Coors and Green Flash Win Gold at the 2015 Great American Beer Festival

Oct. 6, 2015

The 2015 Great American Beer Festival was held in Denver, Colorado last weekend, and by the close of the event, Wirtz Beverage Minnesota's beer portfolio had garnered two gold medals. The first of those came to Coors Brewing Co., which won the gold in the American-Style Lager or Light Lager category for the brewery's Coors Banquet. This is the third time Coors Banquet has won the gold medal in that category, ensuring its place in the beer world as the benchmark example of the style.

Green Flash's gold medal came in the American-Belgo-Style Ale category for Le Freak. The 9.2% ABV Belgian Imperial IPA is a blend of multiple brewing styles and traditions, but it is also inventive, bold and delicious, which is exactly what the Great American Beer Festival is all about.

See below for a complete list of our winners, and contact your Sales Consultant to bring them into your establishment today . 

Coors Brewing Co. — Coors Banquet
Gold Medal — American-Style Lager or Light Lager

Coors Banquet has medaled at GABF a total of 10 times. Prior to nationwide distribution in, Coors built a following with presidents, movie stars and others making special trips out west to buy it. Coors is brewed in the Rockies for a uniquely crisp, clean and drinkable taste.

Green Flash Brewing Co. — Le Freak
Gold Medal — American-Belgo-Style Ale

Le Freak is the first-ever hybrid ale of its kind: the convergence of a Belgian-Style Trippel with an American Imperial IPA. This zesty Amarillo dry-hopped, bottle-conditioned marvel entices with fruity Belgian yeast aromatics and a firm, dry finish. Aromas of orange and passion fruit with sweet bready malts, and flavors of orange marmalade and citrus fruit pith.