The Great American Beer Festival was this past weekend, and as usual several of our local breweries brought home medals: no mean feat when the competition consists of over 3500 beers all vying for a win.

This year’s Bend winners are as follows:

• Deschutes Brewery:
  • Category 14: Gluten Free Beer: Silver for Gluten Free
  • Category 43: Classic English-Style Pale Ale: Gold for Mirror Pond Pale Ale
  • Category 53: Extra Special Bitter or Strong Bitter: Bronze for Bachelor ESB
  • Category 62: German-Style Wheat Ale: Silver for Wowzenbock
• Bend Brewing Company:
  • Category 21: Aged Beer: Silver for Cherry Baltic Porter
  • Category 78: Old Ale or Strong Ale: Bronze for Outback X
• Silver Moon Brewing:
  • Category 26: Bohemian-Style Pilsener: Bronze for Bridge Creek Pilsner

Deschutes and BBC are old hands at this by now, but this is Silver Moon’s first GABF medal, I believe. Congratulations to all three.

And of course, the best way to help them celebrate is to head down to the pubs and drink some of their beer.