Happy Crew: The Launch Pad crew shortly after winning a gold medal for Silver Medal Worthy, a Belgian Golden Strong Golden Ale.
Silver & Gold: The Bull & Bush Brewery won gold for Ghoul Fuel – Rum Diaries Edition and silver for Temporary Paradise – Rum Diaries Edition, both in the Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer category at this year’s Great American Beer Festival competition.
The Great American Beer Festival was held the weekend of October 12, 2024, at the Colorado Convention Center. The Brewers Association once again hosted one of the world’s most prestigious and influential beer competitions. And, two Chamber breweries, Bull & Bush Brewery and Launch Pad Brewery, brought home medals. Colorado breweries and cideries won 41 medals all together, topping last year’s haul of 40 for the centennial state.
The 38th edition of the GABF competition featured 8,836 beers judged among 1,869 breweries and cideries. There were 285 judges blind taste testing these beers and they awarded 326 total medals. The winning beers in more than 100 categories were announced at the Bellco Theatre in Denver on Saturday, October 12.
“The Great American Beer Festival continues its commitment to recognizing exceptional beverages from across the country in the 2024 competition,” said Chris Williams, competition director for the Brewers Association. “With the addition of five new cider categories, we’re pleased to recognize the best of the best in beer and beyond. Congratulations to this year’s winners.”
Among those winners were the Bull & Bush Brewery, who won gold and silver medals in the same category. This is a feat that experts don’t remember ever happening. The Glendale brewery won gold for Ghoul Fuel – Rum Diaries Edition and silver for Temporary Paradise – Rum Diaries Edition, both in the Wood- and Barrel-Aged Beer category.
“Brewing can be humbling, said Erik Peterson, owner of the Bull & Bush Brewery. “Aging beer in wood barrels is a singular and humbling exercise in passion, skill, and patience. The Bull & Bush Brewery team of Gabe, Josh, and Nick have each brought all of these skills together as a team. All together we celebrate a silver and GOLD in the Wood Aged Beer category!”
Gabe Moline, Head Brewer at the Bull & Bush Brewery adds: “The multi-year G.A.B.F. drought is over
Different Layout: This year’s festival featured different sections which is different from layouts of years past. Photo courtesy of the Brewers Association
for the Bull & Bush crew. Two beers, same category, gold and silver … incredible. Maybe the secret is out after 27 years of brewing at the world famous Bull & Bush?”
Another proud Chamber member, Launch Pad Brewery, also won a gold medal at the competition. Silver Medal Worthy, a Belgian Golden Strong Golden Ale dry-hopped with HBC 586 hops, won a gold medal in the American-Belgo-Style Ale category.
“We always knew Silver Medal Worthy was something special, but to take home the gold at the Great American Beer Festival is an incredible honor,” said Paul Mahoney, Co-Owner/Head Brewer for Launch Pad Brewery. “It just goes to show that sometimes aiming for silver brings home the gold.”
The festival itself had a different layout with separate sections with breweries lined up alphabetically. The sections included Blast Off, Fright, Prost, and others which featured a different theme in each. Attendees were initially confused on how to find their favorite breweries or ones they wanted to try. Once they navigated through the convention entry hall, it became more obvious.
Next year’s festival is set for October 9-11, 2025. For more information, visit www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com.