San Diego County breweries topped the charts yet again, winning a total of 18 medals at the prestigious 2023 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) held in Denver, Colorado. The festival witnessed five gold medals and an overall improvement from the previous year's haul of three golds and 15 medals.
The nation's largest professional brewing competition saw around 9,300 entries across 100 categories, with more than 2,000 breweries participating. Over 200 certified judges and industry members awarded the medals, celebrating the hard work and talent of these skilled brewers in the United States.
San Diego's brewing scene has earned itself the nickname "The Capital of Craft" since 2015, in recognition of its impressive array of over 150 breweries. This achievement has also fostered a significant local economic impact, with an estimated contribution of $290 million to $360 million in 2020, according to Cal State University San Marcos via Axios San Diego.
As Erik Fowler, the Executive Director of the San Diego Brewers Guild, put it: "It seems like every year we justify our moniker as The Capital of Craft, and I couldn't be happier for the medal winners and the entire San Diego craft beer scene." He also encouraged San Diegans to support their favorite breweries, regardless of their GABF wins.
Among the gold medal winners this year were industry leaders such as Ballast Point Brewing Company (Little Italy), Belching Beaver Brewery (Oceanside), BNS Brewing and Distilling (Santee), East Village Brewing Company (San Diego), and TapRoom Beer Company (North Park). Many more breweries also took home silver and bronze medals, showcasing the consistent quality that San Diego's brewing scene has to offer.
One such gold medal-winning brew, PB Haze from TapRoom Beer Company, has already captivated critics. In Axios San Diego's review of the beer, it was lauded for its "soft mouthfeel and pronounced citrusy flavor," as well as its absence of the harsh throat sensations present in lesser renditions of hazy IPAs. PB Haze demonstrated excellence by snagging gold not only at GABF but also at the Brewers Cup of California in the "Juicy or Hazy Strong Pale Ale" category.
