For the first time in the competition's history, the Great American Beer Festival will allow three new hazy beer styles to enter into competition.

As one of the most popular (and populous) style categories, this was expected to alter the landscape of the GABF irrevocably. In a recent release from the Brewers Association, that change has been quantified.

The "Juicy or Hazy IPA" style received the highest number of entries to the competition this year, overtaking "American-Style India Pale Ale" as the number one category in this year's GABF. 414 Hazy IPAs were submitted versus 331 American IPAs -- the first time in 10 years that American IPA was no the the number one category.

The full release from the Brewers Association regarding this news is below.

After a trio of juicy hazy styles made its debut into the Brewers Association Beer Style Guidelines earlier this year, one thing is clear: the haze craze is here to stay.

The Boston Beer Co. has announced that its Samuel Adams OctoberFest seasonal is set to make its return later this month.

A 5.3 percent ABV brew with 16 IBUs, Sam Adams OctoberFest is an exemplar of the Marzen style that has become synonymous with the season of autumn.

The full release regarding the seasonal beer is below.

One of our favorite times of the year is right around the corner – OctoberFest season! OctoberFest is one of our oldest and most beloved seasonal beers, and with good reason. Brewed with five types of malt, including our proprietary Samuel Adams OctoberFest malt, this classic märzen‘s caramel malt character is perfectly balanced by German Hallertau Mittelfrueh and Tettnang Tettnanger Noble hops. OctoberFest‘s roots stretch back to 1810, when a special beer was brewed to celebrate the Crown Prince‘s wedding in Munich. The celebration turned into a 16–day party, and thus the Oktoberfest tradition was born. Our take on the traditional style is a favorite in our home country and abroad, and Sam Adams OctoberFest is one of few beers that‘s won awards in Germany for its smooth, roasty and slightly sweet flavor. Join us this fall in raising a stein of OctoberFest. Prost!

Against the Grain Brewery in Louisville, Kentucky has announced the release of multiple new brews available from the brewery and at retail locations wherever ATG beers are sold.

The first is Johann Paycheque, a Wine Barrel-aged sour ale with Brettanomyces that clocks in at 8.5 percent ABV. The latter is Gnight Ryder, a Red Wine Barrel-aged Imperial Black Ale that hits 9 percent ABV. Both beers will be available in 22-ounce bomber bottle from the brewery's smokehouse, with retail bottles available soon thereafter. The full release from Against the Grain, which includes multiple new draft-only releases as well, is below.

Johann Paycheque | 8.5% ABV
Wine Barrel-aged sour ale with Brettanomyces

Take this beer and drink it! It ain't twerkin' here no more! Sometimes you gotta take a beer and shove it . . . into an entirely different mold. Johann Paycheque is Old World fermentation meeting New World process. Available now at the Smokehouse, coming to retailers soon. 

Gnight Ryder | 9.0% ABV
Red Wine Barrel-aged Imperial Black Ale 

Gnight Ryder is a lone crusader and no beer is above the law around here. This Imperial Black Ale is interred in red wine barrels and emerges unrecognizable. It’s not the general, it sure ain’t the sheriff, it’s the Gnight Ryder. Available at the Smokehouse on 8/17, coming to retailers soon. 

Bru't Up | 6.4%
Brut IPA