6 Georgia Breweries Medal At Great American Beer Festival

GEORGIA — Six breweries won medals this past weekend at the Great American Beer Festival that wrapped up Saturday in Denver.

The festival is the nation’s largest for professional brewers and hands out some of the industry’s most sought-after accolades. The festival ran over nine days, with 250 beer experts from 10 countries serving as judges.

Judges evaluated nearly 9,445 entries from 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, including collaborations between professional breweries and pro-am collaborations from professionals and amateurs. Among those, 303 medals were awarded to 263 breweries across 99 categories and 175 beer styles. Gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded.

In Georgia:

• Gold Medal winners: Midnight Trucker, Rock Solid Brewing Company, Ball Ground, International Dark Lager
• Bronze Medal winners: Azalea City Amber, Georgia Beer Company, Valdosta, American Amber/Red Ale; Blackberry Smoke American Lager, New Realm Brewing Company – Atlanta, Contemporary American-Style Lager; Athena, Creature Comforts – Production Facility At Southern Mill, Athens, German Sour Ale; Silent Sounds, Monday Night Brewing – Garage, Atlanta, Mixed-Culture Brett Beer; Bourbon Barrel Drafty Kilt, Monday Night Brewing – Garage, Atlanta, Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer