The Great American Beer Festival: What's On Tap?

The Great American Beer Festival (GABF) is an annual event hosted by the Brewers Association in Denver, Colorado. It is the largest ticketed beer festival in the US and one of the largest in the world. The festival features a wide range of beers and beverages from hundreds of breweries and cideries, offering attendees the opportunity to discover new craft beers, ciders, cocktails, hard lemonades, teas, and seltzers. The GABF also includes a private competition, where judges evaluate and award medals to the finest beverages in various categories. The festival has a member-exclusive presale for the American Homebrewers Association and Brewers Association members, followed by a public sale.

Tickets and pricing

The Great American Beer Festival is an annual event, held in Denver, Colorado, typically in late September or early October. The festival is hosted by the Brewers Association and is the largest ticketed beer festival in the US and one of the largest in the world.

Tickets for the festival are sold via AXS.com or the AXS mobile app. There is no limit to the number of tickets purchased. Tickets are sold over two days, with the first day being an American Homebrewers Association (AHA) member presale. The presale is highly desirable as the sale to the general public often sells out almost immediately. Membership of the AHA costs around $40 and brings with it a host of advantages, including discounts at breweries and reduced GABF ticket prices.

The member presale access code will be sent to members' online accounts by July 12. The member-exclusive presale begins on July 16 at 10:00 a.m. MT, with tickets going on general sale on July 17 at 10:00 a.m. MT.

Ticket prices for the 2024 festival are $35 per ticket, per session. This price does not include taxes, AXS fees, or additional fees. Each ticket includes access to the general session and unlimited non-alcoholic beverages.

Sessions

The festival is divided into sessions, with each session ticketed separately. The Thursday and Friday evening sessions are open to the general public, while the Saturday afternoon session is limited to AHA members only. The Saturday afternoon session has a more sophisticated atmosphere, with tasting glasses made of glass rather than plastic, and breweries often reserve special beers for this session. The Saturday evening session is less popular with beer enthusiasts, with many of the beers having run out by this point, and brewers and brewery reps often absent.

Practicalities

Attendees are advised to arrive early to queue for the festival, although this will only gain around 20 minutes of extra time inside. Alternatively, arriving just before the festival starts will mean that, although the queue is long, it moves quickly.

Guests must possess a valid ticket on a mobile device at all times and be over the age of 21, with proof of ID. There is no re-entry to the festival once admitted.

Sessions and timings

The Great American Beer Festival is an annual event, typically held in late September or early October. In 2024, it will take place from October 10-12, with tickets going on sale in July. The festival is held over three days, with two sessions per day: one in the afternoon and one in the evening.

Thursday, October 10, 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Friday, October 11, 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Saturday, October 12, 12:30 pm – 4:30 pm

The Saturday afternoon session is also known as the Member's Session, as it is exclusive to American Homebrewers Association (AHA) members. This session has a more sophisticated atmosphere, with glass tasting glasses and special beer selections. It is the most popular session among beer enthusiasts.

The Thursday evening session is a favourite among beer enthusiasts as the crowd is limited to those who are serious enough to take Friday off work. Additionally, as the first session, all beers are guaranteed to be available. The Friday evening session is also respectable, allowing for better strategizing as the pour lists are posted by then.

The Saturday evening session is described as a "drunken shitshow" and is avoided by beer enthusiasts as many of the decent beers are no longer available, and most brewers and brewery representatives have left the building.

The festival is held at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, and there is no re-entry once inside. It is recommended to arrive early, as there will likely be a line to get in, with an ID check and security screening required for all attendees.

What to drink

The Great American Beer Festival is the largest ticketed beer festival in the US and one of the largest in the world. It is a celebration of the US's craft brewing industry, bringing together brewers and diverse beers from across the nation. The festival offers visitors the chance to taste a wide variety of hand-crafted products from hundreds of the nation's finest breweries and cideries.

The festival is held annually in Denver, Colorado, usually in late September or early October. It is hosted by the Brewers Association, a not-for-profit educational and trade organisation devoted to making quality brewing and beer information accessible to all.

