From left, Ryan Bauer, Jeff Young, Jessica Young and Robert Fink. Eric Coffman was not able to attend to the awards ceremony, STBC excepted on his behalf.
Eric Coffman along with Shoe Tree Brewing Co., won a bronze medal at the 2022 Great American Beer Festival competition.
Presented by the Brewers Association, GABF is the nation’s largest commercial beer competition and recognizes the most outstanding beers produced in the United States.
Coffman and Shoe Tree Brewing were recognized in the ProAm category where winners of Beer Judge Certification Program home brew competitions can qualify to brew their beer with a professional brewery to enter in the GABF.
Coffman, a Carson City resident, won best in show at Just Brew Its “Thirsty Boy” annual home brew competition for his Rheinland-Altbier, a rare German beer style that is an Ale opposed to a Lager.
Shoe Tree Brewing is a 7-barrel brewpub located in Carson City and Minden that brews a wide array of beer styles.
“Our journey of making beer started with home brewing so it is our honor to showcase what Northern Nevada home brewers are capable of. It was great to make this beer alongside Eric, and winning a medal at the G.A.B.F was just the icing on the cake,” said Jeff Young, owner/brewmaster at Shoe Tree Brewing.
“Carson City home brewers are very fortunate to have a brewery so supportive of the hobby. This experience has been a dream come true. I can’t thank Paul, Jeff and the Shoe Tree crew enough for brewing up my recipe and letting me play in the back of a professional brewery,” said Coffman.
The top three winners in the competition’s 98 beer categories covering 177 different beer styles were announced Oct. 8 at the Great American Beer Festival awards ceremony held at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.
The 2022 GABF competition winners were selected by an international panel of 235 expert judges from 9,904 entries, plus 94 Collaboration and 35 Pro-Am entries, received from 2,154 U.S. breweries.
“Each year the Great American Beer Festival showcases the best that American brewers have to offer,” said Chris Williams, competition director, Great American Beer Festival. “With more than 9,900 entries, this year’s competition was the most competitive to date. Congratulations to all the winners who truly demonstrated why the U.S. is the best brewing nation in the world.”
For GABF competition information, including the 2022 winners list and photos, visit GreatAmericanBeerFestival.com.
