Registration opens June 8 for the 2021 Great American Beer Festival awards competition, with all beers except fresh-hopped beers due to the GABF warehouse by July 30. The Brewers Association recently announced that there will be no in-person beer fest until next year, but the competition will continue as it did in 2020.
As usual, the fresh-hopped beers have a later entry window. This year that window is from October 4 to 8, with a special judging session to take place October 12. The organizers plan to announce the winners of that category on October 15, more than a month after the main GABF awards ceremony.
The BA also has released its annual update of its beer-style categories. Beyond being a reference for any brewer who wants to hit suggested parameters for a particular type of beer, the guidelines are important for competitions, and especially for GABF. Choosing the right category for the right beer can greatly increase your chances of success in the competition.