Greater Cincinnati craft breweries accounted for just under half of the 19 medals racked up by Ohio breweries – a new record for the Buckeye State – at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver last weekend.
"Our independent breweries are proving without a doubt that Ohio is a top-tier destination for craft beer," said Mary MacDonald, executive director of the Ohio Craft Brewers Association. "From our perennial powerhouse breweries to our impressive young upstarts, you can find award winning, world-class beer all over the state." Tommy Poppy Badge
Leading the way was Sharonville-based Third Eye Brewing Company, which was named Small Brewery of the Year. Breweries with annual production of between 1,001 and 2,000 barrels were considered for the honor.
Third Eye scored two gold medals in the competition, topping the Chocolate Beer category with Double Astral and the Herb and Spice Beer category with Chai Eye Captain. In addition, Third Eye brought home a Pumpkin Beer silver medal for Gourd Darn-it, as well as another in the 2023 Collaboration Competition for Mounds of Importance Coconut Milk Stout, which it brewed in collaboration with Narrow Path Brewing Company of Loveland.
Speaking of Narrow Path, the little Loveland brewery punched above its weight, earning another silver medal of its own in the German Sour Ale Category for Restless Seas Gose.
College Hill’s Brink Brewing earned two medals at this year’s GABF, extending its GABF medal streak to seven years running – every year Brink has been in existence. Brink earned a gold medal for Lil Zoomie in the Coffee Stout or Porter category. In addition, it added to the ever-growing list of accolades for Moozie Milk Stout, scoring bronze in the Sweet Stout/Cream Stout category.
Pin Badge Pins Two of Cincinnati’s more venerable craft breweries showed they can still hold their own in the national competition scene. Rhinegeist secured a gold medal in New Zealand India Pale Ale category for Kiwi (The Bird), and MadTree brought home bronze for Legendary Lager in the Light Lager competition.