Lotte (left) sampling Sam Adams Utopias, ‘a 28% ABV barrel-aged masterpiece that created huge long lines at the festival’

As the American craft beer landscape continues to evolve, so too must the festivals and events associated with it. Nowhere was this more evident than at the latest iteration of the Great American Beer Festival (GABF), the largest public tasting event in America.

Organised by the Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade association for small and independent American craft brewers, the 42nd GABF took place last week in Denver, Colorado, drawing approximately 40,000 people. They eagerly descended on the state capital to sample the 2,500 beverages from 600+ breweries, cideries, distillers, and other beverage producers.

But this year’s festival brought a fresh and exciting new vibe. In previous years, breweries were organised by geographic region and the presence of ‘beyond beer’ beverages was rare. This year, the festival underwent a complete make-over, with themed experiential sections designed to offer immersive experiences, specialised beverages, and engaging entertainment.

Highlights included:

• Prost!, a traditional German-style biergarten featuring a popular stein-holding contest and traditional Bavarian music;
• Score! a sports-lover’s haven which combined the thrill of sports with the joy of craft brewing;
• Fright, an immersive Halloween-themed experience;
• Blast Off, an ‘out-of-this-world flavour blast’, showcasing the Beer & Beyond experience;
• Meet the Brewer, an interactive space where festival-goers could connect directly with their favourite brewers; and
• Chill, a backyard gathering space with music, lawn games, and exclusive brews.

The result? A refreshing burst of creativity and energy aimed at attracting a diverse crowd seeking more than just beer tasting. From wild costumes and pretzel necklaces to karaoke, a silent disco, and new activities like Lucha Libre wrestling, there were endless Instagram-worthy moments, and beverages to suit every taste.

And yet beer remained the star of the show. The GABF competition took place in the lead-up to the festival, with results announced on Saturday and providing a good barometer of American craft beer trends. In total, 8,836 beers and 233 cider entries were judged across 102 beer categories and five new cider categories, all evaluated by 285 beer experts.

The competition was made possible thanks to more than 250 volunteers who facilitated the multi-step judging process over seven days in three phases. In total, 326 medals were awarded to 273 breweries. The top five most-entered style categories were:

• Juicy/bazy IPA (349 entries)
• West Coast IPA (292 entries)
• American-style IPA (217 entries)
• Dortmunder or German-style Oktoberfest beers (210 entries)
• German-style Marzen (195 entries).

There are two trends within craft beer styles that are growing the fastest right now. IPA, in its many iterations, continues to lead the American craft brewing landscape, now accounting for 46% of the $29 billion craft beer industry, up from 30% in 2017. Hop-forward beers like American IPA, juicy/hazy IPA, and imperial IPA, saw the strongest market share gains in 2023.

Lighter styles, like American lager, wheat ale, and pilsner, are also gaining traction, showing growth at both ends of the ABV spectrum.

Overall, growth is coming from both high- and low-ABV styles, while mid-range ABV beers face more challenges.

There were myriad IPAs at the festival, but a good rule of thumb was to focus on award-winning breweries that produce world-class examples of the style, such as Breakside Brewery, Reuben’s Brews, or Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. While most certainly not an IPA, Allagash White, the classic Belgian witbier, won gold again and is available in many export markets.

How high can you go?

Topping the bill for extreme offerings was Sam Adams Utopias, boasting an impressive 28% ABV. This rare, bi-annual, boundary-blending, barrel-aged masterpiece drew the longest lines at the festival. Other popular examples included Revolution Brewing’s DBVSOD (Double Barrel Very Special Old Deth) at 17%, a double barrel-aged imperial oatmeal stout; Fremont Brewing Company’s Rusty Nail, a bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout infused with liquorice and cinnamon bark, coming in at 14.5%; and Firestone Walker’s Bendy Foldies, a 14% double-oaked ale with red foxy vanilla beans and toasted pistachios.

Or how low?

Lager and lighter styles are having their moment in the spotlight, and there were plenty of excellent examples at the festival. Deschutes Brewery’s Fresh Hop King Crispy is a German-style pilsner which medalled in the latest competition, while Uinta Brewing Co’s Was Angeles, a 5% ABV cream ale, proudly took home a gold medal!

