SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Five North County breweries won medals at the 2023 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) over the weekend. The nation’s largest professional brewing competition is commonly referred to as “The Oscars” of the craft beer industry, and it takes place annually in Denver, Colo.
Belching Beaver Brewery – Oceanside Brewhouse was North County’s only Gold Medal winner with its Tropical Terps IPA in the “Experimental IPA” category.
The Silver Medal winners were Oceanside’s Bagby Beer Company for its Herd of Turtles in the “Strong Porter” category, Carlsbad’s Burgeon Beer Company for its Carlsbad Crush in the “International-Style Pale Ale” category, and Carlsbad’s Rouleur Brewing Company for its DOMESTIQUE Blonde Ale in the “Belgian-Style Ale or French-Style Ale” category Rip Current as well won a silver for their Breakline Bock.
The lone Bronze Medal winner was Oceanside’s Breakwater Brewing Company for its Rye Dawn in the “Rye Beers” category.
Overall for San Diego County breweries, there were five Gold Medals awarded and 18 overall.
“Our breweries showed incredibly well once again in the Mile High City,” said San Diego Brewers Guild Executive Director Erik Fowler. “It seems like every year we justify our moniker as The Capital of Craft™, and I couldn’t be happier for the medal winners and the entire San Diego craft beer scene. Even with summer over, the beer-drinking weather doesn’t really stop, and I hope San Diegans will go out and support all their favorite breweries whether they won a medal or not. There are extraordinarily talented people in America’s Finest City making the finest beer around.”
The 41st GABF competition, which was presented by the Brewers Association, included roughly 9,300 entries within 100 different categories. More than 2,000 breweries entered the competition, and the medals were awarded by more than 200 certified judges and experienced members of the brewing industry. For a complete list of winners, visit https://www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com/the-competition/2023-winners/.
San Diego County is known as The Capital of Craft™, a moniker that was trademarked in 2015. San Diego has the most craft brewery locations among all counties in the United States with more than 150.
San Diego Brewers Guild is a nonprofit 501(c)(6) organization that promotes local small businesses and entrepreneurs of craft beer via education, events, and community involvement.
