Impressive GABF Streaks Ahead of This Year’s Competition

Tonight marks the 35th iteration of the competition portion of the Great American Beer Festival. And while there will be no commercial tasting event open to the public for a second straight year, tonight’s awards are still sure to usher in socially distanced causes for celebration among breweries across the entire country.

In normal years we’d be prepping guided routes for folks to enjoy at the festival, this year we are once again focusing on trends we’ve seen emerge from past award winners.

First, we’ve tallied up a historical look at breweries that have earned the most GABF medals since the competition started in 1987. Keep in mind, unlike the competition, we included breweries with multiple outposts like Pizza Port and Rock Bottom and grouped their medal counts together. Here’s the list of the top 20 breweries with the most GABF medals earned prior to this year’s competition.

As a reminder, be sure to pick up or place your orders for some award-winning beers from our sponsors at Molly’s Spirits to enjoy while you watch this year’s Great American Beer Festival Awards Ceremony tomorrow night at 5pm Mountain.

Most GABF Medals Earned Through 2020

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Next, we took a look at individual beers that have won the most medals through 2020. That list hasn’t changed since last year’s roundup, however as PorchDrinking editor, David Nilsen (@davidnilsenbeer) notes, while Brink Brewing’s Moozie Milk Stout didn’t make THIS list, it is building an impressive streak having won three straight years in a row within its category. We’ll see if it goes for a fourth this year.

Most GABF Medals Earned by Individual Beers Through 2020

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Finally, we took a look at breweries that currently have the longest active medal streaks across consecutive years at GABF. Pizza Port Brewing has strung together the most impressive streak, earning medals at GABF for 20 years in a row. Texas’ Real Ale had the unfortunate distinction of having the longest streak to end after getting shut out at last year’s competition. With Real Ale’s departure from the leader board, Cannonball Creek moves into the top five active streaks and more interesting to note is that not only has Cannonball Creek won medals at every GABF and World Beer Cup since opening in 2013, but they’re also the only brewery in the top 5 active streaks without multiple locations (meaning more entries). Last year the Golden, CO-based brewery earned a whopping three medals out of four entries submitted

Breweries with the Longest Active GABF Medal Streaks

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The 2021 GABF Awards Ceremony will take place on Friday, October 16 at 5pm Mountain. Tune in LIVE via The Brewing Network’s Live Stream

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