Model A Brewing Co. in Tega Cay won a bronze medal at the 2026 Great American Beer Festival for Amber Hearth, an oak aged winter warmer the brewery first released as its 2024 anniversary beer. Winners were announced Sunday at the Levitt Pavilion in Denver.
The festival competition, organized by the Brewers Association, is the largest commercial beer competition in the United States. Judges evaluated 7,267 beer and cider entries this year from breweries and cideries in 49 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Only 336 medals were awarded, meaning fewer than 5 percent of entries earned one.
Amber Hearth Medals in Barrel Aged Category
Amber Hearth placed third in the Wood and Barrel Aged Beer category, which drew 23 entries. Wren House Brewing Co. of Phoenix took gold for a whiskey barrel aged Marzen, and 1718 Brewing of Ocracoke, North Carolina, took silver.
Model A announced the win on its Facebook page, describing Amber Hearth as “a delicious oak aged winter warmer.” The brewery credited head brewer Jerod Jones, calling him the man who “continues to make the magic happen.”
According to the brewery’s post, a panel of 225 professional judges and more than 200 volunteers worked through the entries over three days. Model A said the field included roughly 1,300 breweries and cideries.
The same beer won silver in the Barrel Aged Dark Beer category at the U.S. Open Beer Championship in July, one of three medals Model A brought home from that competition. In 2025, the South Carolina Brewers Guild named Model A the Best Overall Brewery in South Carolina at the South Carolina Brewers Cup after six of its beers medaled.
Charlotte Area Breweries Also Win
Several breweries across the state line in the Charlotte region also took home medals.
Armored Cow Brewing Co. of Charlotte won two. Its Hell Yeah took gold in the Hoppy Gluten Free Beer category, and Raspberry Rush won bronze in Fruit Wheat Beer, a category of 64 entries.
Gilde Brewery in Charlotte also won two bronze medals, both for its Broyhan beers. Broyhan’s Bock placed third in German Style Strong Beer, and Broyhan 500 placed third in Historical Beer. Each category drew 39 entries.
Primal Brewery of Huntersville won bronze in the Hoppy Non Alcohol Beer category for Hops Mirage, and Oak Highlands Brewery in Hickory won bronze for its Imperial Stout.
Greenville Brewery Takes Gold for South Carolina
The only other South Carolina medal went to Liability Brewing Co. of Greenville, which won gold in the Belgian Style Abbey Ale category for Feral Garden Gnome. North Carolina breweries won 15 medals in all.
Model A Brewing Co. is located at 1175 Stonecrest Boulevard in Tega Cay. The full list of 2026 winners is available at greatamericanbeerfestival.com.
Carolinas Medal Winners
South Carolina
Liability Brewing Co., Greenville: Gold, Feral Garden Gnome (Belgian Style Abbey Ale)
Model A Brewing Co., Tega Cay: Bronze, Amber Hearth (Wood and Barrel Aged Beer)
Charlotte Region
Armored Cow Brewing Co., Charlotte: Gold, Hell Yeah (Hoppy Gluten Free Beer); Bronze, Raspberry Rush (Fruit Wheat Beer)
Gilde Brewery, Charlotte: Bronze, Broyhan’s Bock (German Style Strong Beer); Bronze, Broyhan 500 (Historical Beer)
Primal Brewery, Huntersville: Bronze, Hops Mirage (Hoppy Non Alcohol Beer)
Oak Highlands Brewery, Hickory: Bronze, Imperial Stout (Imperial Stout)
Elsewhere in North Carolina
Little Brother Brewing, Greensboro: Gold, The Gatekeeper (Strong Porter)
Wicked Weed Brewing, Asheville: Silver, Lime Drop (American Fruit Beer)
Beech Mountain Brewing Co., Beech Mountain: Silver, Citrus Wheat (Fruit Wheat Beer)
Local Time Brewing, Holly Springs: Silver, Vinland Honey Lager (Honey Beer)
1718 Brewing, Ocracoke: Silver, What Fresh Helles This? (Wood and Barrel Aged Beer)
Hi Wire Brewing, Asheville: Silver, Hi Wire Lager (International Style Pilsener)
Riverside Rhapsody Beer Co., Asheville: Silver, Weather Re Porter (Robust Porter); Bronze, Baltic Porter (Strong Porter)
Eno River Brewing, Hillsborough: Bronze, Second Pick (American Sour Ale)
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Associate Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
