GABF 2025: 50 Can’t Miss Breweries at the Fest
The Great American Beer Festival returns to Denver from October 9th to October 11th this year, and though everyone will be talking about the competition medal winners for months to come, the biggest highlight for us is the festival itself and the 400-plus beverage makers pouring. Even going into our 10th year of attending the fest, we know we need a plan, so we’ve collected a list of 50 breweries that we think are absolutely worth your time. Some of these are obvious big names and some are relatively unknown – and yes, we stuck to breweries exclusively since that’s our focus, although there are many cideries, distilleries, and non-alcoholic beverage makers to check out as well. If you think we missed any on this list, check out our Road to GABF 2025 podcast episode where we cover at least 100 breweries in all that we are excited to sample at this year’s fest.
All breweries and beers pouring are subject to change; this list was created based off of the listings on the GABF website as of 9/30/25.
ABV Chicago’s 50 Can’t Miss Breweries at GABF 2025
50. Roadhouse Brewing (Jackson Hole, WY) – Chill: 32
Medal Winners Pouring: Family Vacation (2024)
Our First Pour: Highwayman
We knew little of this 2012-founded brewery before this year and were surprised to learn they had purchased one time GABF darlings and Jackson Hole neighbors, Melvin Brewing. Roadhouse themselves have racked up a few GABF medals over the years, including one for their Family Vacation light lager. But we’re going to start with a pour of their Highwayman which won a gold medal at the World Beer Cup this year for German-style pilsner.
49. True Anomaly Brewing (Houston, TX) – Blast Off: 39
Medal Winners Pouring: Scout (2023, 2021)
Our First Pour: Small Giant
If ever there was a brewery that deserved to be in the “Blast Off” experience area, it’s True Anomaly – as all of their beers have a space theme. We liked everything we tried from them last year, and their Scout is a multiple medal-winning Mexican Lager. But we’ll go with the Small Giant, as it might be the only grisette pouring on the festival floor, and we’re suckers for a “little saison.”
48. Pax Verum Brewing (Lapel, IN) – Blast Off: 25
Our First Pour: Nectar of the Night
We first found Pax Verum at GABF in 2023, and we’ve made it a point to return to their booth whenever we can to try their playful yet expertly-crafted beers. They excel in big flavors but not at the expense of well-made beer, and their double dry-hopped double black IPA Nectar of the Night recently scored a 95 in Craft Beer & Brewing magazine.
47. Dade City Brew House (Dade City, FL) – Score: 19
Our First Pour: Daisy Cukes
We stopped by this booth last year due to them winning a gold in the dessert/pastry stout category for a beer called Pure Nonsense, and our curiosity was rewarded with a rich and sweet candy bar of a beer that was way better than it should have been at the point of the night that we drank it. This year, they’re pouring a lager, a Märzen, and Daisy Cukes – a wheat ale with cucumber, lemon peel, and juniper berries that is sure to stand out flavor-wise on the crowded festival floor.
46. Wibby Brewing (Longmont, CO) – Prost: 76
Medal Winners Pouring: Volksbier Vienna (2020); Wibby Jibby (2023); Moondoor Dunkel (2017)
Our First Pour: Wibby Jibby
Whether you call it a hoppy lager or a Cold IPA doesn’t matter because it’s a Wibby Jibby, and that’s all that matters. Just say that aloud a few times, and I dare you not to feel something. But also, this brewery makes some really killer lagers, including a standout Dunkel.
45. Lagunitas Brewing (Petaluma, CA) – Booth 17
Our First Pour: High as a Kuyt
There is literally only one reason this brewery is on this list at all: they have a Kuyt beer. Craig has been harassing every brewer we meet over making their own version of this long-forgotten Dutch style (made with oats, barley, and wheat) – and we’ve only ever tried one from a now-defunct Pennsylvania brewery. We’ll set aside any ill-will we have towards this particular company just to sip on the elusive Kuyt.
