The Great Northern Brewing Company in Whitefish did more than hold its own at the nation’s largest beer festival; it brought home a silver medal.
One of the local brewery’s flagship beers – Wheatfish Wheat Lager — placed runner-up in the American-Style Wheat Beer with Yeast category.
Over 30 entries from throughout the country competed in the category.
“We know we brew great beer, but having industry professionals recognize us and award us on a national stage is awesome,” said Andy McQuary, assistant brewer at Great Northern.
The 2013 competition featured 201 judges from 11 countries who judged 4,809 different beers across 84 different categories, making the 2013 GABF the most comprehensive competition of both professional and amateur breweries in its history.
The national recognition comes on the heels of Great Northern’s latest distribution expansion into the Billings market, and their announcement of a 50 percent fermentation expansion at their brewery in downtown Whitefish.
The expansion is scheduled for completion in April of 2014.
The Great American Beer festival is the premier beer festival and competition in the U.S. Each year, the GABF represents the largest collection of U.S. beer ever served, in a public tasting event plus a private competition. GABF brings together the brewers and diverse beers that make the U.S. the world’s greatest brewing nation.