Beyond beer

After indulging in a plethora of hop-forward IPAs and/or high-strength barrel-aged beers, it was refreshing to cleanse the palate and explore something new with an easy-drinking non-beer beverage, such as a hard tea from Upslope Brewing Co or a hard lemonade from Denver Beer Co. Both beverages made their debut at the festival this year, demonstrating the innovation and creativity that American craft breweries are embracing to remain competitive in an ever-evolving market.

Alcohol-free options

Another strategy for navigating GABF was to seek out unique alcohol-free options. Athletic Brewing Co, a high-profile brand available in many international markets, picked up two medals at the GABF competition, making it an excellent choice, and Fremont Brewing won gold in the amber to dark non-alcohol category. The low- and no-alcohol beer segment is still small, but is rapidly expanding within the American craft brewing market.

The weird, wacky, and wonderful

For the adventurist, the festival presented a cornucopia of experimental concoctions, notably, 903 Brewers’ Zesty Ranch Taco, a 6% ABV cream ale that delivered the savoury umami experience of eating a taco in liquid form! A festival favourite overseas, Destihl Brewery’s Dill Pickle Sour offered a distinctive flavour experience, while Denver Beer Co’s intriguing Fennel Rye ale took home a gold medal at the competition.

Save the dates

UK brewers are invited to compete on the global stage and register for the World Beer Cup 2025, the largest beer competition in the world. Registration is open from 12th November to 13th December this year, with winners announced at the annual Craft Brewers Conference, in Indianapolis, from 28th April to 1st May 2025.

The Great American Beer Festival is a beer lover’s paradise and has been dubbed by Thrillist as “the one beer festival to try before you die”. I would 100% echo these sentiments and recommend booking time off now for 9th-11th October, 2025. See you there!

It’s Beer Today’s 20th anniversary this month!
I love updating this site, but it needs more Patreon supporters to survive into the future. Individual supporters are particularly welcome, and there are great options for commercial businesses which involve social media sharing, advertorial opportunities and advertising discounts. Find out more at patreon.com/beertoday.

The post Lotte Peplow: My Great American Beer Festival first appeared on Beer Today.

The post Lotte Peplow: My Great American Beer Festival appeared first on Beer Today.

In partnership with the American Cider Association, the competition bestowed awards in five new cider categories. With more than 1,200 cider producers in the US, the GABF competition keeps consumer drinking preferences and trends at the forefront of the event.

This year, 273 breweries and cideries earned 326 medals. The GABF judging panel evaluated noteworthy brews and ciders across 102 beer categories (including 170 sub-categories), five new cider categories, and pro-am and collaboration competitions.

The competition was made possible thanks to more than 250 volunteers who facilitated the multi-step judging process, and 285 beer experts who evaluated 8,836 commercial beer entries, 233 commercial cider entries, 95 collaboration entries, and 52 pro-am entries.

The coveted GABF medal

“The Great American Beer Festival continues its commitment to recognising exceptional beverages from across the country in the 2024 competition,” said Chris Williams, competition director for the Brewers Association.

“With the addition of five new cider categories, we’re pleased to recognise the best of the best in beer and beyond. Congratulations to this year’s winners!”

The 2024 winners can be viewed here.

It’s Beer Today’s 20th anniversary this month!
I love updating this site, but it needs more Patreon supporters to survive into the future. Individual supporters are particularly welcome, and there are great options for commercial businesses which involve social media sharing, advertorial opportunities and advertising discounts. Find out more at patreon.com/beertoday.

The post Great American Beer Festival competition winners revealed first appeared on Beer Today.

The post Great American Beer Festival competition winners revealed appeared first on Beer Today.

The Independent Brewers of Europe (IBE) aims to campaign against injustices in the beer market and to defend the diversity of independent beer.

The new group comprises national associations of independent breweries from ten European countries: Germany, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.

“Many of the challenges we face in the UK are shared amongst our friends in Europe, and so it makes sense for us to work more closely together to exchange information and tackle them,” said Andy Slee, chief executive of the UK’s Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA).

“As in the UK, beer across Europe is dominated by a handful of global companies and we need to ensure that independent breweries can survive and there is a great range of beers available which celebrates our diversity.”

Earlier in the year, the members came together in Vienna to discuss the issues facing the independent beer sector and ways to work together. This was hosted by the Independent Breweries of Austria, which formed three years ago.