44. Maplewood Brewing Company (Chicago, IL) – Fright: 27
Medal Winners Pouring: Fat Pug (2022, 2017)
Our First Pour: Melting Mosaic IPA
Though we’re sad not to see any of their barrel-aged Cuppa beers here this year, if you’re looking for something stronger, try their Whiskey Sour, as it’s one of the best canned cocktails coming out of Chicago. In fact, they are distilling spirits at such a high level, that with the fest’s focus on spirits this year, if any of Maplewood’s whiskies are there, they climb to the top 5 of this list. If not, I’ll have a hazy Mosaic beer from them that I’ve never had before – mostly to mock Craig.
43. Third Nature Brewing Co. (Rockford, MI) – Prost: 68
Our First Pour: S’mores Baltic Porter
Sometimes a brewery’s backstory is enough to warrant a visit, and this one has us excited. Co-founder and brewmaster Troy Zitzelsberger moved from Michigan to Seoul, South Korea and started the first craft beer taproom there before coming back home to open Third Nature. That worldly perspective alone has us curious, and a cucumber basil hefeweizen and s’mores baltic porter has us thirsty.
42. Crooked Stave Brewing Co. (Denver, CO) – Blast-Off: 7
Our First Pour: Funk
Looking over Crooked Stave’s pour list brings us back to our first GABF, 11 years ago. The sad reality is that barrel-fermented and lambic-style sour beers are disappearing as brewers cut sour programs to increase their dry-hopping budgets. Thank goodness Crooked Stave is still making beers like Nightmare on Brett – a dark sour aged in whiskey barrels brought to life by wild yeast and bacteria. But we’ll go with the lambic-inspired Funk for that real wild-fermented goodness.
41. Mythmaker Brewing (Fort Collins, CO) – Meet the Brewer: 4
Our First Pour: Anniversary Three
Last year, the Anniversary Two was a standout – a barrel-aged, dry-hopped sour saison that cut through a late festival moment of palate fatigue. So of course, I have to try the new Anniversary Three – a white wine barrel-aged sour with apricot puree, dry-hopped with Krush. They also make a nice pumpkin spice amber ale, if that’s your thing.
40. Old Irving Brewing Co. (Chicago, IL) – Meet the Brewer: 11
Medal Winners Pouring: Beezer (2019), Della (2021)
Our First Pour: Cinnamon Prost
This is another brewery that’s way too low on this list simply because of proximity bias – we are super lucky to be able to drink Old Irving whenever we want. They’ve become one of those brewers that you can always count on, and for anyone not familiar with their Beezer, it’s absolutely worth a stop for a multiple award-winning Hazy IPA that we hold as one of the best examples around. But a pour that always brings me nostalgia – and the beer that first made us huge fans of the brewery – is Cinnamon Prost, a white stout that tastes like the leftover milk in a bowl of cereal in the best way imaginable.
39. Cannonball Creek Brewing Company (Golden, CO) – Chill: 12
Medal Winners Pouring: Featherweight (2024, 2023, 2020, 2015, 2013); Trump Hands (2019, 2016)
Our First Pour: Featherweight
This is another brewery that’s slipped under our radar in the past despite a prolific history of medals, especially in the hoppy beer category. They won two medals for hoppy beers last year, adding to their overall GABF total of 18 medals since their inception. The Featherweight Pale is an obvious first choice with multiple recent medals, but I’m also intrigued by whatever the latest entry is with Project Alpha, a beer in their rotating experimental hop series.
38. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company (Chico, CA) – Booth BG22
Medal Winners Pouring: Pale Ale (1995, 1993, 1992, 1990, 1989, 1987, 1983); Celebration (1994, 1990)
Our First Pour: Celebration
Ken Grossman is still my all-time dream interview with a legacy brewer, so we’ll be trying to find him like Waldo at the fest (unlike the literally dozens of Waldos that attend each session and are quite easy to find). Just like last year, my first pour at this booth will be some ultra-fresh Celebration, as we don’t usually see cases of cans show up in Illinois until the end of October – and I can’t wait that long. But it’s also worth trying their Northern Hemisphere Wet Hop IPA and something called the West Ghost IPA, which might be a little on the spooky side, but I’ll risk it anyways.
