The cooler days of fall, 2018 will be here before we know it and to the craft beer lover, fall is synonymous with beer festivals. Oktoberfest events are held across the United States, but there is another beer festival not to miss; a non- Oktoberfest beer event that happens to be the largest and most prestigious beer competition in these United States. It’s the Great American Beer Festival, scheduled for Denver, Colorado and now in its 37th year.
Dates and Times:
This year’s GABF will be held a little earlier than normal, with the usual Thursday, Friday, and Saturday sessions. Here are the days and times for each:
- 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.
Location:
As always, the Great American Beer Festival will be held at the Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th Street, Denver, Colorado
Ticket Information:
The Great American Beer Festival tickets will go on sale to the general public on August 1, 2018 starting at 10 a.m. Mountain Time (12pm Eastern Time) and continuing until all tickets are sold. Tickets can be purchased via AXS. There will be a special presale exclusively for members of the American Homebrewers Association and Brewers Association that will take place on July 31 at 10:00 a.m. Mountain Time (12 pm Eastern Time). This a great way to improve your odds of getting tickets but if you want to use these memberships to purchase ahead of time, keep in mind that you must already be a member of the American Homebrewers Association or Brewers Association to take advantage of this presale.
Pricing and Other Ticket Info:
Members Only Session (Saturday from 12pm to 4pm) tickets are $70 each, limit two tickets per member.
General Session tickets are $85 public or $80 members if members purchase during the member presale on July 31. If you’re a Brewers Association or American Homebrewers Association member and you wait until August 1 to make a purchase, you will have to pay $85.
Your admission to the Great American Beer Festival includes:
- 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
Get Your Tickets!
The Great American Beer Festival is an event every beer lover should attend at least once. Great Beer Now has been in attendance for many years running and I plan to be there once again this year, sampling beer, meeting new people, and otherwise soaking up what is easily one of the greatest beer festivals in the United States and the world.
This year’s festival is going to be even larger than past years with the addition of another 100,000 square feet of space, bringing the total festival area to 584,000 square feet. That means there will be more room to walk around, sample beer, play games, and educate ones’ self on all things malt beverage. Other new features include the 3,600 square foot Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bar and the 12,600 square foot Jameson Caskmates Barrel Aged Beer Garden.
October is the season for beer and the Great American Beer Festival is one beer festival you don’t want to miss. Be sure to mark your calendar for August 1, 2018 at 10 am Mountain Time so that you can be sure to get your tickets to one or more sessions. The tickets are certain to sell out in less than an hour, so it is imperative that you logon at the designated time get your tickets for the GABF, one of America’s greatest beer festivals.
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