Sunday, October 13, 2024

Look Out, Creamland...

There's a new milk king in town. The 2024 GABF Awards wrapped up on Saturday, with New Mexico (specifically Albuquerque) breweries taking home three medals. That's one more than in the 2023 awards. The highest medal count for NM was eight, back in 2014. Brady McKeown and his crew over at Quarter Celtic took the first NM medal with a Gold for Vienna Fest Beer in the Vienna Lager category. Whoever complains about there not being enough lagers is living in 2017. There were 123 entries in the Vienna Lager category. Compare that with 117 in the Imperial IPA category!

The next, and final winners from NM were in the Cream or Sweet Stout category. Boxing Bear took Silver with their Chocolate Milk Stout, marking the third time that beer has medaled (Gold in 2016 and Silver in 2015). Three of the five medals Boxing Bear has taken at GABF have been for Chocolate Milk Stout, making that beer their golden cow. The Gold medal this year went to Tractor Brewing for their Mustachio Milk Stout. That's the very first GABF medal for Tractor! Congratulations to the NM winners.

Other interesting award musings: 285 judges were involved in choosing winners from 8,836 entries, for an average of 31 beers tried per judge. I beat that on Wednesday pre-GABF, but I had to pay a lot more than the judges. 1,869 breweries and cideries had entries this year. The Juicy of Hazy India Pale category had the most entries, with 349. That's 132 more than the American Style India Pale category, which used to reign for years as the largest category. Hard to believe, but the German Style Oktoberfest or Dortmunder category had the 4th most entries this year, with 210. The medal factory that is Morgan Territory took three more, including Gold in the Imperial IPA category. That's 21 GABF medals for the brewery that continues to fly under the radar. 10 Barrel racked up 6 medals at the fest. Will their recent layoff of their Innovation Team affect medal count in the future? I already knew this, but the judges agree that California reigns when it comes to Juicy of Hazy Imperial IPAs, as CA swept the category. DDH Pillow from LA's Highland Park took the Gold. That's two years in a row! And Highland Park also won the top prize, being named Brewery Group Brewery and Brewer of the Year. California breweries also took the top awards in the 1,001-2,000 Barrels and 2,001-5,000 Barrels Brewery Group and Brewer of the Year, with Orange's Everywhere and Huntingtion Beach's Riip winning, respectively. The least-entered category this year was American Sour Ale, with 19 entries. No, I'm not counting the NA category that only had 9 entries. Of the 326 medals awarded, 25 went to breweries who have never medaled.

Thursday, October 10, 2024

2024 GABF Drinking Guide, L-Z

La Cumbre Brewing Co. They skipped last year's fest, so it's good to have them (and Project Dank) back this year.

Lakefront Brewery Let's hear it for Milwaukee, WI Lakefront Brewery, part of the old guard in the American beer scene- 34 years and running. Black Friday is the heavy hitter of their GABF lineup (14%), but any of the 7 beers they are pouring are worth a stop.

Live Oak Austin's iconic brewery will once again have patrons and brewers alike lining up for their fabled Hefeweizen. I'm partial to their Czech lager, Pilz.

Maplewood Brewing Chicago's Maplewood is bringing Super Son of Juice DIPA and Barrel Aged Cuppa Imperial Stout.

Milieu Fermentation Looking forward to this Aurora, CO. brewery, specifically Milieu Pils. and Be Dope NEIPA with Citra, Nelson, and Nectaron hops.

Modern Times Beer Get it while you can. Sad to see a brewery that brought such great beers slowly going away. I'm going to wash away my sorrows with Mega Devil's Teeth: Double Dutch S'mores and the 16.2% Decahex: Double Coconut.

MORE Brewing They always bring a stout that's almost too much, and the 2023 Mendhi Imperial Stout, aged 27 months in four different bourbon barrels, certainly fits the bill.

Morgan Territory Brewing Who? This California brewery has been quietly racking up the medals since 2004, and they are pouring five of the winners at GABF: Big Bock Energy, The Cushman, Old Diablo, Metalmark Marzen, and HopTomic (2023 WBC Gold in Imperial IPA category). In all, Morgan Territory has amassed 26 medals at WBC and GABF.

Off The Rails Brewing Looking for something different? How's about a carrot cake pale ale? No? Ok.

Old 121 Brewhouse Well then, how about a Cinnamon Roll Dunkel? Hey, you didn't pay $100 to drink yet another Amber Ale named after a dog, did ya?

Pals Brewing At risk of completely ruining all beer credibility, here's another suggestion: The Big Pickle, a Cream Ale with dill, salt and garlic.

Pax Verum More Czech Dark lagers, please. Midnight Shadow from this Indiana brewery is just what you need. No carrots, no cinnamon, no pickles.

Pinthouse Brewing Austin's IPA specialists will be bringing three, including the Fresh Hop Training Bines. Tubinger Festbier is pouring as well.

Pure Project Will Pure Project make us wait until 7:30 before pouring Corylus Imperial Stout? Probably. Ugh, I hate scheduled pourings. But I'll hang around and enjoy sips of Rain, their unfiltered Pilsner while I wait.

Quarter Celtic BrewpubABQ local favorite has a couple of medal winners on tap at the fest, Prince of Dort-ness Dortmunder; 2020 GABf Silver, and Kill or be KILT; 2022 Bronze Scotch Ale.

Radiant Beer Co. Was hoping they'd bring Southern Holiday, but I'll settle for A Touch of Everything, a barrel-aged vanilla Imperial Stout with Comorous, Ugunda, and Mauritius vanilla.

Resolute Brewing Execrator Dopplebock has medaled 3 times at GABF/WBC. And it's 10%. I would call that a Triple Bock, but there can be only one. RIP.

Revolution Brewing Not only is Revolution bringing their fantastic V.S.O.J. BA Barleywine, they're making me type awkardly with D.B.V.S.O.D, a 17.6% ABV Imperial Stout, aged in 4 different bourbon barrels and finished on French oak.

River North Brewing The 7 beers pouring from the two booths from this Denver brewery come out to an average of 16.7% ABV. Enough said.

Russian River Brewing Could I leave them off a list? Heck no. Two booths at GABF and they'll still have some of the longest lines. They make a beer called Pliny the Elder. It's worth trying, I hear.

Samuel Adams Is this the year I'm finally around the Samuel Adams booth at the time they pour the 28% Utopias? Doubtful.

Skeeta Hawk Brewing I'm looking at your lagers, Skeeta Hawk. This New Orleans brewery is pouring Dorgenois Pilsner, February 7th Munich Dunkel, and Masopust Czech Dark Lager.

Sketchbook Brewing It's fitting for an Illinois brewery to have a medal winning Grodziskie. Try that and Celestial Figgy Pudding, a BA Imperial Stout with orange zest and black mission figs.

Social Project Brewing It's been years since I had an Arkansas-brewed beer. About time to try Drops of Jupiter, an all Nectaron hazy DIPA.

Strngebird Brewing Yeah, this Rochester, NY brewery is pouring Unfettered Soul, their 2024 WBC Bronze winning hazy DIPA. But they're also pouring Rode Vogel, a Flanders Red. How many of those do you count at the fest?

TapRoom Beer Company San Diego, home of the Barleywines. At least this place is, with their Moments of Silent Banter, a bourbon/port Barleywwine.

Templin Family Brewers Lagers are the focus of this Utah brewery, and their Granary Keller Bier is the highlight, in my opinion. But all the lagers are worth trying.

The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. Another Brewery that can't be left off a GABF list, ABGB has won many medals for their Hell Yes! Helles, Rocket 100 Pilsner, and Industry Pils. And you can try them all.

Toppling Goliath The king of Imperial Stout producers (debateably) is bringing their hard to get and mega-hyped Assasin.

Verboten Brewing Take it Easy lager with corn, salt, lime, and ancho and chipotle chiles, and Smoke Monster BA smoked Barleywine. That's reason enough to stop by Verboten

Von Ebert Pils. And more Pils. Please.

Weldwerks Brewing Who's got the longest line? They'll be in the running. And they always bring the bangers, with Coconut PVW 23 Medianoche leading the way this year.

Wren House The line last year to try whatever special Imperial Stout they were pouring (that got spilled all over me) was ridiculous. Will it be the same for Kingsnake, a rye barrel aged Stout? Probably.

ZwanZigZ BrewingLet's end the fest with a beer that could ruin your night: the Ghost Pepper Imperial Stout from ZwanzigZ. You go first.

Monday, October 7, 2024

2024 GABF Drinking Guide, D-K

Derive Brewing Call me a sucker for fun beer names, and I'll remind you of the time you bought a beer because it was named after an Iron Maiden song. Anyway, I'm looking forward to Derive's Italian Pilsner, Unlimited Breadsticks. And Mr. Tastee, a Pastry Sour. And Turtlenecks and Goldchains, a NEIPA.

Diamond Spring Brewing I'm finally getting in Marzen mode, so bring on Bavarian PretzALE, a dark-wheat spin on the traditional style with crushed sourdough pretzels in the mash.

Excel Brewing A tequila barrel-aged Pumpkin? That would be a first for me. Excel's Bruja will be pouring in the Fright Themed Bar at GABF.

False Idol Looking forward to this hyped TX brewery. They'll be pouring a Hefeweizen, Saison, Mexican Lager, NEIPA, and Imperial Stout.

Fat Head's Can't do GABF without hitting up Fat Head's, if only for Hop Juju. Oh, maybe a sip of what may be the quintessential American IPA, Head Hunter. It's a six-time medal winner at GABF/WBC.

FiftyFifty Brewing Want to get a shot of Eclipse Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout, of one the original sought after Imperial Stouts back in the day. Let's see how it holds up to today's standards.

Firehouse Brewing Hey, a South Dakota sighting. They're pouring Infernal Glow, a Gose with Persian saffron and Mediterranean sea salt.

Firestone Walker 30 WBC medals. 56 GABF medals. And I won a trophy for baseball when I was 14. This brewery has had so many memorable beers, but I'm most excited for Rip This Joint, an Imperial Stout collab with Side Project.

