New Mexico breweries were not able to recapture the medal haul of the past two years at the Great American Beer Festival on Saturday, but there were still a few impressive medals earned. This year saw four breweries bring home four medals. New Mexico breweries had earned eight medals apiece in 2013 and 2014.

Bosque Brewing brought home gold in the Fresh or Wet Hop Ale category with Acequia IPA. The beer won a bronze last year in that category. It is currently on tap and available for sale in bombers at all three Bosque locations. This is the second overall medal for Bosque at GABF.

Nexus Brewery brought home their first medal, in the Honey Beer category, earning silver for Honey Chamomile Wheat. The seasonal has always been a favorite since it debuted last summer.

Also earning their first medal, after just one year-plus of existence, was Boxing Bear. Their Chocolate Milk Stout claimed silver in the Sweet Stout or Cream Stout category.

Marble’s Imperial Red Ale earned a medal for the second straight year, picking up a bronze in the Imperial Red Ale category (natch). That annual favorite won gold last year.

Obey the Darkside, the foreign-style export stout we helped make at Chama River, was shut out in the Export Stout category. Bummer. It was still a great beer and we will always be proud of how it turned out.

The American-Style India Pale Ale category had a ridiculous 336 entries, almost 5 percent of all the beers entered and the biggest entry list of all time at GABF. Sadly, no New Mexico brewery managed to fight through that massive field to claim a medal.

We will have some follow-up stories on GABF when the brewers return to town. Until then, to everyone out there, go enjoy some award-winning beers around ABQ, and for those in Denver, have fun and stay safe!

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister