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Minnesota craft breweries shine at prestigious national competition

Bent Paddle's brew tanks
Bent Paddle's brew tanks in Duluth's Lincoln Park neighborhood, as seen on March 27, 2017
Derek Montgomery for MPR News 2017

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Minnesota craft breweries are celebrating a strong showing at a prestigious beer competition this weekend.

The Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild reported that breweries from the state received 12 medals at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver on Saturday. That's Minnesota's best showing at the event, going back nearly two decades.

Four Minnesota breweries earned gold medals:

  1. Bent Paddle Brewing Co., Duluth, "Saison," Classic Saison category

  2. Lakes & Legends Brewing Co., Minneapolis, "Cool for the Summer," Field Beer category

  3. Steel Toe Brewing, St. Louis Park, "Dissent," Export Stout category

  4. Summit Brewing, St. Paul, "Keller Pils," Kellerbier or Zwickelbier category

    "Minnesota craft beer fans know that our breweries are making some of the best beers in the country and we are excited to see that the judges for the prestigious GABF awards agree," Lauren Bennett McGinty, executive director of the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild, said in a news release.

    Derek Brown at Tin Whiskers Brewing
    Derek Brown, head brewer at Tin Whiskers Brewing Company, describes the company's beers to a customer on July 1, 2015.
    Jon Collins | MPR News 2015

    Other medal-winning beers from Minnesota included:

    Silver medals

  5. Eastlake Craft Brewery, Minneapolis, "Kirby Pucker No. 21," Fruited American-Style Sour Ale category

  6. Insight Brewing Co., Minneapolis, "Sunken City," Specialty Saison category

  7. Spilled Grain Brewhouse, Annandale, "False Hope," Other Strong Beer category

  8. Steel Toe Brewing, St. Louis Park, "Provider," English-Style Summer Ale category

    Bronze medals

  9. The Freehouse, Minneapolis, "No. 3 Brown," English-Style Brown Ale category

  10. Modist Brewing Co., Minneapolis, "First Call," Coffee Beer category

  11. Tin Whiskers Brewing Co., St. Paul, "Wheatstone Bridge," Herb and Spice Beer category

  12. Utepils Brewing Co., Minneapolis, "Alt 1848," German-Style Altbier category