The festival features a range of beers, ciders, cocktails, hard lemonades, teas, and seltzers. Visitors can expect to find something to suit every taste, with themed experience areas such as the Gluten-Free Garden, Sports & Games, Halloween, Beer and Beyond, the Backyard, and Meet the Brewer.

For those looking to make the most of their time at the festival, advance planning is key. Tickets go on sale in July, with a member-exclusive presale for the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) members. AHA membership comes with various benefits, including discounts at breweries and reduced ticket prices.

When it comes to what drinks to try at the festival, the options are endless. With thousands of different beverages on offer, visitors can explore and discover new favourites. Here are some tips to make the most of the tasting experience:

• Decide which session(s) to attend: The Thursday evening session is a favourite among enthusiasts as it is limited to those serious about their beer. It also guarantees that all beers will be available. The Friday evening session is a good alternative, allowing for better strategizing since the pour lists are posted by then. The Saturday afternoon session, also known as the Member's Session, is exclusive to AHA members and has a more sophisticated atmosphere with glass tasting glasses and special beer selections. The Saturday evening session is notoriously less popular due to the unavailability of popular beers.
• Develop a priority list: Keep an eye out for brewery lists, pour lists, and the floor plan in the months leading up to the event. Create a priority list of the breweries and beverages you want to try and stick to it once you're at the festival.
• Sample in moderation: It's important to pace yourself at a beer festival. Eat a hearty meal beforehand, and don't be afraid to take breaks and hydrate with water.
• Socialize and explore: In addition to tasting beers, use the opportunity to meet fellow enthusiasts and brewers. Visit different breweries, learn about their processes, and discover new favourites.
• Stay updated: Follow the Great American Beer Festival's social media pages and website to stay informed about the latest brewery offerings, special releases, and festival updates.

With a little planning and an adventurous spirit, visitors to the Great American Beer Festival can have a memorable and enjoyable tasting experience. So, grab your friends, and cheers to a weekend of discovering new favourites and celebrating the art of brewing!

Food and other attractions

The Great American Beer Festival is not just about beer. While attendees can discover new craft beers, ciders, cocktails, hard lemonades, teas, and selzters, there are also food and other attractions to enjoy.

Food

Food trucks and other vendors will be available at the festival, offering various food, water, and sodas for purchase.

Other Attractions

The festival also features Lucha Libre Mexican Wrestling, with attendees able to cheer on their favourite wrestlers at Hugo’s Lucha Libre LIVE. There will also be live music, with bands invited to perform at each session.

The festival is also an opportunity to explore Denver, with the event taking place at the Colorado Convention Center. There is a designated smoking area located on the loading docks just off the festival hall, and vape pens must be used in this designated area.

Getting there

The Great American Beer Festival is held annually in Denver, Colorado, typically in late September or early October. The 2024 festival will take place from October 10 to 12 at the Colorado Convention Center.

The Colorado Convention Center is located at 700 14th Street, Denver, CO 80202. There is parking available at the Colorado Convention Center parking garage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Public transportation is recommended when drinking alcohol. Here are some alternate transportation options:

• Stay at a downtown hotel and take a taxi or walk. Taxis will be available after all sessions.
• There is a Regional Transportation District (RTD) bus stop a few blocks from the Convention Center, and the buses run until 1:00 am.
• Denver’s Light Rail is also a convenient option. There is ample parking at the Cinderella City Station (located at the intersection of Santa Fe Avenue and Hampden Avenue). The Light Rail stops directly in front of the Convention Center.
• Looking to see the city by bike? Denver B-Cycle offers short-term bike-share rentals at dozens of stations around the city, including one right by the Colorado Convention Center. Please do not drink and ride!

If you are travelling from out of town, it is recommended to begin booking flights and hotel rooms as early as possible. Downtown lodging is expensive and goes very quickly. However, you can look for non-downtown hotels with easy access to the Light Rail system to save money.

Frequently asked questions