37. Our Mutual Friend Brewing (Denver, CO) – Prost: 44
Medal Winners Pouring: Inner Light (2021, 2020)
Our First Pour: Weirding Way
This is another Denver brewery taproom that is a must-stop when you’re in town for lagers, pub ales, saisons, sours, and hoppy beers – something for everyone, and your shared friends! (Bonus if you can get their Orval-inspired Biere Ovale, a true stunner we’re sorry to see isn’t here this year.) For a first pour, the Weirding Way caught my eye, as it’s a foedre-aged Brett saison with Citra hops – all good things, in my opinion.
36. Boneyard Brewery (Bend OR) – Fright: 49
Our First Pour: Neighbors with Attitude
I swear we don’t go to every booth looking to try the strongest beer being poured – that would be a poor fest strategy – and we’re here trying to give you a fest pour strategy. (Sorry.) Boneyard has plenty of great things to offer under 7%, probably! I tend to go to their booth for the Notorious IPA3 – probably the best Triple IPA I’ve ever had. But we’ll try the Neighbors with Attitude, which is a bourbon and rye whiskey barrel-aged blend of stout and barleywine.
35. Sun King Brewing (Indianapolis, IN) – Prost: 33
Our First Pour: The Ghost of Johan’s Ghost
Considering that Sun King has 31 GABF medals over their history, it’s amazing that none of their previous medal winners are pouring at their booth this year.* So yes, we’re sad to miss out on Soul Shakedown Party, Wee Muckle, or especially the Cherry Busey – but that just opens up more possibilities to try new things. The Ghost of Johan’s Ghost is a Barrel-Aged Imperial Robust Porter, and that’s not something you see often. (*You can try their World Beer Cup 2025 Bronze-winning Stupid Sexy Flanders at the Heavy Medal Taproom, though, and I’ve promised my Simpsons-loving kids that I’ll get a pour of that too.)
34. La Cumbre Brewing Co. (Albuquerque, NM) – Prost: 28
Medal Winners Pouring: Elevated IPA (2011); Project Dank (2013)
Our First Pour: Project Dank
Craig’s late summer trip brought him to La Cumbre’s taproom, and it confirmed what we’ve know for a while thanks to their annual appearances at GABF: La Cumbre makes some of the best hoppy beer around but that is not their only strength. We did recently have a blind experience with Elevated, and if you haven’t tried their signature IPA before, it’s a must sample. I’m going to start with their other hoppy signature beer, the Project Dank, which features variable hops and grains.
33. River North Brewery (Denver, CO) – Prost: 52 & 53
Our First Pour: Barrel-Aged God Complex
Stopping for multiple pours at River North’s dual booths is not a decision you should weigh lightly, as their only sub-16% ABV beer being poured is 12%. Everything else here probably wins the high gravity award, with three beers hitting 19% or higher. But from our past experiences, their big and barrel-aged offerings come in dangerously easy to sip, so monitor your own sobriety before stopping by. We might make one stop a day just to stay on the cautious side and to be able to try multiple offerings, so my first choice will be the strongest of the bunch – a 20.6% barrel-aged quadrupel.
32. Lady Justice Brewing (Englewood, CO) – Score: 28
Our First Pour: Chosen Family
I have massive respect for Lady Justice due to their challenging of the BA through a few open letters regarding representation and safety measures for LGBTQ+ people in attendance at BA-sponsored events. Last year, we found them tucked into a corner of the Score experience area that took us until day two to locate, due to our extremely weak navigational skills. But we were rewarded with a flawless small lineup of beers. Their Chosen Family ESB was my sixth favorite beer of last year’s fest, so I’m probably starting there before grabbing the excellently-named Ski Jorts Pale Lager.
