The Nice American Beer Competition (GABF) is again child! For the primary time in two years the nation’s largest and most well-respected beer pageant returned in-person to the Colorado Conference Middle in Denver.
“You can really feel the constructing vibrating with pleasure,” says Ann Obenchain, advertising and communications director for the Brewers Affiliation. “Folks had been so desirous to get in; they had been saying they’ve been ready three years to get again in right here!”
And whereas we swooned on the convention ground (actually ducking and diving across the 40,000 attendees throughout the weekend) tasting beer from over 500 breweries throughout the nation, we virtually stumbled over ourselves (no, not actually) to sit within the revered Bellco Theater for the thirty-sixth version of the storied Nice American Beer Competition awards ceremony.
Nice American Beer Competition 2022 Awards Ceremony
Undoubtedly, the awards ceremony has change into a tried-and-true custom. Breweries sit within the pink auditorium chairs holding their breath, feeling the shiver of anticipation in suspended house and time as they watch for the bulletins to begin rolling in.
“You’re all the time somewhat giddy ready,” says Max Jones, head brewer at Bottle Logic Brewing in Anaheim, CA, who entered a number of beers into the competitors. “We’re anxious and excited.”
However this yr appeared only a bit extra particular.
“It’s simply rad to see individuals soar proper again into it,” says Bottle Logic’s Artistic Director Lindsey Langton. “Beer is such a group anchor. It was a bizarre couple of pandemic years however to me a 3rd spot for individuals to return to see help all through two-plus years of wackiness is tremendous heartening and I’m positive everybody right here is feeling that very same graciousness.”
As an example, maybe the loudest cheers of the morning erupted after Denver-based Our Mutual Buddy (OMF) gained a gold within the Brett Beer class for Trystero, a 6.6% ABV Brett Saison. Additionally they picked up a silver within the Combined-Tradition Brett Beer class for Biere Ovale.
Breweries from throughout confirmed their help for some of the revered and revered breweries in Denver.
“Being acknowledged for the onerous work and dedication by our brewers to attain the best high quality in each step of the creation of our beers offers us the encouragement of realizing we’re on the precise path,” says OMF Managing Associate and Co-Proprietor Brandon Proff. “It additionally reminds us that it isn’t the tip of the journey. We’ve got quite a bit to be taught and admire in regards to the artwork of creating beer, and that’s extremely thrilling.”
And Bottle Logic?
They definitely high-fived one another once they landed a gold within the Wooden- And Barrel-Aged Sturdy Beer class for Flesh to Stone, a peach brandy barrel-aged barleywine. “It’s incredible,” says Jones. “The peach brandy barrels impart a peach character on this beer which meshes so properly with the sweetness of the English barleywine model. Plus it has a pleasant refined, oaky character.”
However sitting proper in entrance of them, I truly heard them shout louder and longer when their California brewery associates picked up their very own awards.
As an example, North Park Beer Co. in San Diego, CA, which gained a gold within the English India Pale Ale or New Zealand India Pale Ale class for NZ-Fu!, a silver within the Juicy or Hazy Imperial Pale Ale class and a bronze within the Imperial India Pale Ale class. And maybe most respectively, their Hop-Fu!! nabbed a bronze in essentially the most aggressive class in all the competitors—American Fashion India Pale Ale, which had an unbelievable 423 entries.
Oh and I virtually forgot…in addition they gained a 2022 Brewery of the Yr award for breweries making 2,001-5,000 barrels. In whole, North Park racked up essentially the most awards out of any brewery within the competitors.
It’s that camaraderie and convivial spirit that reminds us what we’ve all been lacking these previous couple years.
“It’s good to have a good time with associates,” says David Lin, chairman and founding father of Comrade Brewing Co. in Denver, CO. “Even when you don’t win any medals, to look at your mates win that’s actually nice too. We’re all the time completely happy about that.”
However don’t fear Comrade gained fairly huge this yr, putting first within the American Fashion India Pale Ale class for his or her Extra Dodge Much less RAM.
Nice American Beer Competition 2022 Awards Ceremony by the Numbers
Total, in the course of the thirty-sixth version of the storied competitors, the BA awarded 300 whole medals, together with 3 Professional-Am and three Collaboration medals to 268 breweries.
Extremely, throughout 9 days, 235 beer specialists judged 9,904 beers in 177 beer types from 2,154 breweries throughout all fifty states, plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico.
The most important competitors so far even attracted a good quantity of latest entrants with 301 breweries throwing their beers into the proverbial ring for the primary time.
“Every year the Nice American Beer Competition showcases the most effective that American brewers have to supply,” mentioned Chris Williams, competitors director, Nice American Beer Competition. “With 9,904 entries, this yr’s competitors was essentially the most aggressive so far. Congratulations to all of the winners who really demonstrated why the U.S. is the most effective brewing nation on this planet.”
A Fast Look on the Winners of the 2022 Nice American Beer Competition Awards Ceremony
Listed below are the winners within the high 5 most-entered classes.
You will discover all the record of 2022 winners right here.
American Fashion India Pale Ale (423 entries) – Sponsored by Micro Matic
GOLD: Extra Dodge Much less RAM | Comrade Brewing Co. | Denver, CO
SILVER: Dankster Squad | Riip Beer Co. | Huntington Seashore, CA
BRONZE: Hop-Fu! | North Park Beer Co. | San Diego, CA
Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale (375 entries) – Sponsored by Antigo Zeon
GOLD: Anhyzer Kush | Flatland Brewing Co. | Elk Grove, CA
SILVER: IPO IPA | White Rock Alehouse & Brewery | Dallas, TX
BRONZE: RAD AF | Metropolis Barrel Brewing Co. | Kansas Metropolis, MO
German-Fashion Pilsener (233 entries)
GOLD: Trade | The Austin Beer Backyard Brewing Co. | Austin, TX
SILVER: Pils | Von Ebert Brewing – Pearl | Portland, OR
BRONZE: German Pilsner | Shred Monk Brewery and Coffeehouse | Bozeman, MT
German Wheat Ale (209 entries)
GOLD: Alpenglow | Fats Head’s Brewery & Saloon | North Central, OH
SILVER: Kristal Weizen | Bearded Tang Brewing | Stanton, CA
BRONZE: Wild Pitch | SandLot Brewery | Denver, CO
German-Fashion Maerzen (207 entries)
GOLD: Oktoberfest | Mighty Squirrel Brewing Co. | Waltham, MA
SILVER: Docktoberfest | Dry Dock Brewing Co. – North Dock | Aurora, CO
BRONZE: Nice Dane Oktoberfest | Nice Dane Pub and Brewing Co. – Downtown | Madison, WI
Most-Medaled Brewery
North Park Beer Co. | San Diego, CA
GOLD: English India Pale Ale or New Zealand India Pale Ale
SILVER: Juicy or Hazy Imperial India Pale Ale
BRONZE: American-Fashion India Pale Ale
BRONZE: Imperial India Pale Ale
