Texas represents at GABF 2022

Texas breweries showed out at this year’s Great American Beer Festival. Brewers in Texas are producing some of the best beer and representing the state by bringing home some hardware at GABF 2022. Some of these breweries I have already pulled up a bar stool at. More still are on my map, for a future visit, as I complete my Texas Beer Run. I hope many of you can join me in my travels as we support a great organization, CraftPAC.org. This is a political action committee that supports Texas Independent Brewers. Why? Because Texas has some of the most arcane and onerous beer laws in the county. These laws put small independent businesses at an enormous competitive disadvantage against the likes of the evil empire AB/InBev. I am proud to see how Texas represents at GABF 2022.

The Evil Empire

Small independent brewers need the help of legislators and lobbyists to compete with A-B/Inbev’s war chest. As the evil empire outspends independent beer, in special interest groups, by millions. That is why it is critical that you make a small donation at www.craftpac.org/bestbeernearme. Each dollar goes towards supporting state legislators who champion laws that profit small independent breweries.

Buy Local

Buying from a local independent brewery puts money into the pockets of people who live in your community. Big Beer corporations engage in anticompetitive practices against small indie brewers. They buy up the supply chains crucial to brewing, including hop farms and malting facilities. A-B/Inbev have restricted the sale of hops crops. They have enormous sway over the distribution tier of the 3 tier system. The Big Beer death star buys out small indie breweries to devalue the overall craft product. If you value free market economics, these practices seem to extend a giant middle finger to that ethos.

The Taste of Victory

The beers that these small breweries produce are labors of love that you can taste with every sip. Big beer simply doesn’t provide the same experience. The benefit of independent beer is that it’s unassailable. Below is a list of the medal winning beers, from Texas, that deserve your attention. The people making them have put their souls into each pint and have represented Texas admirably at this years GABF.

Gold Medal Winners

• Industry from The Austin Beer Garden Brewing – German Style Pilsener
• Altstadt Lager from Altstadt Brewery – Munich Style Helles
• Fireman #4 from Real Ale Brewing – Golden Ale
• Pecan Street Rye Lager from Pecan Street Brewing – Rye Beers
• Black Pearl from Lazarus Brewing – Herb/Spice Beer
• Sonidero from Windmills Brewery – Amber Lager category
• Alright. Alright. Alright. From Roadmap Brewing – International Style Pilsener

Silver Medal Winners

• The Beeginning from The Austin Beer Garden Brewing – Honey Beer
• Secret Beach from Meanwhile Brewing – American Style Strong Pale Ale
• IPO IPA from White Rock Alehouse – Hazy IPA
• Heights Light Lager from New Magnolia Brewing – Light Lager
• Devour Imperial Milk Stout Mexican Chocolate from 3 Nations Brewing – Chocolate Beer
• Bitter Soul from Mad Pecker Brewing – Extra Special Bitter

Bronze Medal Winners

• Raspberry Fields from Maple Branch Craft Brewery – American Fruit Beer
• Hell Raiser Bourbon Barrel Brown from Old 290 Brewery – Wood/Barrel Aged Beer
• Atrial Rubicite from Jester King Brewery – Belgian Fruit Beer
• Nada IPA from Community Beer Co. – Non-Alcoholic Beer
• First of His Name from Edgewise Eight Brewing – Robust Porter
• Fresh Hop Training Bines from Pinthouse Pizza North – Fresh Hop Beer
• Road Devil Amber from Pecan Street Brewing – German Style Altbier
• Bowie Bock from Freetail Brewing – International Dark Lager