GABF is almost here!

The weather's starting to feel a little more like fall, which means that the Great American Beer Festival is right around the corner! The 32nd annual GABF starts next week, on October 10th, and McCoy's will be looking to add a few more medals to the collection.

Beers sent for judging include Public House favorites across the board: Ginger Shandy, Blackberry Tart, Pilsner, Gose, Malabar Brown, Lunch Box Pale, Oktoberfest, Brite Lager, and Good Farmhouse. And if you haven't tried this year's Oktoberfest, 1) You missed out on drinking it by the liter at the first McCoy's Oktoberfest; and 2) It's freaking fantastic. Look at this majestic beer - 

mmmm

If you're heading out to GABF, McCoy's will be pouring Ginger Shandy, Blackberry Tart, Pilsner, and the Gose. So you'll have a chance to taste some beers that haven't been around for a little bit. And if you're not heading to Denver, well then you might as well go to McCoy's have have these beers from the source!

McCoy's Beers Head to GABF!

In a little more than a week, craft beer brewers, judges, and enthusiasts will make their yearly invasion of Denver, CO, for the 31st annual Great American Beer Festival. McCoy's will be there, from October 11-13, attempting to bring some more medals back to Westport. You may have seen some of the hardware hanging on the wall by the brewhouse -

GABF isn't just a run-of-the-mill beer festival. It's one of the most prestigious beer competitions in the country. Four McCoy's beers have won medals in the past - Ginger Shandy won bronze in 2001 and silver in '02 and '03, all in the Specialty Beer category. Newcomb's IPA won the IPA bronze medal in 2002 and '04. A little more recently, Wee Willy Scotch Ale won the 2010 silver medal for Scotch Ales out of 34 entries, and last year the Pilsner took the bronze in Bohemian-Style Pilsener out of 42 entries. Interesting aside about the Pilsner's win last year - there was no gold medal winner in the category. If judges don't think that a beer in the category meets the quality and style-accuracy criteria, they may elect not to award a medal.  So last year they gave a silver to Mama's Little Yella Pils from Oskar Blues and the McCoy's Pilsner got bronze.

Today I talked with McCoy's brewer Morgan about the beers they're sending for this year's festival. All four previous award winners will be returning, along with 6 of their brethren. This year, Ginger Shandy will be entered in the Session Beer category, but the categories for the rest should be pretty straightforward. The Pilsner and the Scotch Ale are both fantastic this year, and the Newcomb's is always a favorite. The Shandy will be back on tap soon, and the other three are there right now.

Two other submitted beers are also currently on tap - the Unfiltered Wheat and Oatmeal Stout. The other four beers are some excellent brews that have made an appearance in the last year. It's hard to pick a favorite out of Toddy Stout, the Quad, DPA #9 (with Pacific Jade hops), and Blackberry Tart. . . We're excited and think we've got a great shot at a few more medals!

Are you heading out to Denver for GABF? Or is there a favorite beer of yours heading to be judged? Let us know, and check back here for results!