Alameda's Almanac Beer Company Wins Prestigious Bronze Medal for Rocktoberfest at Great American Beer Festival

Almanac Beer Company, the independent craft brewery located along Alameda Point's historic Spirits Alley on West Tower Avenue, celebrated national brewing excellence on Monday after winning a coveted bronze medal at the 2026 Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado. Almanac earned the podium distinction in the competitive German-Style Marzen category for its seasonal release, Rocktoberfest, outperforming dozens of entries from top independent breweries nationwide.

Brewmaster and co-founder Damian Fagan welcomed local patrons and East Bay beer enthusiasts to the brewery's 30,000-square-foot hangar and expansive waterfront beer garden on Monday afternoon to toast the victory. Brewed using 100 percent California-grown Admiral Malting grains from neighboring Alameda maltsters and traditional German Noble hops, Rocktoberfest features rich toasted brioche malt character, subtle herbal bitterness, and a crisp, clean lager finish achieved through eight weeks of horizontal cold conditioning.

Alameda civic leaders and East Bay economic development representatives commended the brewery for spotlighting the island city's vibrant artisan manufacturing district. Spirits Alley, situated in converted naval air station hangars overlooking the San Francisco skyline, has evolved into a premier regional destination for craft brewing, artisan winemaking, and small-batch distilling. Almanac's victory reinforces Northern California's reputation for world-class traditional lagering alongside its famous hop-forward ales.

Craft beer lovers from Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco, and Walnut Creek can sample Rocktoberfest on draft, purchase limited four-packs, and check seasonal food truck schedules online at almanacbeer.com. Inquiries regarding taproom hours, group reservations, and brewery tours on Alameda Point may also be directed to Almanac staff at (415) 992-3438. The brewery will host a special Oktoberfest celebration and medal-commemoration gathering this coming Saturday starting at noon.