Chair, Hubert Stöhr, said: “We want to cooperate across borders. We have a major goal in common. We want to protect indigenous beer culture in all its diversity and facilitate its further development.”

The Independent Brewers of Europe plans to encourage regular dialogue across borders to identify challenges and share information and intends to next meet at BrauBeviale, in Nuremberg, in November.

The post Independent European brewers come together in new group first appeared on Beer Today.

The post Independent European brewers come together in new group appeared first on Beer Today.

Jos and Karel Boon with their award-winning beers

The new Boon Millésime Oude Schaarbeekse Kriek, which will be launched in early October, won a gold medal and was also awarded the titles Belgium’s best kriek, world’s best Kriek, and even the large, overarching award of world’s best sour and wild beer.

Oude Geuze Boon Black Label No 9 took the gold medal in the geuze category and was named Belgium’s best gueuze’ and world’s best Geuze. Oude Geuze Boon and Geuze Mariage Parfait won silver in the same category.

Finally, the only high-fermentation beer from Boon Brewery, Duivelsbier Dark, won a silver medal in the strong dark ale category.

“Our Boon Millésime stands out,” said Karel Boon. “For the second year in a row, we have received the award for the world’s best kriek with this beer. In addition, our Oude Schaarbeekse Kriek was also awarded the highest possible award of all underlying categories of sour and wild beers.”

The post Major awards for a kriek which has yet to be released first appeared on Beer Today.

The post Major awards for a kriek which has yet to be released appeared first on Beer Today.

Oktoberfest Lagers are brewed to celebrate Oktoberfest, the annual beer festival originating in Munich. Oktoberfest beers are usually amber in colour, and slightly stronger than German pilsners at around 6% ABV. The flavour is rich and malty, with a crisp, dry finish, making them very drinkable.

There are two different styles — Märzen and Festbier. Märzen beers were traditionally brewed in March and left to mature over the summer, when brewing activity was paused due to the lack of refrigeration. That meant it was ready to drink in late September, making it the ideal beer for Oktoberfest.

Märzen is the more traditional style that was originally served at Oktoberfest in Munich, and it’s an amber coloured, medium-bodied lager. Märzens tend to be around 6% ABV and have a malty flavour and crisp, dry bitterness.

“Going to the festival is a great experience, but not everyone can make the journey to Bavaria,” said Amanda Waterfield, marketing manager at Beers of Europe. “But Beers of Europe gives you the next best thing. You can get the chance to buy and taste the beer, and we are the first to stock it in the UK.

“Nowhere else in the country have the Oktoberfest beers been delivered earlier than Beers of Europe, and that is credit to the great relationship we have built over the years with our suppliers.

“Being able to deliver across the country in quick fashion means our customers get a taste before anyone else, and that equates to plenty of happy beer drinkers.”

Festbier is a more modern Oktoberfest favourite, with a yellow-golden colour, and crisp bready/toasty flavours. It is generally around the same ABV as traditional Märzen lagers, but slightly lighter in flavour, without the caramel/roasted characteristics of a Märzen.

The annual celebration in Munich still passionately celebrates local beer. Only six Munich-based breweries are allowed to provide beer for the festival: Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Löwenbräu, Hofbräu, Spaten and Paulaner. Only these breweries can call their beers ‘Oktoberfest’ beer, though Oktoberfest is celebrated in many other countries around the world.

Beer Today is an affiliate partner of Beers of Europe. To get your hands on this year’s Oktoberfest beers, and to help support Beer Today, click here then click the Oktoberfest link.

The post The official Munich Oktoberfest beers are here first appeared on Beer Today.

The post The official Munich Oktoberfest beers are here appeared first on Beer Today.

Celeste Beatty, founder of Harlem Brewing Co

Celeste was the first African American woman brewer to launch a commercially distributed craft beer. Now Brixton drinkers will get a chance to try her brews.

Starting this month, beer enthusiasts can experience the vibrant 125th Street IPA, a refreshing beer bursting with hip hops, citrus, and spice, along with other flagship beers from Harlem Brewing’s diverse portfolio.

“This partnership is more than just beer, it’s a celebration of shared passions for craft, community, and culture,” said Celeste. “Even across oceans, our shared values and dedication to legendary beer bring us together.

“We are thrilled to bring Harlem’s distinctive flavours to the UK and create a lively taproom in the heart of Brixton!”

