Beer Writer Enjoys the Nostalgic Feeling of the Great American Beer Festival
Reveling at GABF22 photo credit © Brewers Association
For the past two years, the Great American Beer Festival or “GABF” has been put on hiatus because, well, you know. This year, it came back in full force slightly smaller, although at the festival, it didn’t feel smaller. GABF is one of the best places to try beers from all over the U.S. and it’s a great excuse to visit the vibrant city of Denver, Colorado which has been home to GABF since its inception in 1982.
This year marked the 40th anniversary of GABF and it’s a fun testament to how big and long lasting the craft beer movement is in America. At my B&B I stayed in (shout out to Milan and the incredible staff at the Queen Anne Urban B&B!) many people I shared the breakfast table with were going to the festival in some capacity- from a couple flying in from Seattle just to attend the fest to a couple volunteering to pour beers in exchange for free tickets.
This was my 11th GABF and I attended the Thursday session, which is (usually) the tamest of the public sessions and my favorite to go to since no beers have kicked and brewers/volunteers are at their freshest and are ready and willing to chat with you about beer. I always love to see the owners/brewers behind the tables talking with fans of their beers.
Festival Strategies
Beer booth GABF 22 photo credit © Brewers Association
I have a couple of traditions around GABF. For example, my first beer at the festival is always Chucknut dunkel lager (a wonderful Seattle, WA based lager brewery!) and every year, I walk every Thursday session with beer writer and good friend Stan Hieronymus, whose good natured love of beer is refreshing. Stan knows a lot of people in the industry and he’s always showing me breweries I haven’t heard of before that I need to try. He has introduced me to such amazing breweries. Stan’s wife and daughter also accompanied us as well as Master Cicerone Max Finnance who works for Artisanal Brewing Ventures, the parent company of breweries such as Sixpoint, Victory and Southern Tier.
What sets GABF apart from your neighborhood fest? GABF isn’t like any other beer festival since GABF pours beers from all over America. Colorado allows the event to pour beer from all over, regardless of where they are from. This is incredibly rare as each state has their own laws/regulation for beer. If you go to any beer festival for the most part, those beers have to be sold in the state the festival is in. Some states allow temporary licenses to get around this (Massachusetts/Oregon) but some do not (the state of Connecticut is VERY rigid). This in itself is worth the draw and at GABF you are bombarded with so many breweries you’ve never heard of. It’s almost a 100% possibility you will have a beer you will fall in love with from a brewery you’ve never heard of before. It happens to me every time I attend.
The Pours
GABF Pours photo credit © Brewers Association
Pours are small at GABF, about 1 oz (a regular beer fest will usually give you 3-4 oz worth) but it’s more than you think. I make notes of everything I drink to keep track of so I won’t forget as GABF can be very overwhelming. On Saturday morning I asked the couple from Seattle what their favorite beer was and they looked at me bleary-eyed. Notes will help you remember, trust me.
One of the best things to do at GABF is to get social. If you are in a line (and there are not that many but some lines spring up for popular breweries like Russian River Brewing, Bottle Logic Brewing, WeldWerks Brewing), strike up a conversation. In 2010 I chatted to the guy in front of me at the Russian River booth and that person was San Diego Beer News Editor/Founder Brandon Hernandez. Eight year later he and his wife Heather had become such good friends of mine they were invited to my wedding.
Happy Day photo credit Claremont Craft Ales
I didn’t have a bad beer at GABF this year and even if you do, it’s okay to dump it as long as you aren’t within view of the table that poured it for you. My favorite beer of the whole fest this year was a real surprise for me as it’s a style I’m not usually into: Claremont Craft Ales Happy Days Imperial Red Ale. California based Claremont had won a gold medal for this beer in previous years.
There’s also lots to do at the festival that isn’t beer related. Sidle up to a food truck (although I STRONGLY suggest a large meal beforehand), visit the silent disco for a dance party, sing karaoke, get a chair massage, shop the various beer branded boutiques, and more.
GABF is a celebration of beer and it was wonderful to experience it again. Going this year was like coming home.