BeerDorks.com: Reviews, Commentary and Opinions on Midwest Craft Beer and Microbreweries

 
October 16, 2012

Beer Diary:

Midwest Winners At The 2012 Great American Beer Festival

Also known as the “everyone gets a medal” beer festival.
by Eddie Glick

I like my beer like my women: pale, strong, full-bodied, and extremely bitter.
Contact Eddie»
Before I go off on my rant, I’d like to congratulate all the winners at the recently wrapped up 2012 Great American Beer festival. They all deserve awards for the great beer they make, and I don’t want what I’m about to say to take anything away from their accomplishments. But keeping my big yap shut just ain’t in my DNA. So I’ve got to question the legitimacy of an organization that doles out awards to Lemon Pledge (Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy) and fucking light “beer” (Miller Lite).

Now that’s out of my system, I can appreciate some of the award winners. I like Two Brother underrated (until now, I guess) Ebel’s Weiss snagging an award, and the superb Lakefront Fixed Gear. Three Floyds snagging kudos for Zombie Dust is pretty neat, and everything I’ve had from Kuhnhenn has been pretty awesome, so it’s nice to see them getting their due. Hell, congrats to all the winners. Except Miller, Leinie’s (owned by Miller, by the way), and Goose Island. They can go fuck themselves.

Peruse the list below, or check out the full list at the GABF web site.

DESTIHL, Champaign, Illinois
Strawberry Blonde Ale, Bronze—Fruit Beer

5 Rabbit Cerveceria, Chicago, Illinois
5 Lizard Latin-Style Witbier, Bronze—Fruit Wheat Beer

Revolution Brewing, Chicago, Illinois
A Little Crazy, Bronze—American-Belgo-Style Ale
Cross of Gold, Gold—English-Style Summer Ale

Goose Island Beer Co., Chicago, Illinois
India Pale Ale, Gold—English-Style India Pale Ale

Piece Brewery, Chicago, Illinois
The Weight, Silver—American-Style Pale Ale

Brickstone Brewery, Bourbonnais, Illinois
Brickstone APA, Gold—American-Style Pale Ale

Two Brothers Brewing Co., Warrenville, Illinois
Ebel’s Weiss, Silver—South German-Style Hefeweizen
Domaine DuPage, Bronze—Belgian- and French-Style Ale

RAM Restaurant and Brewery—, Wheeling, Illinois
Pointon’s Proper—An English Mild, Silver—Pro-Am Competition

Mad Anthony Brewing Co., North Manchester, Indiana
Ruby Raspberry Wheat, Gold—Fruit Wheat Beer

RAM Restaurant and Brewery, Indianapolis, Indiana
Anaheim IPA, Silver—Field Beer or Pumpkin Beer

Sun King Brewing Co., Indianapolis, Indiana
Pappy Van Muckle, Silver—Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer
Johan the Barleywine, Gold—Barley Wine-Style Ale

Three Floyds Brewing Co., Munster, Indiana
Zombie Dust, Bronze—American-Style Pale Ale

Upland Brewing Co., Bloomington, Indiana
Sour Reserve, Gold—Belgian-Style Lambic or Sour Ale

Bier Brewery, Indianapolis, Indiana
Sanitarium, Silver—Belgian-Style Abbey Ale

Redwood Brewing Co., Flint, Michigan
Hazelnut Coffee Cream Stout, Silver—Coffee Beer

Kuhnhenn Brewing Co., Warren, Michigan
Kuhnhenn Braggot, Bronze—Specialty Honey Beer

Bastone Brewery, Royal Oak, Michigan
Udder Madness, Bronze—Sweet Stout

Fitger’s Brewhouse, Duluth, Minnesota
Fitger’s Framboise, Bronze—American-Style Sour Ale

Summit Brewing Co., Saint Paul, Minnesota
Summit Pilsener, Silver—Bohemian-Style Pilsener

Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Classic American Pilsner, Bronze—Pro-Am Competition

Boston Beer Co.—Samuel Adams Cincinnati Brewery, Cincinnati, Ohio
Samuel Adams Double Bock, Silver—German-Style Doppelbock or Eisbock

Fat Heads Brewery & Saloon, North Olmsted, Ohio
AlpenGlow, Silver—German-Style Wheat Ale

Weasel Boy Brewing Co., Zanesville, Ohio
Anastasia Russian Imperial Stout, Gold—Imperial Stout

Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co., Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy, Silver—Fruit Wheat Beer

Stevens Point Brewery, Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale, Gold—Field Beer or Pumpkin Beer
Point Oktoberfest, Gold—American-Style Amber Lager

Central Waters Brewing Co., Amherst, Wisconsin
Fourteen Fourteen, Gold—Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout

New Glarus Brewing Co., New Glarus, Wisconsin
Hometown Blonde, Gold—Bohemian-Style Pilsener
Staghorn Octoberfest, Silver—American-Style Amber Lager

Miller Brewing Co., Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Miller Lite, Silver—American-Style Lager, Light Lager or Premium Lager
Mickey’s Malt Liquor, Bronze—American-Style Specialty Lager or Cream Ale or Lager

Great Dane Pub & Brewing Co., Madison, Wisconsin
Uber Bock, Gold—German-Style Doppelbock or Eisbock

Lakefront Brewery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Fixed Gear American Red Ale, Silver—American-Style Amber/Red Ale





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