31. Phantom Farms Brewing (Cumberland, RI) – Prost: 47
Our First Pour: Sacred Tree
I realize that my first pour listed here was my pick for first pour last year, and that’s no typo. Considering I won’t be making my way to Rhode Island anytime soon, it’s my only chance to get another pour of their Sacred Tree – a saison with Patagonian pepper, which recalls the brewers’ Chilean background. It was my #8 beer of last year’s fest, and it has since won a World Beer Cup Silver. That being said, I’ll gladly try both their Black IPA and Red IPA as well.
30. More Brewing Company (Huntley, IL) – Score: 37
Our First Pour: Mehndi 2024
One thing we’ve learned about More over the years is that they do more than hazy IPAs and barrel-aged stouts, though that’s initially how they made their name. In fact, they won a bronze last year for a barrel-aged doppelbock, which is an excellent beer. Then again, another thing we’ve learned about More is that their barrel-aged stouts are some of the best anywhere, and their 17.7% Mehndi is a standout amongst standouts. Believe the hype.
29. Allagash Brewing Company (Portland, ME) – Prost: 2
Medal Winners Pouring: Tripel (2024, 2023, 2021, 2016, 2015, 2006); White (2024, 2023, 2021, 2020, 2018, 2015, 2010, 2005)
Our First Pour: Once Upon an Orchard (with Pawpaw)
We finally succeeded in tracking down Rob Tod last year for an interview, and it was everything we wanted out of the interview. It doesn’t mean we’re staying away from the booth this year, as there’s plenty worth trying at Allagash. We’ll first go with the Once Upon an Orchard, a blend of oak-aged saisons with pawpaw fruit.
28. Icicle Brewing Company (Leavenworth, WA) – Prost: 26
Medal Winners Pouring: Alpenhaze (2022)
Our First Pour: Dragontail IPA
I had this brewery on this very same list last year, and I think we missed it – or stopped by long after I was able to remember trying what they have to offer. They’ve won just one medal at GABF, but they’ve pulled one for three consecutive years from the World Beer Cup including a bronze for their Pilsner this year. Last year, their Dragontail IPA won a Gold at WBC, so we’ll start there.
27. Templin Family Brewing (Salt Lake City, UT) – Prost: 64
Medal Winners Pouring: Helles (2023); Kellerbier (2022, 2021, 2020); Rauchbier (2019)
Our First Pour: Kellerbier
Templin Family has only been open since 2018, and outside of last year, they brought home a medal for five years straight. Though they dabble in other styles, lagers are their specialty. Even though I’m tempted to go for their Rauchbier first since so few are pouring at the fest, it’s even rarer to get a tried-and-true Kellerbier, especially one with a few medals to its name.
26. Von Ebert Brewing (Portland, OR) – Score: 50
Medal Winners Pouring: Volatile Substance (2021); Pils (2022)
Our First Pour: To Ellie, With Love
We haven’t had a bad experience with anything from Von Ebert, and their Volatile Substance is one of the best Northwest-style IPAs in existence. There’s a lot to choose from here though, as their Clubhaus Lager also just picked up a World Beer Cup Gold medal this year, and I’m tempted by their Poetic Alchemy IPA with terpenes. But due to an oak-aged Brett and peach beer from last year that I loved, I’ll go with the To Ellie, With Love: a foudre-aged mixed culture beer with Gewurztraminer and Riesling grapes.
25. Morgan Territory Brewing (Tracy, CA) – Prost: 36
Medal Winners Pouring: Hoptomic (2024); The Cushman (2024, 2021); Old Diablo (2019, 2015)
Our First Pour: Hoptomic
Call this one a total blindspot for us, as Morgan Territory has been winning medals since 2015 – and much longer than that when they were Schooner’s Grille and Brewery. The thing that really got our attention is their Gold medal last year in the Imperial IPA category out of 117 entries – beating out the verifiably incredible Nose Goblin from Ghost Town, amongst many others. We’ll give that medal winner a try first, but there are plenty of other interesting things there like the Old Diablo barleywine.
