Six Michigan Breweries Win Medals at National Festival
Michigan brewers secured three gold and three silver medals at the 2026 Great American Beer Festival in Denver.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Beer
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Six Michigan-based breweries earned top honors at the Great American Beer Festival, bringing home a total of three gold and three silver medals. The state's success highlights the high quality of regional brewing among a competitive field of thousands of entries.
Why it matters
Winning at the Great American Beer Festival recognizes excellence in craft brewing on a national stage. These awards signal industry-leading quality for Michigan breweries in a highly competitive market.
Michigan breweries collected three gold and three silver medals during the event, which featured 7,267 entries evaluated by 225 judges. Participating beers represented 49 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
The players
Mothfire Brewing Company
An Ann Arbor-based brewery that earned a gold medal for its Panda Double Hazy IPA.
Founders Brewing Company
A Grand Rapids-based brewery that secured a gold medal for its Hoppy Mood entry.
Bearded Lamb Brewing Company
A Plymouth-based establishment recognized with a gold medal for its Chugga Chocolate Milk Stout.
Urbanrest Brewing Company
A Ferndale-based brewery that was awarded a silver medal for its Perpetual Fog ale.
Short's Brewing Company
A Bellaire-based brewery that received a silver medal for its Summer Heat entry.
The details
Gold medalists included Mothfire Brewing Company for its Panda Double Hazy IPA, Founders Brewing Company for Hoppy Mood, and Bearded Lamb Brewing Company for Chugga Chocolate Milk Stout. Silver medals were awarded to Urbanrest Brewing Company for Perpetual Fog, Redwood Brewery for Stable Genius, and Short's Brewing Company for Summer Heat.
Timeline
The Great American Beer Festival occurred in October 2026.
Mothfire Brewing Company plans to host a Panda Party in November 2026.
Culture Shift
The success of these breweries follows the competitive standards set by the Great American Beer Festival. These wins underscore the growing influence of regional craft scenes within the broader American brewing culture.
Beer enthusiasts across Michigan can now identify and seek out these award-winning products at local taprooms and retail locations. These accolades provide a practical guide for consumers looking to support the state's most highly rated breweries.
The takeaway
These national awards highlight the depth of brewing talent present in Michigan across several distinct beer categories. Consumers can use these results to discover new local favorites that have been independently validated by industry experts.
What happens next
Mothfire Brewing Company is scheduled to host its celebratory Panda Party in November 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about local craft brewing trends on our Michigan Beer page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 94.7 WCSX.
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