America’s Largest Beer Competition
In addition to hosting the most comprehensive public tasting in the country, the annual Great American Beer Festival – which takes place every fall in Denver – is also home to the most prestigious competition of American brewers. In 2018, judges evaluated 8,496 beers from 2,404 breweries across 102 categories, and each year the competition grows larger.
Given such a prolific field, winning a GABF medal can springboard a small brewery to national recognition. With so much at stake, and so many moving parts, attention to detail is critical, both for brewers and festival staff. Every year, thousands of people work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the GABF competition goes off without a hitch.
Patrick Annesty has written lots more about the judging for CraftBeer.com. Read what he has to say online.
