Which ABQ breweries won medals at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival?

Three Albuquerque breweries beat out some tough competition in two categories at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival in Denver.

Quarter Celtic Brewpub and Meadery won a gold medal for its Vienna Festbier, in the Vienna Style Lager category, which had 123 entries. This is the fourth GABF medal for Quarter Celtic. It won two silvers in 2020 and a bronze in 2022 at GABF.

“We are super excited to get a gold medal at the Great American Beer Fest, in the Vienna Festbier style!” said Ror McKeown, Quarter Celtic co-owner, via text. “There is one keg left that we are holding for a previous employee for their wedding.”

McKeown added his brother and head brewer Brady McKeown along with assistant brewer and Ror’s son, Keegan McKeown, will brew another Vienna.

“So everyone can taste the best Vienna lager in America once again,” Ror McKeown said via text.

Another gold winner at this year’s GABF was Tractor Brewing Company. It took the top medal for its Mustachio Milk Stout in the Sweet Stout or Cream Stout category. Boxing Bear Brewing Co.-Firestone took silver in the same category with its Chocolate Milk Stout. The category had 37 entries.

“I couldn’t be more proud or excited for this brewing team,” said TJ Frederich, head brewer of Tractor Brewing Company, in a statement. “We have worked so hard over the last 3–4 years to reach this milestone. It’s not the end of the story, but just the beginning in my opinion. I am extremely excited for the next chapter of this journey.”

It is Tractor’s first GABF medal for its brewing team of Damian Perez, Dominic Gantar, César Adrián Quezada-Hernández and Friedrich. The Mustachio Milk Stout is available at all Tractor locations as well as various retailers throughout the state.

“Watching the hard work, dedication, and love for the game pay-off has been a true joy,” Friedrich added. “I’m beyond grateful for the unwavering support from everyone along the way, and I look forward to all the amazing things ahead.”

Boxing Bear Brewing Co. has medaled in the past at GABF with its Chocolate Milk Stout. The stout won gold in 2016 and silver in 2015 at the competition. It is available on tap at both Boxing Bear locations.

“We are incredibly proud of our dedicated employees whose hard work and passion earned us this award,” said Justin Hamilton, Boxing Bear co-owner and director of operations. “It is an honor to represent New Mexico at a national competition.”

The Brewers Association, in partnership with the American Cider Association, awarded 326 medals to 273 breweries and cideries during an awards ceremony held on Saturday at GABF, according to a GABF news release. The festival is the nation’s largest professional beer competition.

This year, the GABF judge panel evaluated noteworthy brews and ciders in 102 beer categories, including 170 subcategories, as well as five new cider categories and the Pro-Am and Collaboration competitions. The Pro-Am is an opportunity for commercial breweries to team up with homebrewers to vie for top honors.

There was a multi-step judging process done by 285 beer experts who evaluated 8,836 commercial beer entries, 233 commercial cider entries, 95 collaboration entries and 52 Pro-Am entries, according to the news release. Judging took place in three phases over seven days and included brewery entries from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.