(NEXSTAR) — There are nearly 10,000 craft breweries across the U.S., according to the Brewers Association, but which is the best?
It's a spot in Ohio, the U.S. Open Beer Championship unveiled on Tuesday when it released its annual list of winners. For 2024, judges analyzed more than 9,000 beers across 170 different styles, submitted from breweries from Hawaii to Maine and all points in between.
Gold, silver, and bronze medals are given to the three best brews in each category, which included nine varieties of pale ales, 15 IPAs, five non-alcoholic options, two types of root beer, and countless others.
Only one brewery, however, was named the 2024 Grand National Champion: Third Eye Brewing of Hamilton, Ohio. Also named the Brewery of the Year during the 2023 Great American Beer Festival, Third Eye Brewing collected four gold medals, two silver, and two bronze. The brewery was ranked third overall by U.S. Open Beer judging in 2022.
Two other Ohio breweries, Urban Artifact of Cincinnati and Sonder Brewing of Mason, also ranked among 2024's best breweries.
Last year's Grand National Champion, Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. of Decorah, Iowa, ranked No. 8 in this year's competition, tying with Feather Falls Brewing Co. of Feather Falls, California.
Breweries from seven states ranked among the best of 2024, according to U.S. Open Beer's judges:
1. Third Eye Brewing — Ohio
2. Monday Night Brewing – Georgia
3. Sun King Brewery – Indiana
4. O.H.S.O. Brewery Gilbert – Arizona
5. Cherry Street Brewpub at Halcyon – Georgia
6. Urban Artifact – Ohio
7. Boulevard Brewing Co. – Missouri
8. Feather Falls Brewing Co. – California
8. Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. – Iowa
9. Sonder Brewing – Ohio
10. Burgeon Beer Co. – California
You can view the full list of medal winners on U.S. Open Beer's website.
In addition to judging more beer styles than any other competition worldwide, U.S. Open Beer says it is the only major competition that allows gold medalists from the American Homebrewers Association's National Homebrew Competition to participate. Three homebrewers won medals in this year's competition: Christopher Burgess of Castle Rock, Colorado, who won gold for his i Brutt IPA, "Like Falling Off A Bike;" Lucas Orr from San Diego, who received a gold medal for his Strong Scottish Ale, "Kilt Dropper;" and Mark Kunzelmann from St Louis, Missouri, who secured a bronze medal for his Belgian Pale Ale.
