Washington breweries take home 22 medals, including Named Brewery and Brewer of the Year, and F.X. Matt, Defense of the Industry Award, at this year's Great American Beer Festival.
Press Release
Washington breweries were awarded 22 medals, including seven gold medals, at the recently concluded Great America Beer Festival (GABF) in Denver, CO. The 22 medals were the second most awarded to any state trailing only California for total medals awarded.
In addition to the medal haul, Pamela Brulotte of Icicle Brewing, Leavenworth WA. and Cloudburst Brewing, Seattle, WA. both were honored with special recognitions during the awards ceremony.
The Brewers Association awarded 290 medals to 265 breweries across the country during the 2021 GABF awards ceremony in the largest competition to date. The best beers in 97 beer categories covering 175 different beer styles (including all subcategories) were awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals during the 35th edition of the celebrated GABF competition. Here is a list of the 22 medals captured by Washington state breweries:
Stoup Brewing, Silver, American Amber/Red Ale: Stoup NW Red
Cloudburst Brewing, Silver, American Pilsner: Happy Little Clouds
Stoup Brewing, Silver, America-Style Pale Ale: Mosaic Pale Ale
The Good Society, Gold, Belgian-Style Table Beer or Belgian Style Session Ale: First to Fall
Reuben’s Brews, Bronze, Belgian-Style Witbier: Lilywhite Wit
Chainline Brewing Co., Silver, Bohemian-Style Pilsner: Polaris Pilsner
Lowercase Brewing, Silver, English-Style Brown Ale: Brown Ale
Mirage Beer Co., Silver, Field Beer: Versatile Solutions for Modern Living
Aslan Brewing CO., Gold, German Sour Ale: Disco Lemonade
Kulshan Brewing Co., Silver, German Sour Ale: Gose
Chuckanut Brewery, Gold, German Style Kolsch: Kolsch
Ghostfish Brewing Co., Gold, Gluten-Free Beer: Watchstander Stout
San Juan Island Brewing Co., Bronze, Intl Dark Lager: The Late Boat Czech-Style Dark Lager
Varietal Beer Co., Silver, Juicy or Hazy Strong Pale Ale: Sup Cuz IPA
Cloudburst Brewing, Gold, Kellerbier or Zwickelbier: Entschuldigung!
Grains of Wrath Brewing, Gold, Munich-Style Helles: Frost Hammer Helles
Kulshan Brewing, Bronze, Munich-Style Helles: Helles
Fremont Brewing, Silver, Old Ale or Strong Ale or Barley Wine: Brew 4000
Silver City Brewery, Bronze, Old Ale or Strong Ale or Barley Wine: Old Scrooge
Elysian Brewing, Gold, Pumpkin Beer: Night Owl
Loowit Brewing Co., Bronze, Robust Porter: Grimlock
Grains of Wrath Brewing, Bronze, Session India Pale Ale: Ticklish Warrior
Pamela Brulotte Honored as the 2021 F.X. Matt, Defense of the Industry Award
Pamela Brulotte, Icicle Brewing, Leavenworth, WA. is the recipient of the 2021 F.X. Matt, Defense of the Industry Award! This award is named for the late F.X. Matt of F.X. Matt Brewing Co. and is presented to an individual or company for their contributions and efforts in championing the small brewing industry. Brulotte is a tireless advocate for small and independent breweries and has left her imprint on the Washington beer community in countless ways over the past decade. As past president of the Washington Brewers Guild, Brulotte helped to professionalize the organization, grow its membership, support its lobbying efforts, and serve as a mentor to the craft brewing community. Under Brulotte’s leadership, the guild has challenged increasing beer excise taxes and secured marketplace access for brewers, increasing their ability to sell and market their beers.
You can watch the awards presentation video here:
Cloudburst Brewing Named Brewery and Brewer of the Year
Seattle’s Cloudburst Brewing took home the honor of Brewery and Brewer of the Year in the 1,001 – 2,000 total barrels brewed category. Cloudburst Brewing has locations near Pike Place Market and in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle.
Additional 2021 GABF Competition Statistics:
9,680 beers judged
2,192 breweries in the competition from all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico
170 judges
Average number of competition beers entered in each category: 99.6
*image of F.X. Matt recipient, Pamela Brulotte, sourced from the Brewers Association
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