Hammant Patel Villa, founder of Supercute Brewery, added: “Brixton and Harlem boast a cultural exchange that spans music, art, and social justice.

“Our partnership with Harlem Brewing is a natural extension of that connection, celebrating our common ground over a shared pint in our welcoming taproom.”

The new taproom, which has been designed in collaboration with renowned Harlem artists and Brixton architects Squire & Partners, will evoke the energy and rich history of Harlem.

The space will feature a bold colour palette inspired by Harlem’s street art, murals that depict iconic Harlem landmarks, and a curated selection of music that celebrates the neighbourhood’s musical legacy.

The post New York brewer enters into Brixton partnership first appeared on Beer Today.

The post New York brewer enters into Brixton partnership appeared first on Beer Today.

Both beers are part of Haacht’s Super 8 modern Belgian craft brew range, now available in the UK.

Haacht UK is offering pubs, bars, and taprooms promotional support for the two fruity wheat beers, with high quality, distinctive POS (point of sale). This includes premium branded glassware, striking, contemporary tap handles for keg dispense, and branded bottle openers.

Super 8 Cherry is a 3.4% ABV wheat beer blended with 25% cherry juice, available in 20-litre kegs and 330ml bottles, while Super 8 Peach is a 3.7% ABV wheat beer made with 25% peach juice, available in 20l kegs.

Both beers are being introduced to thousands of drinkers at the Craft Beer Festival series this summer, with Super 8 Peach being voted top fruit beer at the Bristol event, with a 4.1 rating.

“Super 8 Cherry and Super 8 Peach are the perfect beers for a British summer,” Matthew Langley, country director at Haacht UK. “Cherry is rich and refreshing, while Peach, which is one of this year’s on-trend flavours, is light and fruity…

“As with the full Super 8 range, Cherry and Peach are a far cry from traditional Belgian beers. As speciality beer styles with a uniquely contemporary Belgian twist, the Super 8 range has been gradually building a following in the UK, and we’re now stepping support up a gear, as we build distribution and give more beer enthusiasts the opportunity to enjoy these remarkable beers.”

The post Summer is the time to try fruit flavoured beer, says Haacht first appeared on Beer Today.

The post Summer is the time to try fruit flavoured beer, says Haacht appeared first on Beer Today.

After 32 years with the Brewers Association, he will step down in early 2025, once his successor is in place.

“After careful consideration, I believe it is time to help this great association transition to new leadership and for me to move on to new endeavours,” he said.

“Over the last three decades, I have witnessed the Brewers Association grow from a small, narrowly focused association to one that is now a power player on important issues facing the industry domestically and internationally.

“Throughout my time at the helm of the Brewers Association, we have helped our members navigate explosive growth and unprecedented challenges. In doing so, we have put the BA on the map as a political force.

“Representing this iconic community, its brands, and the incredible people who embody passion in their craft has been an absolute honour. I look forward to seeing continued success in the industry.”

Bob joined the Brewers Association in 1993 as a customer service manager and worked his way up to operations director. He was promoted to vice-president in 1999, chief operating officer in 2010, and chief executive in 2014. During his tenure, he turned around and solidified the organisation’s financial standing, from debt servicing to over $23 million in reserves.

In 2004, he established the association’s export development programme, building it from the ground up and helping grow the global craft beer revolution for nearly two decades. Since the programme’s inception, US craft beer exports have increased from approximately 16,000 barrels to over 230,000 barrels and from $3,000,000 to over $71,000,000.

In 2007, he worked with members of Congress to create the House and Senate Small Brewers Caucus, which has grown to become one of the largest member caucuses in Congress.

Bob played a key role in devising and executing the strategy to provide federal excise tax relief to craft brewers through the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (CBMTRA), which was enacted in 2017 and made permanent in 2020. Among other things, he forged strong relationships with members of Congress and staff on both sides of the aisle, which continues to pay dividends.

He said: “While I am proud of all that we have accomplished, I am particularly proud of the historic excise tax cut that empowered brewers to reinvest in their businesses and resulted in an annual tax savings of more than $80 million.

“Making the federal excise tax cuts permanent was a two-decades-long effort that finally gained traction when all the leading trade groups, guilds, and member breweries banded together.”

