Chicago Breweries Win At Great American Beer Festival

Raise a pint for Chicago-area breweries. Six of Chicagoland's artisans of ale medaled in the 2012 Great American Beer Festival in Denver, which wrapped Sunday.

From the city, Revolution Brewing, Goose Island, Piece and newcomer 5 Rabbit each medalled, while Two Brothers of west suburban Warrenville and Northwest Indiana's Three Floyds also impressed the judges.

(Scroll down to learn more about how Chicago-area breweries measured up in Denver.)

According to NPR's food blog, The Salt, nearly 580 breweries vied for 254 medals in 84 different categories, including Herb and Spice Beer, Gluten-Free Beer and Experimental Beer, at the festival.

Here's how the GABF breaks down medalists:

• Gold: A world-class beer that accurately exemplifies the specified style, displaying the proper balance of taste, aroma and appearance.
• Silver: An excellent beer that may vary slightly from style parameters while maintaining close adherence to the style and displaying excellent taste, aroma and appearance.
• Bronze: A fine example of the style that may vary slightly from style parameters and/or have minor deviations in taste, aroma or appearance.