Co-owner and head brewer Ben Gipson and his wife Emily show off Warrior Brewing’s silver medal from the Great American Beer Festival. (Photo via Warrior Brewing Company)

Duluth’s newest brewery is also its newest medal winner. Warrior Brewing Company was awarded the silver medal for its Barbarian Imperial Stout at the Great American Beer Festival. The Lincoln Park neighborhood business released its first batch to liquor stores in June.

It’s the fifth year in a row that a Duluth or Superior brewery has won a medal at the festival.

In total, the Brewers Association awarded 290 medals to 265 breweries across the United States on Sept. 10 during its largest competition to date. The best beers in 97 categories covering 175 different styles were awarded gold, silver and bronze medals.

Judging took place in 34 sessions over 17 days. A total of 170 judges evaluated 9,680 entries from 2,192 breweries. The awards ceremony was held at the Bellco Theatre in Denver during the Craft Brewers Conference.

Below is a full list of Great American Beer Festival winners from the Duluth area over the years.

Gold
2020 | Hoops Brewing | Pineapple Chili | Chili Beer category
2019 | Earth Rider Brewery | Duluth Coffee Pale Ale | Coffee Beer category
2018 | Bent Paddle Brewing | Saison | Classic Saison category
2017 | Bent Paddle Brewing | 14° ESB | Extra Special Bitter category

Silver
2021 | Warrior Brewing | Barbarian | Imperial Stout category
2020 | Earth Rider Brewery | Royal Bohemian Pilsner | Kellerbier or Zwickelbier category
2020 | Earth Rider Brewery | North Tower Stout | Oatmeal Stout category
2015 | Bent Paddle Brewing | 14° ESB | Extra Special Bitter category
2015 | Fitger’s Brewhouse | Procrastination Dopplebock | German-style Dopplebock or Eisbock

Bronze
2019 | Ursa Minor | Thistle Dew | Scottish-Style Ale category
2014 | Bent Paddle Brewing | 14° ESB | Extra Special Bitter category
2012 | Fitger’s Brewhouse | Fitger’s Framboise | American-Style Sour Ale category
2004 | Fitger’s Brewhouse | Farm House Reserve | French- and Belgian-Style Saison category