Colorado posts historic wins in GABF competition
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The Westbound and Down Brewing crew celebrate their big wins at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver. Photo courtesy of Westbound and Down
Three Colorado beermakers took home accolades in the high-profile Great American Beer Festival competition this weekend.
Why it matters: The annual awards announced Saturday in Denver recognize the best brewers in the nation and boost interest and sales for the winning breweries.
State of play: Colorado dominated the 2025 competition with three top awards based on brewery size and a combined 39 medals for its breweries and cideries.
- Golden's Cannonball Creek was named brewery of the year in the 501-1,000-barrel category and received three medals, extending its best-in-the-nation winning streak.
- River North Brewery in Denver won brewer of the year in the 1,001-2,000-barrel category, as well as two individual gold medals.
- Westbound and Down — with locations in Denver, Idaho Springs and Lafayette — received top honors in its category (5,001-15,000 barrels) and six individual medals.
What they're saying: "It was a great showing for Colorado's craft breweries," says Colorado Brewers Guild executive director Shawnee Adelson. "The diversity of styles shows that breweries in Colorado can make exceptional beer for all types of palates."
Dig in: Here are the Colorado medals from this year's competition.
Gold medal winners
- Casa Bonita, Aspen Brewing Co., Aspen (Mexican-Style Pale Lager)
- Vladislav, Diebolt Brewing, Denver (Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout)
- Festbier, Glenwood Canyon Brewing Co., Glenwood Springs (Dortmunder or German-Style Oktoberfest)
- Calville Blanc d'Hiver Ice Cider, Haykin Family Cider, Aurora (Experimental, Barrel-Aged or Specialty Cider)
- Mountain Rose, Haykin Family Cider, Aurora (Single Varietal Cider)
- Breakfast in Brussels, Left Hand Brewing Co., Longmont (Old Ale, Strong Ale or Barley Wine)
- 1554, New Belgium Brewing Co., Fort Collins (Historical Beer)
- Dale's Pale Ale, Oskar Blues, Longmont (English Ale)
- Prost Schwarzbier, Prost Brewing Co., Northglenn (German-Style Schwarzbier)
- Prost Vienna Lager, Prost Brewing Co., Northglenn (Vienna-Style Lager)
- River North White, River North Brewery, Denver (Belgian-Style or French-Style Specialty Ale)
- Squirrels Just Want to Have Fun, River North Brewery, Denver (Coffee Beer)
- Backside Stout, Steamworks Brewing Co., Durango (Oatmeal Stout)
- Key Lime Pie in the Sky, The Sandlot Brewery at Coors Field, Denver (Fruit Wheat Beer)
- How the West Was One: Mosaic, Westbound & Down Brewing Co., Idaho Springs (West Coast IPA)
- Parallel Pale, Westbound & Down Brewing Co., Lafayette (American-Style Pale Ale)
- Westbound Italian Pils, Westbound & Down Brewing Co., Lafayette (Italian-Style Pilsener)
Silver medal winners
- Mindbender, Cannonball Creek Brewing Co., Golden (American-Style Strong Pale Ale)
- Neon Lite, Cerebral Brewing, Aurora (American-Style Light Lager)
- NA Tangerine Cream Denver Beer Co., Denver (Specialty Nonalcoholic Beer)
- Time's Arrow, Our Mutual Friend Brewing, Denver (American-Style India Pale Ale)
- Plum & Lemongrass, Snow Capped Cider, Austin (Botanical or Spiced Cider)
- Gravenstein, Snow Capped Cider, Austin (Single Varietal Cider)
- Animals Strike Curious Poses, Empourium Brewing Co., Denver (Honey Beer)
- Infinity Pils, Westbound & Down Brewing Co., Lafayette (Hoppy Lager)
- Scenic Route, Westbound & Down Brewing Co., Lafayette (Session India Pale Ale)
Bronze medal winners
- NaughTea, Avery Brewing Co., Boulder (Experimental Beer)
- Manny's Way Mexican Lager, Banded Oak Brewing Co., Denver (Contemporary American-Style Lager)
- Deer Pallet, Cannonball Creek Brewing Co., Golden (International-Style Pale Ale)
- Trump Hands, Cannonball Creek Brewing Co., Golden (Session India Pale Ale)
- Santiam Cherry Apples in Garryana Oak, Haykin Family Cider, Aurora (Experimental, Barrel-Aged or Specialty Cider)
- Niedzwetzkyana, Haykin Family Cider, Aurora (Single Varietal Cider)
- Black Razz Blonde, Joyride Brewing Co., Edgewater (American Fruit Beer)
- Thinking of You, Long Table Brewhouse, Denver (Brett Beer)
- Suntrip, New Terrain Brewing Co., Golden (Belgian-Style Witbier)
- Dear You, Ratio Beerworks, Denver (American-Belgo-Style Ale)
- Kingston Black, Snow Capped Cider, Austin (Tannic Cider)
- Westbound IPA, Westbound & Down Brewing Co., Lafayette (American-Style Strong Pale Ale)
- Moroccan Christmas, Wild Blue Yonder Brewing Co., Castle Rock (Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer)