The Great American Beer Festival (GABF) Competition last week crushed last year’s entries by 16 percent, according to the Boulder, Colo-based Brewers Association. GABF had a total of 3,308 entries, and the top five medal-winning states were Colorado (45), California (39), Oregon (22), Washington (13) and Pennsylvania (12).

 

The competition was judged by 132 international beer judges from 10 countries. Award-winning brewers received gold, silver and bronze medals in 78 beer categories.

 

The 2009 Brewery and Brewer of the Year Awards included Coors Brewing Co., Golden, Colo., for Large Brewing Company and Large Brewing Company Brewer of the Year; Flying Dog Brewery, Frederick, Md., for Mid-Size Brewing Company and Mid-Size Brewing Company Brewer of the Year; Dry Dock Brewing Co., Aurora, Colo., for Small Brewing Company and Small Brewing Company Brewer of the Year; Pizza Cort Carlsbad, Carlsbad, Calif., for Large Brewpub and Large Brewpub Brewer of the Year; and Chuckanut Brewery, Bellingham, Wash., for Small Brewpub and Small Brewpub Brewer of the Year. Find out more about the 2009 GABF Competition winners .