Yesterday Texas craft beer producers showed the rest of the nation that the Armadillo State (yeah, Texas has other nicknames) can brew with the best of them.
Texas craft breweries brought home an impressive 19 medals at the 2023 Great American Beer Festival in Colorado — Alamo City-area breweries accounted for three of the state's total medal haul. The festival, which draws tens of thousands of people annually, is considered the industry's most prestigious competition in the U.S.
Of the breweries inside San Antonio proper, Roadmap Brewing took silver for its Derby Day in the Historical Beer category. Second Pitch Brewing Co — which earlier this year medaled in the World Beer Cup awards — took home a gold for its Hometown Lager in the American Amber Lager category, while the creamy Belgian yeast overtones of Longtab Brewing’s DOL also snagged a gold medal in the American-Belgo-Style Ale category. Longtab, which opened in January 2020, is a retired Green Beret-owned brewery. This was their first year of competition entry. They were one of 325 first-time entrants and one of 16 first-time winners.
“When we entered, we were told to be happy if any of our entries made it to the second round of judging. But, to win GOLD on our first try is beyond surreal” Longtab co-owner David Holland said. “Longtab brewers Mike and Dan deserve all the accolades and recognition that comes with being Gold medal winners!”
Courtesy of the Brewers Association
Casting the net a little further outside city limits, Blanco’s Real Ale Brewing took home a bronze in the German-Style Koelsch category for Cruzer and a gold in the Scotch Ale category for Scotch Ale.
The Great American Beer Festival this year drew entries from 2,033 breweries from across the United States, which brought 9,298 beers for judging. A whopping 250 judges from 10 countries evaluated 99 different beer styles.
"The Great American Beer Festival competition serves as a platform for the finest beers from across the nation to undergo rigorous scrutiny and vie for the title of ‘Best in Class,’” remarked Chris Williams, competition director for the Great American Beer Festival.
Each of San Antonio's winning beers is available at its respective brewer's taproom. A complete list of the 2023 winners is available at the Great American Beer Festival website.