Appropriately enough, and impressively as well, six different brewers accounted for the Iron Hill medals, under the guidance of director of brewing Mark Edelson: The four Golds: Chris LaPierre, Saison de Hill (West Chester); Bob Barrar, Lambic de Hill (Media); Tim Stumpf, Roggenbier (Phoenixville); Justin Sproul, Vienna Red Lager (Newark); Silver: Larry Horwitz, Cherry Dubbel (North Wales); Bronze: Brian Finn, Cassis de Hill (Wilmington).

Iron Hill's headquarters are located in Newark, Delaware and another Delaware beer producer, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery of Milton, did a complete three-medal run: Gold for Red and White in the Specialty Beer category, Silver for Pangaea in Herb and Spice or Chocolate Beer competition and Bronze for Palo Santo Marron in that same category.

Gold Medals were also won by Brian O'Reilly of Sly Fox Brewing in Royersford for his Rauch Beer in the Smoked-Flavored Beer category and Ric Hoffman of Stewart's Brewing (Bear, Delaware) for Wind Blown Blonde in the German-Style Kölsch category.

Flying Fish Brewing of Cherry Hill, NJ, won its first GABF medal ever with a Silver for Abbey Dubbel in the Belgian-Style Abbey Ale. Casey Hughes Is the brewer. Nodding Head Brewery & Restaurant of Philadelphia and brewer Gordon Grubb took Silver for Saison, finishing second to Iron Hill in the French and Belgian-Style Saison judging.

Troegs Brewing Company of Harrisburg took home two Bronze medals, for Dead Reckoning Porter in the American-Style Stout category and Scratch #4 -The Flying Mouflan in the Barley Wine-Style Ale competition. (For those to whom the first of these medals raises a question, note that stouts and porters have much the same profile in GABF beer categories and brewers may select to enter their beers in any category they choose).

Other regional Bronze medalists were Allentown/Bethlehem Brew Works and brewmaster Beau Baden for Bag Piper’s Scotch Ale (Strong Scotch Ale) and Victory Brewing Company of Downingtown and brewmaster Ron Barchet for Prima Pils (German-Style Pilsener).

Other Pennsylvania breweries winning GABF medals included Bullfrog Brewing of Williamsport(Gold for Beekeeper in Wood and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer), Erie Brewing Company (Bronze for Railbender Ale) and Pennsylvania Brewing Company (Gold for Kaiser Pils; Bronze for Oktoberfest).

An overview of East Coast GABF wins will be posted in the near future.--JACK CURTIN