Denver's Great American Beer Fest Almost Sold Out

DENVER, CO – Denver's Great American Beer Festival celebrates its 36th anniversary this year at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.

This is the festival that launched 1,000 microbreweries. The gigantic beer festival and fierce competition has evolved with, and inspired, Colorado's craft-beer industry. Since its humble Boulder beginnings, the festival has grown from 47 different beers to 4,000. The event is hosted by the non-profit Brewers Association.

Although early participants were captured in photos drinking from glasses and steins, participants in public tastings now sample 1-ounce tasting portions of the beers – the better to try them all.

Last year attendance was estimated at 60,000 over the four-day festival. More than 7,900 beers were entered in the competition in 98 categories, evaluated by 276 judges.

The fest reflects the American acceptance of craft beers. Craft-brewed beer is gaining more of the market, studies show. Even though beer sales were down by 1 percent in 2017 across the U.S., craft brewer sales grew at a rate of 5 percent, and now make up 12 percent of the U. S. beer market by volume, the Brewer's Association said. Microbreweries produced the most craft beer.

In Colorado, even as some brew pubs and local microbrews close, others are opening almost every month. Coloradobrewerylist.com lists 39 upcoming breweries that are planning to open around the state in fall of 2018.

If you still want to attend the fest, act quickly. This year, $85 tickets for opening night, Thursday, Sept. 20, are the only ones remaining. There are also $160 tickets Thursday for the GABF pairing event, which includes "paired beer and food tasting."

Images via GABF

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