Six Ohio Breweries Won Nine GABF Medals

The annual Great American Beer Festival recognized the craftsmanship of brewers from across the Buckeye State.

Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Beer

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Six Ohio breweries earned a total of nine medals at the 2026 Great American Beer Festival in Denver. The competition featured 7,267 entries submitted by 1,300 breweries.

Why it matters

The recognition highlights the state's growing reputation for brewing excellence and consistent quality. These awards validate the specific techniques used to produce award-winning lagers and ales.

Ohio breweries secured nine medals, including multiple golds for Akronym Brewing, Ghost Tree Brewing, and Masthead Brewing Co. This brings the state's historical tally to 239 total medals since the competition's inception.

The players

Akronym Brewing

This brewery is based in Akron and earned a gold medal for their Road Pop beer.

Fat Head's Brewery

Located in Middleburg Heights, this brewery has earned 36 total awards throughout its history at the festival.

Ghost Tree Brewing

Operating out of Amherst, this brewery secured a gold medal for its beer called Féileadh Mòr.

Great Lakes Brewing Co.

Based in Cleveland, this company received a silver medal for its Dort Light lager.

Third Eye Brewing

With locations in Cincinnati and Hamilton, this brewery has secured 12 total medals since 2021.

The details

Akronym Brewing, Fat Head's Brewery, Ghost Tree Brewing, Great Lakes Brewing Co., Masthead Brewing Co., and Third Eye Brewing were among the victors. The judging panel evaluated entries based on strict criteria, with lagers notably requiring longer fermentation periods at cooler temperatures than ales.

1987 was the first year of the Great American Beer Festival competition.
2017 was the year Masthead Brewing Co. opened.
2020 was the year Third Eye Brewing opened.
2021 was when Third Eye Brewing began winning GABF medals.
October 12, 2026 was the date six Ohio breweries won nine medals.

Culture Shift

The consistent medal performance of Ohio breweries at the Great American Beer Festival underscores a broader shift toward regional craft beer dominance in the United States. This trend highlights how local, independent producers have successfully challenged legacy brewing standards over recent decades.

Consumers looking to sample award-winning products can now visit these specific Ohio breweries to find the recognized beers on tap. These accolades may influence local availability and could lead to increased interest and foot traffic at the winning brewery locations.

The takeaway

The success of these six breweries highlights the high quality of regional beer production currently available in Ohio. Residents interested in craft beer can prioritize visiting these award-winning establishments to experience top-tier local brewing standards.