Three Minnesota Beers Just Won Big at the Great American Beer Festival

In the nation's largest beer festival, three Minnesota beers were just rated some of the best in the country!

Even though I'm from Wisconsin, the state that's long been proud of its tradition of brewing beer, I've been saying for a while now that some of the best craft beers can be found right here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. And now you don't just have to take my word for it, either.

That's because, at this year's Great American Beer Festival, three beers from right here in the North Star State took home medals-- meaning, yeah, they're some of the best beers you can find anywhere in the good 'ol U. S. of A.

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According to a release from the Brewer's Association for Small and Independent Craft Brewers, this year's Great American Beer Festival took place in Denver, Colorado from October 10th through the 12th.  And it featured a LOT of beer. In fact, the GABF says 285 of its beer experts judged 8,836 commercial beer entries, along with 233 commercial cider entries plus other collaborations and pro-am entries.

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Overall, 326 medals were handed out to 273 breweries and cideries. And the 2024 list of winning brews included beers from two breweries in Minneapolis and one in Duluth, the release noted.

Winning Minnesota beers at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival:

• Northbound Smokehouse and Brewpub of Minneapolis won gold in the German-Style Doppelbock or Eisbock category with their "Eisbock."
• Arbeiter Brewing Company of Minneapolis won gold in the German-style Pilsner category with the "Ha Ha Pils."
• Ursa Minor Brewing of Duluth won bronze in the Irish-tyle Red Ale category with their "Equanimity." 

Congrats to all three winners, who'll likely be celebrating their award-winning brews during Minnesota Beer Day on November 1st, put on by the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild! Keep scrolling to check out some of the highest-rated breweries in Minnesota!

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