(Oskar Blues’ crew win big at GABF)

Classic beers sometimes get overshadowed at big beer competitions, but this year Oskar Blues ruled. We’ve that, “Words to Drink By” and more…

Classic Beer Wins Big At GABF

If you care about beer, you’re probably  already aware that the Great American Beer Festival winners (GABF) were announced over the weekend. Presented annually by the national craft beer trade organization, the Brewers Association, it remains the nation’s largest professional beer competition and the premier symbol of brewing excellence.

A win at the Great American Beer Festival competition is a BIG deal. Taking a gold, silver or bronze medal at the GABF can put a new brewery on the map or reaffirm the brewing skills of industry leaders that sometimes get overlooked. And there’s no more perfect an example than Dale’s Pale Ale, which debuted in 1999 and became the first craft beer in America that the Oskar Blues Brewery commercially canned in 2002.

And at the 2025 Great American Beer Festival Dale’s Pale Ale was awarded a Gold Medal in the English Ale beer-style category more than two decades after its debut.

“Twenty-three years ago, Oskar Blues Brewery made the impossible and improbable decision to try to shove that hoppy pale ale into a can. At the time, it was absolutely unheard of to taste a real, highly crafted beer full of hops from an aluminum can,” said Aaron Baker, Brand Director, Oskar Blues Brewery….

“The revolution had started. In all likelihood, Dale’s Pale Ale was one of the very first beers submitted to the GABF competition in a can. Now, more than 75% of packaged craft beer sold is from a can. We were first in the can and now we’re in first place for taste. Congratulations to the entire brewing team for this well-earned recognition of Dale’s Pale Ale as one of the best damn beers out there!”

The awards ceremony, live-streamed on The Brewing Network on Saturday, October 11, 2025, was held in the festival hall at the Colorado Convention Center as part of the Great American Beer Festival before Saturday’s session.

Words to Drink By

“You don’t know everything. And if you pretend to know everything, those who know something will dismiss you.” –  Bob Lefsetz, music and media writer

 Colorado Breweries Dominate 2025 Competition

A large number of Colorado breweries won medals at the 2025 Great American Beer Festival (in Denver, including three that received the prestigious “Brewery of the Year” honors.

The breweries recognized with the “Brewery of the Year” award were Westbound & Down Brewing – Westbound Mill in the 5,001- to 15,000-barrel category, River North Brewery in the 1,001- to 2,000-barrel category, and Cannonball Creek Brewing in the 501- to 1,000-barrel category.

Gold medals were awarded to Colorado breweries including Aspen Brewing for Casa Bonita, Diebolt Brewing for Vladislav, and Prost Brewing (Northglenn) for Prost Vienna Lager and Prost Schwarzbier.

River North Brewery received gold for Squirrels Just Want to Have Fun and River North White, while Steamworks Brewing won gold for Backside Stout. Westbound & Down Brewing – Westbound Mill secured gold medals for Westbound Italian Pils and How the West Was One: Mosaic.

Other gold medalists included Fritz Family Brewers/Christopher Owens for Christopher’s Bier and Glenwood Canyon Brewing for Festbier.

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