Since it seems like every other beer blog on the Internet has been talking about the recently held Great American Beer Festival (GABF), I guess I better get into the swing of things here. There is NO way I’m missing this show next year, I can guarantee you that.

I’d like to discuss a portion of the festival that was right up my alley, the awards for best aged beer. There were a total of thirty entries in this category this year. If the winners are any indication of the full lineup, there was certainly a wide range of beer styles represented. Needless to say, I would have loved to be a judge.

And speaking of judging, I’m wondering how anyone could possibly judge this category objectively. I mean what exactly are you comparing when you’re deciding between an aged barleywine and an aged porter?  I would love to see the judging guidelines for this aged beer category. I just don’t see how deciding winners in such an open-ended category could ultimately come down to anything other then individual preference.

I guess it’s really not that big of a deal, I mean I can see that it’s a good thing that there’s even an aged beer category to be talking about at all. If beer cellaring starts to take off (excuse me, I mean when it starts to take off) maybe we’ll start to see individual styles of beer getting their own aging awards.

Anyway, without further comments, here are the 2007 aged beer award winners:

GOLD Medal- Broad Street Barleywine, Rock Bottom Brewery

From the brewery website: Congratulations to Senior Brewer – BrianMcConnell for winning a Gold Medal for our Broad Street Barleywine at the 2007 Great American Beer Festival. Broad Street Barley Wine won a Gold medal in the Aged Beer Category.

You can read the Winning Press Release for Rock Bottom brewery in King of Prussia, PA here.

SILVER Medal - 2003 Pilgrim’s Dole, New Holland Brewing Company

From the brewery’s website: Pilgrim’s Dole is a barleywine-style ale made with fifty percent wheat malt, or what we at New Holland call a wheatwine. Pilgrim’s Dole blends warming and slightly sweet flavors with a unique caramelized character. It would be an excellent accent to nutty dishes, fruit crisps or creme brulee.

BRONZE Medal - Alaskan Smoked Porter 2004, Alaskan Brewing Company

Finally a beer I’ve heard of! This brew has been on my wish list for awhile now. The brewery Press Release can be read here.

Congradulations to all of the winners! Does anybody know how I can get my hands on the full list of beers that were entered in this category? I’d love to start to review a few of them myself.

Jason

jason@brewbasement.com