Linda Johnson is a BUZZ Contributing Writer (beer!) and founder of the beer and travel website, BrewNymph.com, covering all things Florida beer from news to events. She is the first female Level 2 Certified Cicerone® in the Jax area, one of six in the metro area, and the only Level 2-certified independent beer writer in the state.
It’s the most recognized beer festival and competition event in the nation. Great American Beer Festival (GABF), took place October 5-7, 2017 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. Attendance at this year’s fest was estimated at 60,000, according to figures released from the Brewers Association over the weekend. More than 800 breweries served an estimated 3900 beers, and the event was staffed with over 4300 volunteers.
This year, 293 medals were awarded to 266 breweries. Awards also include brewery and brewpub of the year medals, based on size of production. Brewers submitted entries in 98 categories, which covered 161 beer styles and substyles. As far as popular styles go, once again, the American IPA was the most-entered category, with 408 entries this year, passing last year’s count of 312. The Imperial IPA category was the second highest, with 221 entries. Brewers — 2,217 to be exact — in all 50 states and Washington, DC submitted over 7900 entries overall.
Seven Florida breweries earned medals, and Brew Hub of Lakeland, won two gold medals. In order of style category announcements, the Florida medalists are:
Silver: Big Top Brewing, Sarasota: Ringmaster Raspberry Berliner (Berliner Style Weisse category)
Gold: Six Ten Brewing, Tampa: Mischievous Black (Dark Lager category)
Gold: LauderAle, Fort Lauderdale: C Porter (Field Beer category)
Silver: Funky Buddha Brewery, Oakland Park: No Crusts (Field Beer category)
Bronze: Walking Tree Brewery, Vero Beach: Duke Snider’s Imperial Stout (Imperial Stout category)
Gold: Brew Hub, Lakeland: Three Tun (Ordinary or Special Bitter category)
Gold: Brew Hub, Lakeland: Rome City IPA (Session IPA category)
Silver: Pinellas Ale Works, St. Pete: Milk Bone (Sweet Stout/Cream Stout category)
GABF 2018 will be held September 20-22. Tickets will be on sale at the beginning of August 2018, with a pre-sale to members of the Brewers Association and American Homebrewers Association before sale to the general public. Tickets generally sell out within an hour after being released.
Congratulations to the Florida Medalists!
Cheers,
Linda Johnson, Certified Cicerone®
(excerpted from brewnymph.com)
Covering Florida’s beer scene and around the greater Jax area
