Colorado breweries that won medals

The Great American Beer Festival Celebrates Colorado Breweries

Colorado residents were treated to a spectacular showcase of craft beer and cider at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver over the weekend. The festival’s prestigious awards, announced on Saturday, highlighted the exceptional talent of Colorado breweries and cideries, who collectively took home 40 medals, including 19 gold.

Three Colorado producers were honored as “brewery of the year” in their respective size categories, out of over 1,500 breweries and cidermakers participating in the competition. This recognition underscores the state’s reputation for brewing some of the best beers in the country.

Westbound & Down Brewing Co. emerged as a standout, earning the brewery-of-the-year title in the 5,001- to 15,000-barrel category. The company secured six medals for its IPAs and lagers, including three gold medals. Notably, their How the West Was Won IPA claimed the top spot in the highly competitive West Coast IPA category.

Additionally, River North Brewery and Cannonball Creek Brewing Co. were named brewery of the year in their respective size categories, further solidifying Colorado’s craft beer dominance.

Other notable winners included Denver Beer Co., Our Mutual Friend Brewing Co., and Fritz Family Brewers, each receiving recognition for their outstanding brews.

Local cideries Haykin Family Cider and Snow Capped Cider also shone, collectively earning seven medals in various categories.

The festival also introduced awards for the best beer packaging and branding, showcasing the creativity and innovation within the industry. While Colorado breweries did not officially win in this category, River North’s Squirrels Just Want to Have Fun stood out for its unique branding.

For a full list of award-winning local beers, visit greatamericanbeerfestival.com.

Highlights

• Gold: Westbound & Down Brewing Co.’s Parallel Pale, River North Brewery’s River North White, Aspen Brewing Co.’s Casa Bonita, and more.
• Silver: Our Mutual Friend Brewing Co.’s Time’s Arrow, Cerebral Brewing Co.’s Neon Lite, Cannonball Creek Brewing Co.’s Mindbender, and more.
• Bronze: Ratio Beerworks’ Dear You, Joyride Brewing Co.’s Black Razz Blonde, Westbound & Down Brewing Co.’s Westbound IPA, and more.

Colorado’s thriving craft beer scene continues to impress at the Great American Beer Festival, showcasing the state’s rich brewing heritage and innovative spirit.

Subscribe to our new food newsletter, Stuffed, to receive Denver food and drink news directly to your inbox.

Original Publication Date: October 11, 2025 at 1:20 PM MDT