GABF & Japan International Beer Cup Recap: Brewing Excellence, Winning Medals!
What an incredible few weeks it’s been for River North Brewery! Fresh off the excitement of winning FIVE medals at the Japan International Beer Cup, we’re catching our breath and looking back at everything that’s happened, including our big wins at the Great American Beer Festival. Keep reading to find out more about our recent successes and what's coming next!
We kicked off an exciting week at Bierstadt Lagerhaus for the Rare Beer Tasting, where we poured our beers alongside legendary names like Firestone Walker and Twin Elephant in celebration of Pints for Prostates' 15th anniversary. The fun didn’t stop there—we charged into the Great American Beer Festival next! Our double booth in the FRIGHT section was a showstopper, featuring an incredible lineup of ultra-rare Vicennial Series beers that had never before left the taproom. Attendees relished this rare chance to experience these elusive creations, each one a bold testament to our passion for crafting exceptional barrel-aged beers.
The following day, our team visited our friends from Two Six Distro at Improper City for their portfolio showcase. They poured our Nightmare Fuel and Hello Darkness, alongside some impressive breweries like Westbound & Down (congrats on the GABF medals!), Station 26, and Call to Arms. Meanwhile, most of the River North crew made their way back to the GABF for another day of craft beer goodness.
Then came Saturday, the final day of GABF—the moment we’d all been eagerly anticipating: the award ceremony! We kicked off the day right, with beers and burritos fueling our excitement at 9:30 AM because, really, what’s a beer competition without beer? With excitement bubbling in our glasses, we’re thrilled to announce that we brought home TWO prestigious medals!
🥇 GOLD - Squirrels Just Want to Have Fun (Coffee Brown Ale)
🥈 SILVER - Pumpkin Spice J. Marie (Pumpkin Spice Imperial Saison)
A HUGE shoutout to our talented brewers, Head Brewer Matt Malloy and Brewer Heath McNeil! Their dedication and skill in crafting the award-winning beers you love are what make River North so special. Also a massive thank you to our staff for rocking GABF week at the taprooms and we can't forget thank all of our supporters and beer lovers. Eeeek, we love you all!
We also want to congratulate all the amazing Colorado breweries that participated—together, we brought home 38 medals! WOW! It’s inspiring to see the talent and creativity in our local craft beer scene.
Just as we were settling back into normal life, we received even more exciting news—we took home FIVE medals at the Japan International Beer Cup! As Japan’s largest and most prestigious beer competition, the 2023 event drew 1,215 entries from breweries across 17 countries, with American craft brewers claiming 36 medals. We're proud to be among them! Oh yeah, we weren’t lying when we said we are lucky to have international award-winning brewers. Here’s a breakdown of our latest international victories:
GOLD - Espresso Hello Darkness
GOLD - River North White
GOLD - Bucket of Bolts
SILVER - West End Squirrels
BRONZE - Fooses Creek
Stay Tuned!
We have some exciting announcements coming your way, including a revamp of our Norther Society Membership and details about our Norther Christmas Party. Get ready for some fun holiday events, including our Ugly Sweater Party, Fall and Winter Markets, Festive Beer Releases and more!
Upcoming Events
10/25: Halloween Drag Bingo featuring Talia Tucker - Blake Street
10/26: Beer Release: Caminata de la Muerta - Both Taprooms
10/26: Rescue Puppy Yoga - Blake Street
10/27: 5-Course Beer Pairing Dinner with Thistle & Mint - Blake Street
11/1: Rotating Tap FREE Monthly Comedy Show - Blake Street
11/2: Vicennial Series Part 2 of 3: Father Time & Death of Time - Both Taprooms
11/2: Rescue Puppy Yoga - Washington Street
11/16: Vicennial Series Part 3 of 3: Shadowman & Dark Sorceress - Both Taprooms
Thank you for being a part of our River North family! Cheers to more big wins and incredible beer! 🍻
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