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17 October 2022
In the 2022 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) competition, 300 medals were awarded to the best commercial breweries in the country. Presented by the Brewers Association (BA), 2022 GABF is the United States’ largest professional beer competition. The award ceremony was held at the Bellco Theatre in Denver and celebrated its 40th anniversary this year.
Breweries were awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals in 98 beer categories, covering 177 beer styles and establishing the best examples of each technique. Over nine days, 235 beer experts from seven countries, including the U.S., judged the competition. The judging panel also evaluated 35 Pro-Am entries and 94 Collaboration entries, and 9,904 commercial brewery entries.
3 Arizona breweries won medals this year, including two golds and a bronze. Check out some of the best local breweries in America right here in Arizona!
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Gold: Cafe OroOro Brewing Co.
Located in Historic Downtown Mesa, Oro Brewing Company is a small-batch brewery and taproom. They offer a great place to meet with high-quality, handcrafted ales & lagers and a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere.
The Cafe Oro brew by Oro Brewing Co. won gold in the Coffee Beer category this year. Infused with cold-brewed coffee from Village Coffee in Scottsdale, the beer begins with another of the local brewery’s creations, Inside the Park Blonde Ale. Originally a seasonal, the beer became a permanent menu item after customers loved it so much.
Gold: FestbierWren House Brewing Co.
Located in Phoenix’s Green Gables neighborhood, the property they call home at Wren House sat unoccupied and disused for decades. So they rebuilt the guest house and garage in the backyard into their brewhouse and converted the main 1930s bungalow house into their cozy taproom.
Wren House Brewing Co. believes craft beer can bring people together, and their taproom reflects this – they offer a simple space with music but no TV for gathering with friends or meeting a new neighbor. You are welcome to bring in take-out or deliver food if you want to pair a meal with their beer.
This year, Wren House Brewing Co. won gold for its Festbier in the Dortmunder or German-Style Oktoberfest category. The Oktoberfest favorite now has a little more to celebrate, thanks to the GABF.
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Bronze: Taildragger Clan-DestineSaddle Mountain Brewing Co.
With its multi-award-winning brew Taildragger Clan-Destine, Saddle Mountain Brewing Co. brought another medal. Having won gold three years in a row, in 2017, 2018, and 2019, Taildragger Clan-Destine is no stranger to the awards. It won bronze in 2020 and is back on the podium with a bronze medal in 2022.
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