100”, The Covey Restaurant & Brewery, Fort Worth, TX
Bronze: Father Damien Abbey Ale, Maui Brewing Co., Lahaina, HI

Brown Porter
Gold: St. Charles Porter, Blackstone Brewing Co., Nashville, TN
Silver: Lazy Jake Porter, Long Valley Pub and Brewery, Long Valley, NJ
Bronze: Black Butte Porter, Deschutes Brewery, Bend, OR

Robust Porter
Gold: Pt. Reyes Porter, Marin Brewing Co., Larkspur, CA
Silver: Mocha Porter, Rogue Ales, Newport, OR
Bronze: Pirate’s Porter, Sullivan’s Black Forest Brew Haus & Grill, Frankenmuth, MI

Classic Irish Style Dry Stout
Gold: Dark Starr Stout, Starr Hill Brewery, Crozet, VA
Silver: Three Steve Stout, Cambridge House Brew Pub, Torrington, CT
Bronze: Pub Dog Black Dog Stout, DOG Brewing Co., Westminster, MD

Foreign Style Stout
Gold: Space Stout, Laurelwood Brewing Co., Portland, OR
Silver: San Quentin’s Breakout Stout, Marin Brewing Co., Larkspur, CA
Bronze: Whiteface Black Diamond Stout, Great Adirondack Brewing Co., Lake Placid, NY

American-Style Stout
Gold: Liberty Stout, Gella’s Diner and Lb. Brewing Co., Hays, KS
Silver: Troegs Dead Reckoning, Troegs Brewing Co., Harrisburg, PA
Bronze: Stonefly Oatmeal Stout, Third Street Aleworks, Santa Rosa, CA

Sweet Stout
Gold: Cow Stout, Pizza Port Carlsbad, Carlsbad, CA
Silver: Cream Stout, Redwood Brewing Co., Flint, MI
Bronze: Steel Toe Stout, Ska Brewing Co., Durango, CO

Oatmeal Stout
Gold: Ernest’s Silky Smoove, Pizza Port San Clemente, San Clemente, CA
Silver: Oatmeal Stout, Schooner’s Grille & Brewery, Antioch, CA
Bronze: Sleeping Dog Stout, Chama River Brewing Co., Albuquerque, NM

Imperial Stout
Gold: Gonzo Imperial Porter, Flying Dog Brewery, Frederick, MD
Silver: Yeti Imperial Stout, Great Divide Brewing Co., Denver, CO
Bronze: Sexual Chocolate Imperial Stout, Foothills Brewing, Winston-Salem, NC

Scotch Ale
Gold: Reed’s Wee Heavy, Pizza Port Carlsbad, Carlsbad, CA
Silver: BagPiper’s Scotch Ale, Fegley’s Allentown & Bethlehem Brew Works, Allentown, PA
Bronze: MacPelican’s Wee Heavy Ale, Pelican Pub & Brewery, Pacific City, OR

Old Ale or Strong Ale
Gold: Old Scrooge ‘98, Silver City Brewery, Silverdale, WA
Silver: Outback X, Bend Brewing Co, Bend, OR
Bronze: 4th Dementia Old Ale, Kuhnhenn Brewing Co., Warren, MI

Barley Wine Style Ale
Gold: Old Inventory Barley Wine, Valley Brewing Co., Stockton, CA
Silver: Treblehook, Redhook Ales - Woodinville, Woodinville, WA
Bronze: Old Ruffian Barley Wine, Great Divide Brewing Co., Denver, CO

2009 Great American Beer Festival Pro-Am Competition
Gold: Herbal Joe’s Columbarillo IPA, Chama River Brewing Co., Albuquerque, NM
Brewmaster: Jeff Erway, AHA Member: Ben Miller
Silver: Alright Already Amber, O’Fallon Brewery, O’Fallon, MO
Brewmaster: Brian Owens, AHA Member: Jim Yeager

2009 Brewery of the Year Awards:
Large Brewing Company of the Year
Coors Brewing Company, Golden, CO

Mid-Size Brewing Company of the Year
Flying Dog Brewery, Frederick, MD

Small Brewing Company of the Year
Dry Dock Brewing Company, Aurora, CO

Large Brewpub of the Year
Pizza Port Carlsbad, Carlsbad, CA

Small Brewpubof the Year
Chuckanut Brewery, Bellingham, WA