Before we check out the medal counts for Los Angeles, some numbers to toss by you and a disclaimer because of those numbers.
There were 7,923 entries submitted for judging this year. Just think about how you would organize that amount of kegs and people to rate them.
2,217 breweries were represented out of 5,200+ total. That means that if you have two favorite breweries. One of them, on average, did not send in a beer to be judged.
That means anything can happen. Even a marriage proposal right in front of Charlie Papazian and the whole crowd.
Seven medals will be heading back to Los Angeles this week. Beachwood (again) leads the pack with two. One GOLD for their Ghost, the band, inspired Black IPA, Hoppa Emeritus and one BRONZE from their sour side, Dia de los Mangos in the Chili Beer category. Ohana picked up BRONZE for Spa Water Saison, Sanctum won SILVER for their Solar Helles. Also on the SILVER side was Three Weavers for their Seafarer Kolsch and HopSaint for their Pure Intention Pale Ale. Last, but not least, Claremont Craft Ales and their Jacaranda Rye IPA picked up BRONZE.
Congratulations to all the winners and to our L.A. brewers and to all those who watched all 98 categories get medals.
other notes:
Packinghouse Brewing of Riverside picked up a silver and bronze this year. Winning once is hard, twice is a really good year. Saint Arnold of Texas was the big winner with 3 medals and a Mid-Size brewery award.
Speaking of big winners, Figueroa Mountain had another dazzling year with three total medals.
The Firestone Walker folk got a pair of medals for 10 Buck Chuck and for Pivo.
A shout out to Zoiglhaus of Portland and brewer Alan Taylor who took home a Gold for Zoigl-Pils. Is this the first ever GABF medal for a Linfield College alum? I think so.
#QuadGoals was my favorite name from 515 Brewing.
No wins for Hazy. Maybe GABF did not get in line fast enough.
Only one category was deemed not gold worthy. An improvement from 2016.
Check out the full winners list right HERE.