24. The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. (Austin, TX) – Prost: 65
Medal Winners Pouring: Hell Yes (2018, 2016); Industry Pils (2022, 2016); Rocket 100 (2021, 2018, 2017, 2015); Velvet Revolution (2017)
Our First Pour: Lighten Up, Francis
There’s really not a bad choice when it comes to ABGB, and in our opinion, they’re some of the best lager makers on the GABF floor any year. If you haven’t had their pre-Prohibition lager Rocket 100 or their perfect take on a Helles, Hell Yes, then you have to make a beeline for a pour. I’ll go with the one I haven’t had yet: their Schwarzbier, Lighten Up, Francis.
23. Verboten Brewing (Loveland, CO) – Prost: 70 & 71
Our First Pour: Others In Darkness: Irish Coffee
We are aware that this brewery makes beers that aren’t barrel-aged and are under 10%, but truthfully, that’s not why we stop by their booth. Their Grow Old With You and its variants have won five barleywine medals at FoBAB, and they’ll have at least two different barleywines pouring. My practical choice is the Others In Darkness: Irish Coffee, as it’ll probably be my second stop of the day and the pick-me-up I need after whatever weirdo first pours we get at WeldWerks.
22. Bow & Arrow Brewing Co. (Albuquerque, NM) – Chill: 10
Our First Pour: Funksloth
We’ve been lucky to try a variety of beers from this exceptional brewery, and we’re glad to see them return after sitting out 2024. They’ll have a nice mix of lagers and IPAs pouring, but I’m a sucker for a foedre-aged farmhouse with mixed cultures, Funksloth, that will be bringing some much-needed terroir to the festival floor.
21. Milieu Fermentation (Aurora, CO) – Chill: 21
Our First Pour: Milieu Pils
This brewery really blew us away in 2024 with their 2.7% ABV barrel-aged table beer smol., which was my beer of the fest in 2024 before going on to win a FoBAB Gold in the Mixed Culture category. Truthfully, if smol.2.0 was on the list here, this would be a Top 5 stop for me. Nevertheless, we’ll be hanging here to drink through everything, including their Mexican Lager, their Be Dope hazy with the unfamiliar-to-us Vera hop, and the eponymous West Coast Pilsner.
20. Revolution Brewing (Chicago, IL) – Score: 42
Our First Pour: 15 Year Beer
If we weren’t from Chicago, we’d have some of the Illinois brewers pouring at the fest much higher on this list – but we’re spoiled to be able to drink them regularly. We’re never tired of revisiting Rev beers, and this year’s 15 Year Beer is an early standout in their Deep Wood series for this season. It’s a double barrel-aged barleywine and ryewine blend with cherries that’s beautifully smooth and endlessly complex – and I love it enough to risk my sobriety for more. I am also interested in their Czech Amber, Raddy, which is a more limited release that’s not going to be around much longer.
19. Pinthouse Brewing (Austin, TX) – Prost: 48
Our First Pour: Fresh Drops Fresh Hop IPA
Austin has no shortage of incredible breweries, but I admire Pinthouse’s commitment to making incredible Fresh Hop beers – which is a big reason I spent a lot of time at their booth last year. Though their previous medal-winning Fresh Hop beers won’t be there, I’ll take whatever else is in its place – and also check-in on their West Coast Pilsner and DDH Mosaic beers.
18. Von Trapp Brewing (Stowe, VT) – Prost: 72
Medal Winners Pouring: Helles (2024)
Our First Pour: Dunkel
Like the best lager-only breweries in America, Von Trapp mainly focuses on a small core of regular offerings with a few specialties thrown in seasonally. But other lager-only breweries weren’t established by the last living member of the Trapp Family Singers at their 75 year-old resort, so there’s that. This brewery was also the winner of the 2024 Best Brewery/Brewer of the Year (15,001-100,000 barrels), so we’ll be heading there early to drink through all three of their listed lagers – starting with a Dunkel, as it’s just one of my favorite styles around.
