Southern California's craft beer scene has once again proven its excellence, with several local breweries taking home gold medals at the prestigious Great American Beer Festival (GABF) in Denver. The competition, often likened to the Grammys or Oscars of the beer world, saw 8,836 entries from breweries across the United States.
Highland Park Brewery near Chinatown in Los Angeles emerged as a standout winner, clinching the Brewery Group Brewery and Brewer of the Year award along with four gold medals. James Sullivan, the brewery's marketing director, expressed his disbelief, saying, "I didn't think it was real. I was in shock for a second."
Long Beach breweries also made their mark in the competition. Ambitious Ales secured gold in the highly competitive Juicy/Hazy IPA category with their "Professional Human Being" brew. This category had the most entries at 349. Trademark Brewing claimed victory in the second most popular category, West Coast IPA, with their "Codebreaker" beer.
The success of these local breweries reflects the vibrant and innovative craft beer culture in Southern California. Garrett Carroll, head brewer and co-founder of Ambitious Ales, shared his surprise at the win, noting the fierce competition they faced.
For Trademark Brewing's Sterling and Ilana Steffen, the victory was an emotional moment. "We're over the moon. We're still pinching ourselves," Sterling Steffen said, emphasizing the significance of peer recognition in the industry.
Other Southern California breweries that earned gold medals include:
- Audio Graph Beer Co., Los Angeles
- Everywhere Beer Co., Orange
- Far Field Beer Co., Hawthorne
- Green Cheek Beer Co., Costa Mesa
- Greywolf Brewing, Norco
- Riip Beer Co., Huntington Beach
The success of these breweries has led to increased demand for their award-winning beers. Many, including Highland Park Brewery, report running low on their gold medal brews as beer enthusiasts flock to taste these acclaimed creations.
This impressive showing at the GABF solidifies Southern California's position as a powerhouse in the craft beer industry, showcasing the region's creativity, skill, and passion for brewing excellence.