inland empire breweries medals at gabf 2021

IE Breweries Medal at GABF

Two of our Inland Empire breweries took medals this year at the Great American Beer Festival. Claremont Craft Ales (Claremont) and Escape Craft Brewery (Redlands) were both awarded Bronze medals.

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Claremont‘s winner was Happy Days, a 9.5% Imperial Red Ale, Their website describes it as “the bossy big brother to our standard red IPA, Station 101. It’s strong and bold, bursting with rich malty notes and deep piney aromas. Perhaps a tad intimidating, but truly satisfying.”

Happy Days has quite a resume having won numerous medals at beer competitions in the past. Most notable it had won Gold medals at GABF in 2018 and 2020.

The Claremont Craft Ales crew taking on the familiar GABF stage

When I asked Claremont owner, Simon Brown about the most recent win, he replied:

“We are truly honored to be recognized again by the judges at the Great American Beer Festival. This win marks our fifth year in a row medaling at GABF. It’s that streak that makes us the most proud.”

Escape Craft Brewery was awarded for Civil Disturbance in the American-Style Strong Pale Ale category. Escape owner, Josh Fisher describes the beer as, “a bright, refreshing west coast IPA with clean citrusy notes from beautiful Citra hops.”

Fisher went on to add:

“Our entire crew from brewers to beertenders to kitchen crew are ecstatic about winning a GABF medal, especially for one of our personal favorites. Civil Disturbance Citra IPA has been a go-to for us since we started brewing it about five years ago. We are so proud to bring home a medal to Redlands.”

This makes for a remarkable past 12 months for Escape. Previously, they’d won a Bronze for Irish Crossfit Irish Red Ale at the California State Fair. They now have a new Redlands brewhouse and have expanded to three locations with their Laguna Niguel taproom.

Congratulations to both Claremont Craft Ales and Escape Craft Brewery for keeping the Inland Empire banner flying on the national stage.

For a full list of GABF 2021 winners, visit: www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com/the-competition/2021-gabf-winners/