17. Pizza Port Brewing Co. (Carlsbad, CA) – Booth 5
Medal Winners Pouring: Guillaume (2024, 2023, 2022, 2020, 2017, 2015, 2014); Chronic (2019)
Our First Pour: Guillaume
Kind of like Breakside, us Midwesterners might not fully appreciate the size and influence of Pizza Port – and their GABF history goes back at least as far as their first medal in 1994. Since then, their various locations have won over 100 medals at the competition, and they’ve made some of the most important IPAs that helped define the West Coast-style. But we’re first going to reach for the sessionable Belgian Wit and perennial medal winner Guillaume and just maybe do a side-by-side with Allagash.
16. False Idol Brewing (North Richland Hills, TX) – Score: 23
Our First Pour: OG Buff
Over the past two years, False Idol has impressed us with a blended barrel-aged barleywine/stout and a rye brett saison with lavender and blueberry – two pretty far extremes on the flavor spectrum. We’ll check out some more standard fare as well, but I’m looking to start with a pour of their OG Buff: a 13% imperial stout with vanilla.
15. Cohesion Brewing Company (Denver, CO) – Score: 16
Our First Pour: Tmavé
As far as we know, this is Cohesion’s first time pouring at the fest, as they’ve only been open since 2021. They’ve quickly become the Denver hotspot for industry folks that want traditional beer served thoughtfully, and there’s no brewery in the country more dedicated to making Czech-style beers with an eye towards history. If they’re doing different pouring techniques here like they do in their taproom, that would be a truly unique experience on the floor of GABF. But if not, their beers are all perfection, so we’re just going to throw a dart at their Tmavé to have first. Really though, you should be making plans to visit their taproom while in town – and try a Mlíko pour!
14. Ghost Town Brewing (Oakland, CA) – Fright: 16
Medal Winners Pouring: Nose Goblin (2024, 2022, 2021)
Our First Pour: Nose Goblin
It’s becoming a known fact that Ghost Town’s Nose Goblin is one of the best Double IPAs in the country, and that’s evident on the aromatics alone that will transport you to a tropical island dispensary where they also happen to bake blueberry pies. If that’s not enough hops for you, try the Slow Cure Fresh Hop Citra IPA or the Pale Horse West Coast IPA. And if hops aren’t your thing, they’ll have their straight, no-frills porter Ossuary pouring as well. All killer, no filler.
13. Strangebird Beer (Rochester, NY) – Blast Off: 32
Medal Winners Pouring: Bird Light Yuzu (2024)
Our First Pour: Rode Vogel
We visited Strangebird’s booth last year due to Eric Salazar’s place in the history of American sour beers that dates back multiple decades to his time at New Belgium, and we had a great time chatting with him. (Locals should also take note that this summer he traveled up to our new favorite Chicago brewery, Suncatcher, to do the first ever collaboration at Matt Gallagher’s new space.) And our first pour choice this year is the same as last year: Rode Vogel, a perfect American take on a Flanders Red. But there are some hoppy and light options of intrigue here, including last year’s medal-winning lager with yuzu, Bird Light Yuzu.
12. Third Eye Brewing Company (Hamilton, OH) – Chill: 36
Medal Winners Pouring: Double Astral (2023)
Our First Pour: Kelly’s Private Stash
Although they didn’t repeat last year with any awards or a brewery honor like they did in 2023, the talent of Kelly Montgomery and his team to create flavorful and experimental beers is undeniable. (Not to mention that they took another 8 medals at the U.S. Beer Open Championship this year, which is nothing to sneeze at.) The one-time GABF Gold winner, Double Astral, is the big and chewy oatmeal stout you’ve always dreamed of. But it’s Kelly’s Private Stash, a yearly blend of long-aged barleywines, that is the standout here.
