That’s right ladies and gents; yours truly will be attending the Academy Awards of beer gatherings. While is this my fourth time going to the GABF, it is my first time wit a press pass, which will include hobnobbing with the likes of Jim Cook, founder of Sam Adams Brewing Company, and a special “press only” bus tour of some of the finest breweries of the greater Denver area. Oh, I’m fancy.
Gloating aside, I’m truly excited at the opportunity to get in the doors early, and maybe even have a “press only” bathroom, as opposed to the overused port-o-johns that turn hellish within the first two hours. Come on Saturday!
If you’ve no knowledge of this Mecca of all that is beer, it is a three day festival at the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver. I’ll have my choice of taste-testing two ounce samples of 3,000+ brews, including everything from the big boys (Bud, Miller, Coors, etc.) to the sincere crafts (Bell’s, O’Dell’s, etc.). I already have my GABF app on my phone ready to guide me. I have passes to the Saturday night session, which in the past has translated to “super-drunk, oh crap the vendors are running out of beer. Drink faster!”
Click here for more information on the GABF: http://www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com/
Here are a few of the highlights of the experience:
- Booing every time someone drops their two ounce plastic memorable cup.
- Hitting random cups out of people’s hands to get everyone to boo them.
- Trying the 3,000 beers (I will lose count, but I will start out trying)
- Strange drunkards wearing stranger costumes
- Hopefully seeing Frank Thomas again! (“The Big Hurt” beer…better than Kid Rock’s)
- A line of port-o-johns a half mile long
- Free swag from breweries (I love my PBR t-shirt)
- Tasting some of the most inventive beers in the world
- Tasting some of the strongest, strangest, nastiest, or all of the above
- Trying to get my 50 beers from 50 states badge
- Not driving home (thank you wife)
So early next week (because Sunday likely will not be productive for me) be looking for my personal narrative on the chaos, the debauchery, the sophomoric attempt to validate inebriation: The Great American Beer Festival. By the way, the GABF is on the list of “1000 places to see before you die.” I’m just saying.
Cheers
Prost
Slainte
Salud
L’chaim
A Votre Sante
P.S. Even if you can’t make it to the GABF, download the app. If you want to try the best of the best, look for the medal winners after the festival. Most will be fantastic.
Grizzly Bomb 