GABF 2015 Discussion & Info

It could be because it's tough to medal with the haze. You pretty much start out in a deep hole from the start. Might just not be worth it.

 

Interestingly, Southern Tier is coming this year. A few years back, they declared "they'd rather be brewing beer than entering competitions". (or something like that)

 

Wow, this is a pretty extensive and good list of things going on next week!!

http://www.westword.com/restaurants...-week-2015-calendar-of-amazing-events-6996845

 

Also see

http://brewtallyinsane.com/2015/08/27/gabf-2015-calendar/

 

I don't get it. Are you implying that people will be using marijuana so they don't like east coast IPAs?

 

I'll be flying solo as well while I'm out there.

 

Not sure if you're joking, but I'll bite. One of the hallmarks of those East Coast IPA's is that they're cloudy and hazy. Some of them have been described as "milkshake-like." That makes winning a medal awfully difficult if not totally impossible thanks to the way IPAs are currently judged. Appearance matters.
None of those breweries distro here (or very far in most instances), so their motivation to head to GABF is pretty limited. They're already killing it on the review sites, so they're probably just sitting pretty back in New England.

 

hate that appearance makes it that hard to medal. who cares what it looks like? Actually, the way a hazy Trillium beer looks is much more appealing to me than a 'clear' IPA. Get my mouth watering because I know I'm in for a hoppy juice bomb.

 

It's a great point, and there are a lot of great breweries who don't come to GABF. Many make beers that don't fit strict style guidelines and many are so small and have a big enough reputation already that it's not cost effective for them. It's not because they're scared they won't medal or "afraid people will taste their beer"

 

Sorry. I learned what they meant and that is enough for me.

Back on topic. I am going to be hunting beers at GABF that I can't get my hands on locally. You might call it "whale hunting" but not exactly that. I have a list of breweries I want to check out and a subset of beers from them I'd like to try.

I am also "training" my liver for next weekend. Training has been going great so far. It makes sense because I am kind of a lightweight and normally don't drink much.

 

For the record BJCP states IPAs should be "pale to medium amber with an orange-ish tint" and SRM to be 8-14 and IBUs 40-60.... and I medaled in the CO State Fair with a "straw colored" 3 SRM 65 IBU IPA... judged by a Grand Master Certified BJCP judge. (for perspective sake - 2015 BA guidelines say it can be as low as 6SRM & high as 70IBUs)

I know GABF uses Brewers Assoc. guidelines and judged by brewers, and not BJCP, but still - point being, you don't know when it comes to judging unless you try. IMO, IPA category (commercially) is morphing into something different than current guidelines suggest... side note: BA's 2015 guidelines allow some haze "Chill haze is allowable at cold temperatures and hop haze is allowable at any temperature"

As for the haze, I believe it's due in part to the relatively recent use (or higher %) of white wheat malt in IPAs for mouthfeel & head retention and/or massive amount of dry-hopping....

Lastly, medals don't necessarily sell beer. They help smaller (and sometimes unknown) breweries get off their feet and help garner a reputation, but once you have a reputation established, I'm sure medals are just for show at that point.

 

I'd be down to pre game, I live bout a mile from the Sheraton. I'll also be volunteering at WTF this year so stop by and say hi.

 

I'll be in town from Wed-Sun from Chicago. Anyone interested in grabbing a beer or three?

 

Where is the information about the second entrance???

 

I think what you are referring to is something my buddy and I like to call 'Regional Unicorns'... They aren't whalez in the traditional sense, but certainly beers we don't get around here. Ex- CCB Jai Alai, Bell's Expedition Stout, Great Lakes Dortmunder.

 

Should have received an email if you bought your tickets from ticketmaster. Search "New Entrance to Festival" in your inbox.

 

3? bwahaha...is this amateur hour

 

Any advice for us people who live at sea level coming up to do a "little" drinking at that elevation.

 

Practice?