11. Live Oak Brewing Company (Del Valle, TX) – Prost: 31
Medal Winners Pouring: Hefeweizen (2019)
Our First Pour: Grodziskie
There are few better breweries on the floor for classic styles and lagers, so Live Oak is going to be a necessary refueling station when we need a break from flavor assault. They have a new cold-fermented IPA pouring that is certainly of interest; their Pilz and Hefeweizen are some of the finest examples of their styles; but the Grodziskie is light and smokey perfection that is rarely replicated as well elsewhere.
10. Trap Door Brewing (Washougal, WA) – Prost: 69
Medal Winners Pouring: Fresher Than Fresh (2024)
Our First Pour: Fresher Than Fresh
This brewery wasn’t even on my Top 50 radar last year, and my experience at their booth last year vaulted them all the way up this list. An easy standout and first pour is last year’s Gold-winning Fresh Hop Beer, Fresher Than Fresh, which was truly outstanding. Though they won’t have a standout barrel-aged stout like last year, the whole booth skews hoppy and fresh, and sometimes that’s all I need from a Pacific Northwest brewery just after harvest season.
9. 3 Sons Brewing Co. (Dania Beach, FL) – Blast Off: 1
Our First Pour: Broward County Brand Stout
Although it’s been about 10 years since 3 Sons caught the attention of barrel-aged whale hunters via a few big wins at Hunahpu’s Day (and was named Craig’s Most Memorable Beer of 2016, which is listed on 3 Sons’ website, even), we’ve never forgotten about 3 Sons. Seeing them on the GABF pour list for what must be the first time is exciting for us, and we can’t wait to see what they’ve been up to. Their lighter offerings are intriguing, but we know them for big, bold stouts and we’ll go that way with either the Silent Night, imperial hot chocolate stout, or more likely with the Broward County Brand Stout, their signature barrel-aged stout with vanilla beans and cacao nibs.
8. Lawson’s Finest Liquids (Waitsfield, VT) – Booth S-9
Our First Pour: Double Sunshine
Another long-awaited returning legendary brewery, Lawson’s is making the considerable trip to share their Sunshine with fest attendees – and we are here for it. Though we likely won’t be seeing any of their Vermont-unique maple beers, they’ve been making incredible hoppy beers since their founding in 2008. The whole list of Sunshine beers is worth trying, but we’ll reach for the Double IPA version first.
7. Fat Head’s Brewery (Middleburg Heights, OH) – Prost: 19
Medal Winners Pouring: Head Hunter (2023, 2011, 2010); Alpen Glow (2023, 2022, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2012); Hop Juju (2016, 2015, 2013); Up In Smoke (2019, 2009)
Our First Pour: Up In Smoke
When you have the chance to drink what is arguably the best IPA in the country, you do it. We were lucky enough to have some Head Hunter recently, and it is still as great as ever – or better. But so many things at this booth are medal winners and just stellar examples of style, so I’m leaning towards a throwback smoked robust porter before inevitably moving on to the hoppier stuff.
6. Breakside Brewery (Portland & Milwaukie, OR) – Prost: 10 & 11
Medal Winners Pouring: Breakside IPA (2023, 2017, 2014); Cheat Codes (2023)
Our First Pour: Don’t Worry About That Fireplace!
Breakside is an absolute force to be reckoned with on the West Coast, what with their eight different locations and a collection of medals that could have its own visiting center. All of it is well-deserved, as their beers run the range of styles but are always impressively crafted. This double booth will offer something for everyone, and fresh hop lovers must get their Wanderlust. But we’re suckers for the rare stuff, and the “Don’t Worry About That Fireplace!” is a blend of stout, porter, and barleywine aged in brandy and whiskey casks with vanilla beans – and it sounds delightful.
