Michigan Brewers Guild snags 10 medals at 2010 Great American Beer Festival

By: Brittney Schering

Michigan craft brewers were well-known at the 29th Annual Great American Beer Festival (GABF) Competition. "Once again, Michigan has delivered the hardware to support what we all know- we're making exceptional craft beer here in the Great Beer State," says Scott Graham, Executive Director of the Michigan Brewers Guild.

This year's GABF competition attracted 151 beer judges from 10 countries. Seven members of the Michigan Brewers Guild received honors this year, including:

GOLD

· Nectar Des Dieux, Bastone Brewery, Royal Oak, MI
Belgian-Style Abbey Ale - 76 Entries

· Bellipago, Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, Dexter, MI
Specialty Beer - 23 Entries

· Fourth Dementia Olde Ale, Kuhnhenn Brewing Co., Warren, MI
Old Ale or Strong Ale - 38 Entries

· Key Lime Pie, Short’s Brewing Co., Bellaire, MI
Experimental Beer - 43 Entries


SILVER

· Go Figure, Big Rock Chop House & Brewery, Birmingham, MI
American-Style India Black Ale - 53 Entries

· Curmudgeon, Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, MI
Old Ale or Strong Ale - 38 Entries

· Endurance IPA Jr., Founders Brewing Co., Grand Rapids, MI
Session Beer - 30 Entries

· Simcoe Silly, Kuhnhenn Brewing Co., Warren, MI
American-Belgo-Style Ale - 47 Entries

BRONZE

· American Brown Ale, Big Rock Chop House & Brewery, Birmingham, MI
57 American-Style Brown Ale - 47 Entries

· Bell’s Expedition Stout, 1995, Bell’s Brewery, Inc., Galesburg, MI
Aged Beer - 30 Entries

In addition to the individual brewery awards, Imperial Beverage of Kalamazoo was named the 2010 Craft Beer Distributor of the year.

The Great American Beer Festival invites industry professionals from around the world to taste beers in each specified style category without knowing the brand name. The ultimate goal is to identify the three beers that best represent each beer-style category. Five separate three-hour judging sessions take place over a three-day period where judges are assigned to evaluate beers in their specific area of expertise.

The Great American Beer Festival is the 'granddaddy of all beer festivals,' offering the largest collection of U.S. beer ever assembled. It features more than 1900 different beers from 400 breweries throughout the country.

Michigan's thriving brewing industry provides over $24 million in wages with a total economic contribution of more than $133 million. In terms of overall number for breweries, microbreweries, and brewpubs, Michigan ranks #6 in the nation, thus supporting its claim as, "The Great Beer State."

The Michigan Brewers Guild is hosting the Detroit Fall Beer Festival on Oct. 23 from 1-6 p.m. at Eastern Market in Detroit. For more information, please check out www.michiganbrewersguild.org.