2022 marked the 40th year of the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) and also the premier event’s triumphant return to the Denver Convention Center for the first time since 2019. A lot has happened since then – a global pandemic that forced many brewery taprooms to close for an extended period of time, new beer styles and trends emerging, shifts and reckonings within the industry, and the gradual march of progress – and it was clear from the thousands who descended upon the Mile High City that both consumers and industry members were eager to get back to one of craft beer’s most beloved events.

Though it may have been the 40th year of GABF (and 10th year for the New School), it was a first for this beer writer and there was much to experience. Between the sessions themselves to the numerous events taking place at breweries around Denver, GABF was a marathon of deliciousness, fun, and the occasional burst of rowdiness. These are the five takeaways from a first-time attendee…   

Feel the energy, maaan!  

Perhaps it was the return to in-person events and the need to socialize from many beer lovers and brewers, but there seemed to be a palpable excitement in the air throughout the weekend. You could feel it coursing throughout the hall, accompanied by the roar of jubilant conversations. Volunteers looked happy to be serving and attendees carried smiles as they drifted from one taste to the next in a buzzy state of joy. Everywhere you looked, you could see brewers catching up by the kegs in the booths or at breweries around town like the reunion of long-lost friends. From events like the wrestling night at Bierstadt to the curated mixtape sessions at Finn’s Manor, people packed together to enjoy beers, and the energy that came from it all was more contagious than Covid.  

Quality quaffing all around!

It was impossible to ignore the overall sense of quality of the beer offerings this year. Many came from random locations where you would never expect a quality brewery to exist. From trendy styles like cold IPAs (thanks Wayfinder!) to the abundance of finely crafted lager, it was clear to all that the level of quality has touched nearly every corner of the U.S. and you may never know where your next favorite beer could come from. All of this bodes well and shows that the knowledge and seriousness of craft beer now extends well beyond the Pacific Northwest, California, Colorado and New England.

Embrace diversity!

Alongside the aforementioned level of quality, what really stood out was the lack of gimicky beers out there this year. One might have expected an overload of smoothie sours and milkshake IPAs, but it was far easier to find both classic and modern styles of IPA, lagers steeped in tradition alongside more inventive offerings, old school styles like red ales and bocks, and barrel-aged stouts and sours. Sure, there were some weird (and bad) beers to be tasted, but they didn’t command the kind of attention and lines one might have expected to see. This all points to the argument that craft beer is perhaps in a better place than it’s ever been, with brewers showing focus and creativity across the board. We also saw this in the seemingly random breweries that garnered many awards during the ceremony. Adding to all of this is the enthusiasm that consumers seemed to have for trying different styles, and it was evident that drinkers have evolved their tastes alongside the brewers that make their beer.

It’s all about community!

Beer is nothing without community and even in the post-pandemic world, there is nothing more important for this industry than getting together over beers. Whether you were hanging with friends on the session floor, talking to brewers about their beer, or dancing the night away at a GABF after-party, you were partaking in the community spirit that makes craft beer so special. The laid-back mentality and openness was on display wherever you looked, and this is what leads to collaboration and great beer. Outside of the actual event, you could observe legendary brewers co-mingling with young guns over pints or breweries known for similar styles sharing laughs as they stirred up their next idea. GABF proved that, while it may be easy to keep your head down and stay in the bubble of your brewery, putting yourself out there and engaging with your community is essential.  

Winning tastes damn good!  

If you followed along, you definitely noticed the huge presence of West Coast winners at the awards with California dominating. But the real takeaway for this writer was the simple fact that the Pacific Northwest cleaned up! Out of a whopping 9,904 beers judged and 177 styles, Oregon nabbed an impressive 18 medals and Washington upped the ante with 19. These include Gold for breweries like Little Beast, Sunriver, pFriem Family brewers, Great Notion Brewing, Breakside, Kulshan and Chuckanut, to name a few. While awards aren’t everything in the highly subjective world of beer and most people know the reputation for quality that the Northwest has always had, there was a sense of pride to be savored at seeing these hard-working and passionate brewers receive so many accolades for their craft. For those who truly care about the craft beer industry in those two states, the sense of victory was shared by all who were in attendance or getting the news through social media or streaming. For a full list of this year’s winners and GABF stats, visit The New School’s coverage.