5. Firestone Walker Brewing Co. (Paso Robles, CA) – Featured Booth: 1
Medal Winners Pouring: Firestone IPA (2006, 2002); Pivo (2017, 2015, 2013)
Our First Pour: Uber Omni Gruber
Just a warning: this booth is a bit time and day-dependent, as they often utilize timed tappings for their rarest offerings, and the selection sometimes varies by the day. So stop by first to see what is pouring and when, and then circle back as often as needed. They’ll likely have more than what’s listed on the GABF site, but a throwback IPA and a tropical-forward West Coast DIPA like Diesel Thunder will likely be available anytime. I’ll be setting my personal timer for the Uber Omni Gruber, a double barrel-aged imperial stout with vanilla beans, coconut, hazelnut, and coffee. And then I’ll clean myself up a bit with a pour of ridiculously fresh Pivo, one of the best beers in the country.
4. pFriem Family Brewers (Hood River, OR) – Chill: 26
Medal Winners Pouring: Pilsner (2018, 2015); Frambozen (2023); Amaro Barrel-Aged Barleywine (2023); Japanese Lager (2020)
Our First Pour: Frambozen
pFriem had been a major highlight at previous years’ GABFs, but they haven’t been back on the floor in full force like this since prior to the pandemic. Now that they are back, we couldn’t be more pumped. This is one of those breweries that excels at every style they make, and though I’m intrigued by their take on a Cold IPA and a Japanese Lager, I’ve been dreaming of a pour of their stunning oak-aged raspberry sour, Frambozen. But this is one worth camping out at for a while.
3. Russian River Brewing Co. (Windsor & Santa Rosa, CA) – Prost: 57 & 58
Medal Winners Pouring: Docta-Ron (2023); Pliny the Elder (2014, 2006, 2005, 2004); STS Pils (2018, 2015, 2014); Small Batch Intinction Sauvignon Blanc (2023); Damnation (2004, 2001)
Our First Pour: Row 2/Hill 56
There’s not a beer here that you should skip, but it kind of depends if you want to get back in line for this booth 10 times. (Honestly, you probably should just plan on it.) Though the best of the Intinction series (in our opinion) is pouring – the Small Batch Sauvignon Blanc version – along with the throwback Duvel tribute Damnation, it’s all about the hops for me. They have quite a few beers this year focusing on individual hops, but the showcase here is on Simcoe with both the Simcoe 25 West Coast IPA, and an old favorite, the Row 2/Hill 56 Simcoe pale ale that I’ll likely grab first.
2. The Lost Abbey (Vista, CA) – Prost: 67
Medal Winners Pouring: Duck Duck Gooze (2018, 2009)
Our First Pour: Duck Duck Gooze
Always a top 3 booth for us, Tomme Arthur himself will likely be there popping bottles to help the line move faster, and there’s no shortage of excellent options from the legendary brewery. But it’s the triumphant return of Duck Duck Gooze – which only happens every 3 years or so – that will be the first to kick and should be everyone’s first priority. But on the second time through, you’ll have a bevvy of choices: Serpent’s Kiss, a blended imperial stout with cacao nibs aged in bourbon, rum and port barrels; and Carnevale, a dry-hopped Brett saison, are both sure to stun.
1. WeldWerks Brewing Co. (Greeley, CO) – Featured Booth: H-18
Medal Winners Pouring: Medianoche (2017)
Our First Pour: Mezcal Barrel-Aged Mexican Achromatic
Giving WeldWerks a top spot over the previously listed breweries who actually pioneered styles and are directly responsible for craft beer evolving to what it is today might seem short-sighted. But there’s no denying that for the better part of the last decade, GABF has been WeldWerks’ fest – and they pull out all the stops every year. They always have a variety of bold, thoughtful, and impressively-made Medianoche variants (Dubai Chocolate and a Side Project collaboration stand out this year), a good mix of hazy and more straightforward styles, and then of course, the annual odd experiment gose: this year’s being a Gyro Gose that almost surely will come with some pita-dipped tzatziki or something similar. Personally, I’m excited to see how their other big stout with cinnamon, cacao, and vanilla will hold up to the smokiness of a Mezcal barrel.
