If you were at Cock-a-Doodle Brew Fest and stopped by the Pollyanna tent, you may have tried what turns out to be the best pilsners in the country. PBC’s Lite Reading won a gold medal at last weekend’s Great American Beer Festival in Denver; one of the most pretigious beer competitions in the country!

Here are the other medalists from Illinois bringing home hardware from GABF (suburban breweries bold). All others are located in Chicago.

Gold

Pollyanna Brewing Co. (Lemont) – Lite Reading (American-Style Pilsner/Lager);

Old Irving Brewing Co. – Beezer (Juicy or Hazy India Pale Ale);

Off Color Brewing – Very Very Far (Other Belgian-Style Ale);

Begyle Brewing Barrel-Aged Imperial Pajamas (Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout)

 

Silver

Piece Brewing – Swingin’ Single (Belgian- and French-Style Ale);

Scorched Earth (Algonquin)Doppelbock (German-Style Doppelbock or Eisbock);

Light the Lamp (Grays Lake)Lite It! (Session Beer)

 

Bronze

Ballast Point Chicago – Gold Style (American-Style Cream Ale);

Penrose Brewing (Geneva) – Goofy Boots (Juicy or Hazy Strong Pale Ale);

Noon Whistle (Lombard) – Leisel Weapon (South German-Style Hefeweizen)