image courtesy Brewers Association

GABF snuck up on us this year, with no real festival, but a combo wombo GABF/CBC trade show, except with super metal-GABF medals to sling around your beard so that people will declare you the winner of beers. Here are the Orange County winners for the magical year that is 2021. (9,680 entries, 2,192 breweries, 9 medals)

Brewer of the Year:

Radiant Brewing, 1-250 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year

Gold

• Bearded Tang Brewing Vlad the Barista Coffee Stout (first GABF win)
• The Bruery Mischief (3rd GABF medal for this beer)
• Radiant Brewing Second That Emotion – Hazy Pale Ale (first GABF win)
• Stereo Brewing Robot Imperial Red Ale (second GABF medal for this beer)

Silver

• Unsung Brewing Co. Let it Out NZ IPA
• riip beer co. Black the Ripper (3rd GABF medal for this beer)

Bronze

• Karl Strauss Anaheim Golden Stout (Won as well in 2020)
• SouthNorte Beer Co. Agavamente (first GABF win)
• 1886 Elleigh’s ESB (first brewery GABF medal)