The 29th Great American Beer Festival 2010 wrapped up in Denver, Colorado on September 18th, slightly more than a week ago. As I was paging through my little black journal, I came across a list of impressions I had noted at some point during that week - probably on the day I judged 55 beers. These were little awards I would theoretically give to various brewing companies or people … awards not actually given, but still worthy of notice to anyone who loves good craft beer. This list is, by no means, complete, but in the spirit of sharing, I present to you my most private journal:

1. Luckiest Pants: Jeff Bagby, Pizza Port Brewing Company, Carlsbad, California

2. Brewery That Should Command Attention Nation-wide: Ska Brewing Company, Durango, Colorado

3. Best Gluten Free Beer Brewing Company: The Alchemist, Waterbury, Vermont

4. Finest Example of Terroir in Beer: Alaskan Brewing Company, Juneau, Alaska

5. Best Gateway Beer: Blue Moon, Denver, Colorado

6. Most Notable Sour Beers: Russian River Brewing Company, Santa Rosa, California

7. Finest Example of Gonzo Brewing and Gonzo Labels: Flying Dog Brewery, Frederick, Maryland

8. Most Recognizable IPA: Fat Heads Brewery & Salloon, North Olmstead, Ohio

9. Best Brewer with a Chef’s Palate: Jared Rouben, Goose Island Beer Company, Chicago, Illinois

10. Small Town Brewery I want in my neighborhood: Haverhill Brewery, Haverhill, Massachusetts

11. Best Barrel Aged Beer, Small Scale: Jolly Pumpkin Brewing Company, Dexter, Michigan

12. Best Barrel Aged Beer, Large Scale: New Belgium Brewing Company, Fort Collins, Colorado

13. Best Use of Nuts in Beer: Lazy Magnolia Brewing Company, Kiln, Mississippi

14. Most Non-Traditional Palate Pleasing: The Lost Abbey, San Marcos, California

15. Up-and-Coming Brewpub to Watch: Mad Fox Brewing Company, Falls Church, Virginia

16. Kick Butte Brewing Company: Deschutes Brewery, Bend, Oregon

17. Best Woman-Influenced Brewery: Bend Brewing, Bend, Oregon

18. Women to Watch Brewery: Six Rivers Brewery, McKinleyville, California

19. Most Beautiful White Beer: Allagash Brewing, Portland, Maine

20. Best Brewery with an Ethnic Twist of Humor: Schmaltz Brewing Company, San Francisco, California

21. Most Authentic German Style Beer: Left Hand Brewing Company, Longmont, Colorado

22. Best of the Beach: Maui Brewing Company, Maui, Hawaii

23. Great Pacific View Brewery: Pelican Pub & Brewery, Pacific City, Oregon

24. Most Sought After Little Tart: New Glarus Brewing, New Glarus, Wisconsin

25. Most Extreme Non-Traditional Taste-Bud Teaser: Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, Delaware

26. New Surprises: Weasel Boy Brewing Company, Zanesville, Ohio

27. Best Big Beer Brewers: Troegs Brewery, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

28. Most Noteworthy Brewpub Group: TAPS Fish House & Brewery, Brea, California

29. Under the Magnifying Glass New Brewer: Thirsty Planet Brewing Company

30. Best Executive Beer Chef: Sean Paxton, Napa Valley, California

31. Best Anniversary Lager: Seventeen, Avery Brewing Company, Boulder, Colorado

32. Brewery I Most Want to Session With: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Chico, California

33. Capturing the True Essence of Craft Brewing: Stone Brewing Company, Escondido, California

34. The “I thought you were an Import” Beer: Stillwater Artisanal Ales, Baltimore, Maryland

35. Chicks Rule Beer: Snake River Brewing Company & Brewpub, Jackson, Wyoming

Cheers!

Photos are (from top): Ska Brewing Company, onstage with Charlie Papazian; Tonya Cornett of Bend Brewing and Teri Fahrendorf of the Pink Boots Society; Executive Chef Sean Paxton directs a team of chefs at the Great American Beer Festival 2010