2019 Great American Beer Fest tips

Denver weather is extremely unpredictable in early October. Check weather vigilantly before coming, and even then still come prepared for winter or summer weather.

 

A tip that has helped me at other beer fest: I drink one liquid IV before, one during and one after to help with having a minimal hangover.

 

My two tips to avoid hangover and getting too smashed are:

1) If you get a pour of something and don't end up liking it, dump it out. You have 'X' amount of pours in you, no sense wasting them on something you don't like.

2) Bring a water bottle. Everyone says their going to hydrate but before you know it you haven't seen a water fountain in 45 minutes. And you're certainly not going to spend any of your precious last hour looking for one. Bring a water bottle. Take a pull after every 2 or 3 pours. If you see a water fountain, finish the bottle and fill it up. Without even trying you'll have drank 4-5 bottles of water in a session.

 

If you have leftover GABF cups from previous years bring back multiple glasses/plastic cups. I always bring at least one extra cup that way if you are waiting in line you have something extra to drink and when you get to the front of the long line you can fill both cups. Just say the other one is for your wife or whatever if anyone gives you a hard time but i have never had a problem

 

Don't laugh and cheer when someone drops their taster glass.

 

I brought my plastic cup from two years ago so I wouldn't drop my glass members only cup. I was two fisting utopias at the end of the session. It was stupid and I plan on doing it again this year...

 

Something that has always helped me is setting a hard stop and sticking to it. It becomes really easy to keep getting "one more pour" until they start kicking people out.
I usually try and hit all of the places I really want to visit in the first 45 minutes. With the regional layout that's pretty easy since most are in the NE, NW, and SE regions.
At that point I'm feeling good and I'll spend the next few hours trying random stuff. The event lasts until 10, but I'm rarely there past 9:15. Especially with Rare being the next morning and food being a necessity. Getting decent food near there is an absolute battle past 9:30, but if you leave early tables are around.

 

Saw a guy fishing his cup out of the urinal last year. Just let it go man, the urinal is lava.

 

I like to pace myself. For the first 2 hours I am fine waiting in lines for the hype beers. If you go hog wild you'll be drunk in 45 minutes.

Don't shoot a beer down your gullet if you don't love it. Dump it and move on.

 

Another thing most people don't realize - the people pouring at 75% of booths are volunteers that were simply assigned. Drunkenly expounding how you love their brewery and that you're from the same area is just a waste of time. There are exceptions, but most of the time you're wasting your breath and holding up the line. Unless you're in one of the meet the brewer areas, you're just spouting off at a random person.

 

So, what beers are everyone most excited for? I'm looking at the list on their website and it's pretty overwhelming. A lot of breweries I've never heard of too.

 

That Tomme look alike at the Lost Abbey table last year was uncanny...

 

Ah come on, it's all in good fun... childish fun, but still.... have fun! Dress up in costumes if you want. I love seeing all the creative costumes and outfits every year. Also you don't need to take a picture or 'check-in' to every sample you're trying on Untappd. If you WANT to take notes, take a moleskin or notepad.

These should be in bold printed on the tickets FWIW:

• Get a sample of beer, move to the side (or away) to allow others their sample
• Chat away from pouring tables/booths

The one exception, if the booth doesn't have a line and/or you're in the meet the brewer's section, I'd say it's ok to chat it up with the brewer for a minute. Just keep it short and be aware if you're blocking people from samples or preoccupying the pourer.

 

I was with you until you said you left early. I spent enough on tickets I pace myself to stay the entire time On the flip side I've also heard getting there 15-minutes after the doors open you can walk right in without a line.... so there's that too.

 

I’m feeling attacked