In 1987, the Great American Beer Festival judged beers for the first time. Only 12 different styles and 99 beers were judged by 7 judges in 1987. These styles ranged from American Light Lagers to Stouts. IPAs were not judged until 1989 and the three medal winners for the “Ales” style included a barley wine, a brown ale and a pale ale. Here are some of the craft breweries that participated and are still around today: Samuel Adams, Alaskan Brewing, Widmer Brothers Brewing, Capital Brewery, August Schell Brewing, Yuengling and Sierra Nevada. Below are the 1987 Great American Beer Festival medal winners:
Ales
Gold – Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barley Wine Style Ale Sierra Nevada Brewing
Silver – Pete’s Wicked Ale – Pete’s Brewing Co
Bronze – Sierra Nevada Pale Ale – Sierra Nevada Brewing
Alts
Gold – Chinook Alaskan Amber – Alaskan Brewing
Silver – Widmer Alt – Widmer Brothers Brewing
Bronze – St. Stan’s Dark Alt Stanislaus Area Association
Cream Ales
Gold – Little Kings Cream Ale Hudepohl-Schoenling
Silver – Genesee Cream Ale Genesee/High Falls Brewing
Bronze – Portland Ale Portland Brewing
American Lagers
Gold – Koch’s Golden Anniversary Beer – Genesee/High Falls Brewing
Silver – Kulmbacher – Val Blatz Brewery
Bronze – Augsburger Dark – Joseph Huber Brewing Co
American Light Lagers
Gold – Leinenkugel – Jacob Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing
Silver – Rainier Beer – G. Heileman Brewing Co
Bronze – Lone Star Beer – G. Heileman Brewing Co
Bocks/Dopplebocks
Gold – Chesbay Double Bock – Chesapeake Bay Brewing
Silver – Kessler Bock – Kessler Brewing Co
Bronze – Augsberger Bock – Joseph Huber Brewing Co
Continental Amber Lagers
Gold – Golden Bear Dark Malt – Thousand Oaks Brewing Co
Silver – Anchor Steam Beer – Anchor Brewing Co
Bronze – Gartenbrau Dark – Capital Brewing Co
Continental Pilsners
Gold – Samuel Adams Boston Lager – Boston Beer Co
Silver – Saranac 1888 All-malt Lager – F. X. Matt Brewing
Bronze – August Schell Pilsner – August Schell Brewing Co
Porters
Gold – Great Northern Porter – Summit Brewing Co
Silver – Boulder Porter – Rockies Brewing Co
Bronze – Yuengling Porter – D. G. Yuengling & Son Inc
Stouts
Gold – Boulder Stout – Rockies Brewing Co
Silver – Grant’s Imperial Stout – Yakima Brewing And Malting Co
Bronze – Sierra Nevada Stout – Sierra Nevada Brewing Co
Vienna Style Lagers
Gold – Vienna Style Lager – Vienna Brewing Company
Silver – Schild Brau – Millstream Brewing Co
Bronze – Rhomberg All-malt – Rhomberg Brewing
Wheat Beers
Gold – Edelweiss – Val Blatz Brewery
Silver – Hibernia Dunkel Weizen Beer – Hibernia Brewing
Bronze – Du Bru Ale – Saxton Brewery
First Place Consumer Preference Poll
Samuel Adams Festival Lager – Boston Beer Co