Fremont Brewing They always bring the big stuff, don't they?? Rusty Nail, BA Batch 8000, 2021 Coffee Cocao Vanilla BA Dark Star...whew.

Fritz Family Brewers They're just far enough from Denver (Niwot) to be an annoying drive, but worth it for the lagers. You can skip the drive and hit up their booth and try 5 of their wonderful beers.

Ghost Town The Oakland, CA West Coast IPA specialists are back, and bringing their 2023 WBC Bronze medalist Nose Goblin DIPA.

Highland Park Los Angeles brewery Highand park is at GABF for the first time I can remember. They be pouring DDH Pillow, 2023 WBC Gold Hazy DIPA, as well as flagship hoppy Pilsner Timbo Pils.

Hold Out Brewing If you've been to Austin, TX, you know very well why they brew so many lagers. Hold Old will be pouring Hesky Czesky Czech Pils and Neu! Pils German Pilsner.

Icicle Brewing Co. This Washington state brewery does IPAs right. They've taken Gold medals in both hazy and American style IPA categories at WBC, and will have those respective winners, Alpenglow and Dragontail at their booth.

Sunday, October 6, 2024

2024 GABF Drinking Guide Zero-C

You ready??? GABF 2024 is here, and so here ya go, my yearly look at picks for beers to try at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival, broken down into a number of easy reads for the short attention span crowd.

3 Daughters Am I really going to start off this year's recommendations with a vodka-based drink? Eh, why not? Remember, people are going to stand in a line to try NA beer at GABF. It's a soft world. May as well stand around and judge those people as we sample the vodka/soda Rootbeer Float, Creamsicle, and RocketPop flavors from this St. Augustine, FL brewery.

3 Floyds Of course they're going to be on the list, and of course you were going to check out their booth regardless. Dark Lord Imperial Stout will be pouring, so come get a taste of Imperial Stout history. I'm looking more forward to Crushing Mass, the 15.1% coffee Imperial Stout. Oh, and if you still want more vodka/soda drinks, try the Pineapple Mango at 3 Floyds.

903 Brewers Another regular in my GABF picks, and this year it's not because of Pineapple Magic (though that would be enough), or Barrel-Aged Peanut Butter Stout. More interesting is both Bacon Cinnamon Roll Cream Ale, and the Zesty Ranch Taco Cream Ale.

Alternative Medicine Brewing A hibiscus (and 32 other ingredient) Pale Ale dry-hopped with Nelson might be enough to get on the list on it's own, but when it's named Bill Allen's Effing RAD!, that bumps it up. Bill Allen played Cru Jones in the 80's BMX movie RAD!, worth watching for the dance floor scene alone.

Alvarado Street Brewery Don't remember these guys being here the past couple of years. Love the tropicality that they bring to their hoppy beers. Looking forward to Double Mai Tai (the single version took a Bronze at the 2023 WBC), Keitora, and Double Howzit Punch.

Avery Brewing Co. You can always count on Avery for bringing BIG beers (Tweak 15.3% coffee Stout and Old Fashioned Friends, a 13.2% Quad aged in Bulleit barrels), and having brewing legend Adam Avery pour them for you. Always a treat.

Bearded Brewer Artisan Ales This Longmont, CO brewery is bringing some intriguing offerings, including Peacharine Memories Triple IPA with Nelson and Peacharine hops. Also Looking forward to PB Dream Imperial Milk Stout. Oh, and Carnival Dayz Caramel Apple smoothie hard seltzer.

Boneyard Beer No stranger to high ABV beers, Boneyard is pouring the 11% Notorious TIPA and Rum Barrel-Aged Suge w/ Coconut Imperial Stout.

Bootstrap Brewing Not many Imperial Red beers out in the wild anymore. Get a taste of Bootstrap's, the 2023 GABF Gold medal-winning Wreak Havoc.

Breakside Brewing Breakside does solid beers across many styles. Jaromir Lagr is, naturally, a Czech-style Lager that will be at the fest. Also looking to try the Fresh Hop Double Wanderlust, but the star is La Maison Du Bang!, a Barleywine aged in three types of barrels.

Brieux Carre Brewing A hearty welcome back to this NOLA brewery that skipped the fest last year. Known for their excellent lagers with clever names, Brieux Carre will be pouring standouts Malcolm in the Mittlefruh, Crispy Boiz to Men (GABF Silver 2022, Other Hoppy Lager) and Flek Me?? No Flek U!! GABF Bronze, 2023 International Dark Lager).

Burns Family Artisan Ales One of the more exciting breweries to hit the Denver scene, Burns will be bringing a Kvass, Old Ale, Quad, and the one I'm most looking forward to, N.P. Pilsner.

Cloudburst Brewing Our first Pumpkin Beer sighting, Your Worst Nightmare, a Pumpkin Double Milk Stout from Seattle's Cloudburst Brewing. Not sure if I remember seeing Cloudburst at GABF before.

Confluence Brewing Iowa is an underrated state, I decided on a road trip through last year. Get a taste of Des Moines' Confluence WBC medal winners Old Chungus, 2023 Gold in Wood and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer, and Over the Ivy, 2022 Gold in Bohemian-Style Pilsener.