By Brian Beauchemin

North Carolina breweries won a total of eight medals at the 38th annual Great American Beer Festival (GABF) held October 10-12 in Denver, Colo., with Charlotte-area breweries holding their own and winning half of those honors with two gold medals, a silver and a bronze. Presented by the Brewers Association, the GABF is the United States’ largest professional beer competition. 

In total, 1,869 breweries and cideries from all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico entered beers or ciders. The judging panel consisted of 285 experts who evaluated 8,836 commercial beer entries and 233 commercial cider entries, as well as collaboration and Pro-Am entries.

The competition partnered with the American Cider Association (the U.S. is home to more than 1,200 cideries) and expanded awards to five new cider categories. At the awards ceremony, 273 breweries and cideries took home 326 medals across 170 subcategories. IPAs were the three largest entry categories, with two German lager categories rounding out the top five. 

Pilot Brewing and Resident Culture won the two Charlotte gold medals. Pilot Brewing was recognized in the Extra Special Bitter beer-style category for its Pub Ale, a 5.6% ABV sessionable English-style amber ale. The beer won first place out of 62 entries and is balanced between malt and hops to allow for a refreshing pint. 

“Pub Ale has brought home seven medals since we first entered it into competition in 2021, including 2023’s World Beer Cup where it brought home silver,” says Rachael Hudson, Co-Owner and Head Brewer at Pilot Brewing. “It is very satisfying to know that we continue to make a world-class beer that is continually recognized by beer industry professionals.”

After being introduced only 10 months ago, Resident Culture won gold in the Pale Non-Alcohol Beer category with its non-alcoholic N.A.R.C. IPA, placing first out of 55 entries. N.A.R.C. (which stands for Non-Alcoholic Resident Culture) was crafted for those who love the taste of beer but prefer no alcohol. A specially developed yeast is utilized to attain an ABV below 0.5% (the threshold to be considered a non-alcohol beer). The IPA provides a hop profile of deep flavors of pine forest with a citrusy grapefruit and orange pop on the back end for a crisp, dry finish.

Armored Cow Brewing, located in the University area, won a silver medal out of 83 entries in the Herb and Spice Beer category with its Hellfire Club, a 4.8% ABV peach maple cobbler waffle sour ale. Brewers at 4001 Yancey won bronze out of 55 entries with CLT Mimic Weisse, a 4% ABV German hefeweizen.

A list of all North Carolina medal winners is below. 

Gold Medal

Pilot Brewing: Pub Ale (Extra Special Bitter)
Resident Culture: NARC IPA (Pale Non-Alcohol Beer)
Appalachian Mountain Brewery: Down South (American-Style Lager)
Sierra Nevada Brewing: Weizenbock (German Wheat Ale)

Silver Medal

Armored Cow Brewing: HellFire Club (Herb and Spice Beer)

Bronze Medal

Brewers at 4001 Yancey: CLT Mimic Weisse (German Wheat Ale)
Goose and the Monkey Brewhouse: Elevated Summer Ale (English Ale)
Wicked Weed Brewing Pub: Lupulin Lab (Juicy or Hazy Strong Pale Ale)