A Fennville brewery is the winner of a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival. Waypost Brewery Company says it was was recognized in the Classic Saison beer-style category for its Saison, a farmhouse ale brewed with Michigan grains. Waypost Brewery has released the following:
Farmhouse brewery Waypost Brewing Co. was awarded a gold medal at the 2021 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) competition, presented by the Brewers Association®. The best beers in 97 beer categories covering 175 different beer styles (including all subcategories) were awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals at a ceremony at the Bellco Theatre in Denver on Friday evening during the Craft Brewers Conference® and livestreamed on The Brewing Network.
Waypost was recognized in the Classic Saison beer-style category for its Saison, a farmhouse ale brewed with Michigan grains. Waypost Saison is lively, effervescent, with subtle notes of ripe pear and white pepper, finishing dry with a soft wheat character. Waypost Saison is a nod to the roots of farm brewing. The style is traditionally a provisional ale brewed for farmhands at the end of a day’s work. Waypost is a farm brewery situated along Lake Michigan Shore, in Fennville, Michigan. The brewery is known for focused beers that rethink and rework traditional styles.
“Saison has always been at the very heart of our small farm brewery. We resonate with the style and it encapsulates what we’re about it so many ways,” said Hannah Lee, brewer and co-owner at Waypost Brewing Co.
Judging took place in 34 sessions over 17 days with strict health and safety measures in place. 170 judges evaluated 9,680 entries from 2,192 breweries from all 50 states plus Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.
“Despite being forced to cancel the festival portion of GABF, our brewing community rallied together to make this year’s GABF competition one for the books — our largest competition judged to date,” said Chris Swersey, competition director, Great American Beer Festival. “Judges continue to be impressed with the quality and innovation of all entries they evaluated. The Brewers Association is proud to honor this year’s deserving winners.”
For more information on the GABF competition, including a complete 2021 winners list and photos, visit GreatAmericanBeerFestival.com.
