It’s that time of year when the temperature drops, the leaves fall, and Denverites swig the best brews in the state at the annual Great American Beer Festival. Kudos to the lucky attendees who were able to snag a ticket to this year’s smorgasbord. For everyone else, we’ve compiled a list of 2013 local medalists—so you’re able to sip award-winning beers away from the chaos of GABF. Peruse (and imbibe) at your leisure.


Category: American-Style Stout

Brewery: Cannonball Creek Brewing Company, Golden

Medal: Silver

Beer: Battlecat

Description: This full-bodied stout incorporates the style’s chocolate and coffee aromas, but is also brewed with citrusy hop flavors.

Category: American-Style Wheat Beer

Brewery: Wiley Roots Brewing Company, Greeley

Medal: Bronze

Beer: Super 77 Wheat

Description: This somewhat dry and slightly fruity wheat beer goes down easy.

Category: Bock

Brewery: SandLot Brewery, Denver

Medal: Bronze

Beer: The Goat Rancher

Description: This Coors Field brewery—which also took home the title of Large Brewing Company and Large Brewing Company Brewer of the Year in 2013—uses German pilsner malt, German hops, and a house-made lager yeast strain to produce this Bock.

Category: Chocolate Beer

Brewery: Great Divide Brewing Co., Fort Collins

Medal: Gold

Beer: The Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout

Description: This delicious brew is made with cocoa nibs, vanilla, and a dash of cayenne, to create a flavor reminiscent of a chocolate bar.

Category: Classic English-Style Pale Ale

Medal: Gold

Brewery: Odell Brewing Company, Fort Collins

Beer: 5 Barrel Pale Ale

Description: The 5 Barrel is infused with fresh whole hop flowers and four hop additions while it’s boiling in the kettle, which produce a fresh hop aroma.

Category: English-Style India Pale Ale

Medal: Bronze

Brewery: Dry Dock Brewing Company North Dock, Aurora

Beer: USS Enterprise IPA

Description: A well-balanced IPA.

Category: English-Style Summer Ale

Medal: Gold

Brewery: Ska Brewing Company, Durango

Beer: True Blonde Ale

Description: A crisp blonde ale that includes bready malts, tangy wheat, and citrus hop flavors.

Category: European-Style Dunkel

Medal: Bronze

Brewery: Grimm Brothers Brewhouse

Beer: The Fearless Youth

Description: A medium-bodied brew with a malty, bread-like aroma and notes of caramel, chocolate, and biscuits.

Category: Foreign-Style Stout

Medal: Gold

Brewery: Left Hand Brewing Company, Longmont

Beer: Fade to Black Volume 1

Description: A dark beer with licorice, espresso bean, molasses, and black cardamom notes.

Category: German-Style Wheat Ale

Medal: Gold

Brewery: Steamworks Brewing Company, Durango

Beer: Slam Dunkel

Description: An unfiltered German-style dark wheat beer with flavors of clove and banana.

Category: Gluten-Free Beer

Medal: Bronze

Brewery: New Planet Beer, Boulder

Beer: Gluten-Free Brown Ale

Description: This rich brew combines coffee and chocolate flavors with cinnamon and vanilla notes.

Category: Herb and Spice Beer

Medal: Silver

Brewery: Yak & Yeti Restaurant and Brewpub, multiple locations

Beer: Chai Milk Stout

Description: A dessert beer with a house-made blend of Chai tea spices.

Category: Imperial Stout

Medal: Bronze

Brewery: Renegade Brewing Company, Denver

Beer: Hammer and Sickle

Description: A Russian brew filled with flavors of vanilla, coffee, and dark chocolate.

Category: Irish-Style Red Ale

Medal: Silver

Brewery: Colorado Boy Brewing Company, Ridgway

Beer: Colorado Boy Irish Ale

Description: A classic red ale with hints of caramel, toffee, and buttery tones.

Category: Old Ale or Strong Ale

Medal: Bronze

Brewery: City Star Brewing, Berthoud

Beer: Mule Kick

Description: A winter warmer brewed with wildflower honey.