Maui Brewing Co. cans. The company’s Imperial Coconut Porter won big at this year’s Great American Beer Festival. Photo by Kiaora Bohlool.

Maui Brewing Co. brought home a gold medal at the 2016 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) competition. Presented by the Brewers Association, GABF is the largest commercial beer competition in the world and recognizes the most outstanding beers produced in the United States.

The top three winners in the competition’s 96 beer-style categories were announced October 8 at the awards ceremony in Denver, Colorado.

“We’re truly honored to have this beer win top honors. Almost 7,300 beers judged and less than 270 medals made for an extremely competitive race,” says Maui Brewing Co. founder Garrett Marrero. “Craft brewing is a labor of love for the entire Maui Brewing ‘ohana; they’ve earned this gold medal together!”

Maui Brewing Co. was recognized in the Field Beer beer-style category for its Imperial Coconut Porter, a deeper, more intense version of its flagship Coconut Hiwa Porter. It is brewed with hand-toasted coconut, and subtle hints of cacao and coffee.

The company’s beer production facility in Kīhei recently expanded, increasing capacity to nearly 100,000 barrels. Maui Brewing Co. is on pace to brew 45,000 barrels in 2016.

The 2016 GABF competition winners were selected by an international panel of 264 expert judges from the record number of 7,227 entries, plus 88 Pro-Am entries, received from 1,752 U.S. breweries.

“The innovation, creativity and flavor of American beers was well showcased at this year’s Great American Beer Festival,” said Chris Swersey, competition manager for the Great American Beer Festival. “This was the most competitive competition to date, with a record number of entries. Congratulations to all the winners who truly demonstrated the best of America’s beer culture.”

For more competition information, including the 2016 winners list and photos, visit the Great American Beer Festival’s website.