Earlier this year, Atlanta Brewing Co. moved, built a new brew house and tasting room and invested in a whole bunch of expensive new equipment. On Oct. 13, all that time, money and effort paid off in a thrilling way.

Atlanta's Red Brick Blonde won a gold medal for golden or blonde ale at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, where it was judged best in the category among 48 entries nationwide.

Matt Spaugh (ENLARGE)

'We're slowly getting some recognition for what we do,' says Dave McClure of Atlanta Brewing's accolade in Denver.

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"It feels pretty good," Atlanta brewer Dave McClure says of the award. "Just as far as the vote of confidence that we are making good beer. We're slowly getting some recognition for what we do, and our style of doing it. We knew what we needed to do to really improve our beer and make the quality A-1. And this basically justifies everything that we've done so far."

In the world of American craft brewing, a gold medal at the GABF is the equivalent of winning an Oscar. The award is bestowed by a panel of certified beer judges. And much like an Oscar, a GABF medal means free advertising and bragging rights.

"It's a big shot in the arm for our sales guys," says McClure. "It gives them a chance to go out and talk about the medal and our brewery."

While Red Brick Blonde has been part the Atlanta Brewing portfolio for some time, McClure recently tweaked the recipe. And he believes that put his beer spot-on for the category.

The style guidelines the GABF judges use state: "Golden or blonde ales are straw to golden blonde in color. They have a crisp, dry palate, light to medium body and light malt sweetness. Low to medium hop floral aroma may be present but does not dominate. Bitterness is low to medium."

McClure wasn't in Denver for the awards. And he says he turned his cellphone off that Saturday because he was a little nervous.

"I was trying to play it cool," he says. "And act like I didn't care. But was I completely surprised? Not about the blonde. I had a good feeling about that beer. I knew it was pretty much exactly where it needed to be as far as the category. Reading over the style guidelines, I realized, that's Red Brick Blonde they're talking about."

In addition to Red Brick Blonde, Atlanta Brewing Co.'s current offerings include Red Brick Ale, Peachtree Pale Ale and the just-released 2007 seasonal edition of Red Brick Winter — a rich, dark beer, that McClure has dubbed "a double chocolate oatmeal porter," and describes as being "even bigger this year."

Atlanta Brewing Co.'s tasting room and brewery tours are open to the public (21 and older), 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays; 5-7 p.m. Sundays. 2323 DeFoor Hills Road. 404-355-5558, www.atlantabrewing.com.