In 2017, Bob and the association’s public relations and marketing committee and staff launched the independent craft brewer seal. To date, nearly 5,000 breweries have adopted this mark, which helps consumers differentiate beer made by small and independent craft brewers.

Many small breweries, brewpubs, and taprooms were devastated by the economic fallout from the pandemic. Bob and his team worked tirelessly to ensure the brewing community was included in federal regulation and relief programmes.

“Bob has been an unwavering advocate for small and independent brewers, and his accomplishments will leave a lasting impact on us all,” said Leah Cheston, owner of Right Proper Brewing Company and chairperson of the Brewers Association board of directors.

“He spearheaded the organisation during a critical time for the industry, growing the craft beer market share to 13% and supplying countless tools to help the craft brewing community thrive, from professional resources and tax savings, to hosting world-class events.”

In 2015 and 2020, Brewbound named Bob the beer industry person of the year, and since 2018 The Hill has consistently named him as one of the top lobbyists in Washington, DC.

“We thank Bob for his steadfast leadership and look forward to partnering with him to ensure a smooth transition and search for his successor,” said Leah.

The post Brewers Association president to stand down first appeared on Beer Today.

The post Brewers Association president to stand down appeared first on Beer Today.

A group at Endless Orchard’s award-winning cidery

The awards, announced at Holocene in Portland, Oregon, include best new cidery and a gold medal in the herbed botanical category for Boundless Blueberry Basil Cider.

The NW Cider Cup has been organised since 2016 by the Northwest Cider Association, a regional non-profit with nearly 300 cidery members. The cup is the longest-standing and most competitive blind judging event for ciders and perries in the region.

Endless Orchard is a business unit of Okanagan Specialty Fruits (OSF) and utilizes only Arctic apples grown by OSF.

“Arctic apples offer a unique non-browning trait, and the result is a cider that is in a class of its own and provides a truly one-of-a-kind drinking experience,” said Don Westcott, president of OSF.

“Endless Orchard leverages that advantage and reflects our continued sustainability commitment and our goal to increase apple utilisation.”

Boundless Blueberry Basil Cider impressed judges with its innovative blend of flavours, balancing ripe blueberries and fresh basil to create a complex cider.

The best new cidery award is given to the cidery with the highest points value from medals among those who have been commercially producing for one year or less.

“These two awards are a testament to our team’s passion for crafting high-quality ciders that showcase the unique flavors and attributes of Arctic apple varieties,” said Vicki Daigneault, general manager of Endless Orchard Cider.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be recognised with these accolades. I am so proud to see how far our team has come in such a short period of time, especially considering we only officially launched our tasting room last month.”

The post Arctic apples give Endless Orchard the edge first appeared on Beer Today.

The post Arctic apples give Endless Orchard the edge appeared first on Beer Today.

The business has secured a partnership in Norway and Sweden with leading importer Brewery International, and in Denmark distribution has been secured with Premium Beer and Beverages.

Norway and Denmark will see a mix of Wrexham Lager and Wrexham Export hit the market in the 440ml can, 330ml bottle, and 30-litre keg formats, while Sweden is taking the Wrexham Export 330ml bottle and 30l keg.

“The launch of The Wrexham Lager Beer Co in Scandinavia is a significant achievement for the brand,” said James Wright, chief executive of the company.

“We’re proud to bring the rich heritage of Wrexham Lager to these counties and are confident lager drinkers will be impressed with our high-quality products and their refreshing taste.

“The terms of our agreement with both Brewery International and Premium Beer and Beverages gives The Wrexham Lager Beer Co a genuine opportunity to become a recognised and widely enjoyed product across Scandinavia.

“As we’re quickly moving into the second half of the year, we’re looking forward to seeing The Wrexham Lager Beer Co continue to go from strength to strength.”

The new listings will feature the company’s new look. The brand has undergone a refresh this year to increase visibility and create greater stand-out on shelves. It features stronger and brighter colours across its can formats and kegs, while modernised bottle labels include premium embossing across its iconography and typography.

The international expansion comes at an exciting time for the brand as the city has had a global spotlight on it since the launch of Welcome to Wrexham on Disney+.

The post It’s Welcome to Scandinavia for The Wrexham Lager Beer Co first appeared on Beer Today.

The post It’s Welcome to Scandinavia for The Wrexham Lager Beer Co appeared first on Beer Today.