Maryland Breweries Win Medals at 2026 GABF
Silver Branch, BabyCat and Eden Town each took home medals in the Brewers Association's 2026 Great American Beer Festival competition.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Food and Drink
Silver Branch Brewing Co., BabyCat Brewery, and Eden Town Brewing Co. all won medals at the 2026 Great American Beer Festival, announced by the Brewers Association in October 2026. The competition awarded 336 medals to 243 breweries and cideries.
Why it matters
The Great American Beer Festival competition is one of the largest beer judging events in the country, and the Maryland winners reflect the state's presence among the 1,300 participating breweries and cideries. The results offer recognition to local producers in a crowded national field.
The 2026 competition received 7,267 beer and cider entries from 1,300 breweries and cideries, with 336 medals going to 243 producers. Silver Branch's Rice Lager drew 110 entries, BabyCat's Herb and Spice category 67, and Eden Town's Gose category 36.
The players
Brewers Association
The Brewers Association is a trade group representing small and independent American craft brewers, and it organizes the Great American Beer Festival competition.
Silver Branch Brewing Co.
Silver Branch Brewing Co. is a brewery based in the Rockville and Silver Spring area of Maryland.
BabyCat Brewery
BabyCat Brewery is a brewery based in the Bethesda and Kensington area of Maryland.
Eden Town Brewing Co.
Eden Town Brewing Co. is a brewery based in Denton on Maryland's Eastern Shore.
The details
Silver Branch Brewing Co. earned a silver medal for Mundo Especial in the Rice Lager category, while BabyCat Brewery took bronze for Spruce Goose in Herb and Spice Beer. Eden Town Brewing Co. won silver for Tiki Pontoon in the Gose category, with 225 expert judges evaluating submissions over three days.
Timeline
October 2026: Brewers Association announces the 2026 Great American Beer Festival winners.
2026: The Great American Beer Festival competition is held.
Roadmap
The Great American Beer Festival, administered by the Brewers Association, has long served as a national benchmark for American craft beer quality. The 2026 results extend that tradition by recognizing producers across dozens of style categories.
Beer lovers in Maryland can seek out the medal-winning beers from Silver Branch, BabyCat, and Eden Town at local taprooms and retailers. Checking each brewery's distribution or taproom schedule will show where the award-winning releases are currently available.
The takeaway
Medals at a national competition can help local breweries stand out to drinkers searching for quality craft beer. Visiting a brewery's taproom or checking its website is the most direct way to try the award-winning beers.
Further reading
Explore more Food and Drink coverage to see how Maryland's craft brewers fit into the wider beverage scene.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The MoCo Show.
