Great American Beer Festival Expands Again for 2018
One of the top beer events in the world, a bucket list item for most, is the Great American Beer Festival (GABF), held every fall in Denver, Colorado. Considered the country’s preeminent beer festival and beer competition, organizers will expand the fest this year in expect 62,000 attendees, over 4,000 beers from more than 800 breweries.
More from a press release:
When: Thursday, September 20: 5:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Friday, September 21: 5:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 22*: 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
*Brewers Association and American Homebrewers Association® (AHA) members only session
Saturday, September 22: 5:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Where: Colorado Convention Center
700 14th Street
Denver, Colorado
Why: GABF represents the largest collection of U.S. beer ever served, in the format of a public tasting event plus a privately judged competition. Dubbed by Thrillist as “The One Beer Festival You Must Go to Before You Die,” GABF has topped beer lovers’ bucket lists since 1982 and unites beer lovers and brewers from all corners of the country to celebrate the nation’s ever-growing craft beer culture.
Ticket Info: GABF tickets will be available for purchase to the general public online on August 1, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. MDT/12:00 p.m. EDT via AXS.
A ticket presale exclusively for members of the American Homebrewers Association and Brewers Association will take place on July 31 at 10:00 a.m. MDT/12:00 p.m. EDT.American Homebrewers Association or Brewers Association memberships must be purchased by July 18, 11:59 p.m. MDT, to be eligible for the member presale. The public is welcome to join the AHA at any time.
Members Only Session tickets are $70 each, limit two tickets per member.
General Session tickets are $85 public/$80 members (when purchased during the member presale on July 31):
Tickets include:
- Commemorative tasting cup
- Unlimited one-ounce samples of more than 4,000 beers
- Festival guide and free app to help attendees navigate the festival hall
- Access to educational and interactive seminars focused on beer appreciation
- Opportunity to speak with the personalities behind the beers in the Meet the Brewer section
- Entertainment including games, karaoke, Silent Disco with a live DJ and more
Note: Due to limited availability, GABF General Session and PAIRED® ticket sales are capped at six tickets per session per ticket buyer.
Additional ticket information can be found on the GABF website.
Website: GreatAmericanBeerFestival.com
New for 2018: Expanded Festival Footprint: With the addition of 100,000 square feet—a 17 percent increase over 2017 and bringing the festival footprint to 584,000 square feet—attendees will have more space to hang out and mingle with brewers and fellow beer lovers while discovering new breweries, learning more about beer at educational and experiential programs, playing games, and just having fun.
Reconfigured Festival Format: Breweries in the festival hall will be arranged in alphabetical order this year. Pro Tip: Breweries with “the” in the title will be listed under the first name following “the” (i.e. The Bruery will be under B).
Collaboration Competition and Booth: In recognition of the collaborative spirit of the craft brewing community, we’ve added a new competition this year. Up to 48 collaboration beers will be evaluated in a Best of Show format. Many of the competition entries will be served during GABF at the Collaboration Competition Booth. Don’t miss this chance to sample these very unique and limited-edition beers!
Expanded Meet the Brewer Section: Expanded by popular demand! Meet the Brewer is very special opportunity for passionate beer fans to start conversations with their brewing heroes, learn more about their beers and talk shop. Look for these booths located in the center of the festival hall. Two more islands have been added for 2018 to accommodate up to 165 breweries—a 40 percent increase!
Additional Hangout Spots and Pavilions: Joining the floor this year will be the 12,600 square foot Jameson Caskmates Barrel-Aged Beer Garden, which will feature 17 small and independent Jameson craft brewery partners and their limited-edition Jameson barrel-aged beer; and the 3,600 square foot Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bar, where attendees can kick back, relax and enjoy independent craft beer and wings while cheering on their favorite teams on 10 TVs.
Story Ideas: GABF Competition: As one of the world’s largest and most distinguished beer competitions, GABF 2018 is expected to see a lineup of more than 8,300 beers from over 2,200 breweries competing for their chance at the coveted gold, silver and bronze medals in 102 beer style categories. (Note: final, official competition statistics will be published on Saturday, September 22, after competition results are compiled and medals are announced.) Who will take home the first medals in the new Juicy or Hazy (Cat 60, 63 & 65) and other new 2018 categories?
Craft Beer and Business: Dive deeper into the growth of craft beer and beer culture in America. According to data recently released by the Brewers Association, there are more than 6,300 breweries operating in the U.S., 99 percent of which are independent. At GABF, discover the economic impact these small and independent brewers are having on our country, what’s next for the craft brewing community and more.
Craft Beer and Food: Seeking to take your GABF experience to the next level? Look no further than PAIRED. Showcasing craft beer’s ability to shine from the tap to the table, PAIRED provides attendees with exclusive access to expertly crafted small bites composed by celebrated chefs from across the country. For 2018, PAIRED has expanded its space, accommodating more chefs and food pairings than ever before. Exclusive craft beers served at PAIRED are available only in this pavilion and not in the festival hall. A PAIRED ticket ($160) is required for entrance. Ticket also includes access to festival hall.
The Man Behind GABF: Charlie Papazian: As GABF founder Charlie Papazian departs the Brewers Association in January 2019, take a retrospective journey with the man who started it all.
More Information: Click here for Great American Beer Festival history, facts and figures.
Sizzle Reel: Click here for the Great American Beer Festival sizzle reel.
2018 Sponsors: GABF is made possible by the support of generous sponsors.
Social Media: Follow @GABF on Twitter, hashtag #GABF; Like GABF on Facebook; and follow @greatamericanbeerfestival on Instagram.
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About the Brewers Association
The Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The BA represents 4,000-plus U.S. breweries. The BA’s independent craft brewer seal is a widely adopted symbol that differentiates beers by small and independent craft brewers. The BA organizes events including the World Beer Cup®, Great American Beer Festival®, Craft Brewers Conference® & BrewExpo America®, SAVORTM: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience, Homebrew ConTM, National Homebrew Competition and American Craft Beer Week®. The BA publishes The New Brewer® magazine, and Brewers PublicationsTM is the leading publisher of brewing literature in the U.S. Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com® and about homebrewing via the BA’s American Homebrewers Association® and the free Brew Guru® mobile app. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The Brewers Association is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital/familial status. The BA complies with provisions of Executive Order 11246 and the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.