Northern Colorado Breweries Won Beer Festival Awards
Five local breweries earned top honors at the 2026 Great American Beer Festival in Denver.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Beer
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Five breweries from Northern Colorado secured gold, silver, and bronze medals at the 2026 Great American Beer Festival. The event featured 7,200 entries evaluated by 225 judges at the Levitt Pavilion.
Why it matters
These awards recognize the craftsmanship and regional influence of Northern Colorado brewers on the national stage. The festival serves as a primary indicator of quality and innovation within the craft beer industry.
Liquid Mechanics Brewing Co. has earned 90 awards since 2014, while this year's festival saw total attendance exceed 7,500 people. Competition winners included medals for specific labels such as El Pablono Barracho and Coconut GO.
The players
Liquid Mechanics Brewing Co.
This Lafayette-based brewery has accumulated 90 awards since its founding in 2014.
New Belgium Brewing
Based in Fort Collins, this established craft brewery is known for its wide distribution and industry longevity.
The Well in Wellington
This brewery received a gold medal for its Altbier despite having recently paused its operations.
Verboten Brewing & Barrel Project
Located in Loveland, this brewery secured two medals during the 2026 competition.
Sweet Heart Brands
This producer earned a gold medal for its Spiced Apple beverage after expanding its portfolio through a 2025 acquisition.
The details
Award-winning participants include Liquid Mechanics Brewing Co., New Belgium Brewing, Sweet Heart Brands, Verboten Brewing & Barrel Project, and The Well in Wellington. Despite its gold medal for Altbier, The Well has paused its current operations.
Timeline
The first Great American Beer Festival was held in Boulder in 1982.
New Belgium Trippel previously won an award in 2021.
Sweet Heart Winery acquired Climb Hard Cidery in late 2025.
The 2026 festival took place at the Levitt Pavilion in Denver.
Culture Shift
The transition from the modest 1982 inaugural festival to the large-scale 2026 event underscores the explosion of craft beer as a dominant American cultural phenomenon. This growth reflects a shift toward artisanal, locally-produced beverage choices over legacy mass-market alternatives.
Residents and visitors can now sample the specific award-winning brews at participating Northern Colorado locations. However, fans of The Well in Wellington should note that the brewery is currently closed, preventing access to its award-winning Altbier.
The takeaway
The recent festival results highlight the high concentration of brewing talent currently found within Northern Colorado. Beer enthusiasts should monitor local brewery social media pages for announcements regarding taproom availability and potential re-openings.
Further reading
For more on the regional craft industry, explore the Beer section.
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