GABF 2016

For a few under the radar California recommendations, I'd throw out Alvarado Street, The Rare Barrel, Barebottle and Toolbox.
I also noted more than a few breweries I would stay the hell away from...

 

Rare Barrel brings the goods. Definitely grabbed 5+ pours from their booth last year. Thanks for the other reccs

 

Talked to one of the head beer guys at my local craft beer bar out here in Denver and while Hill Farmstead won't be sending out kegs for GABF this year, Lawsons will be. Pretty even trade IMO

He also said they're getting some insane kegs from Melvin that don't usually make it out this way...

Beers for the FFF event at Lowdown have been announced, and while @ablackshear found the question I asked earlier in this thread so hilarious, I've since talked to ppl at Lowdown and kegs of FFF have lasted through the night and into the next day (not so comical now huh ). They also said they're working on getting multiple kegs of certain beers so that will definitely help.

 

What beers did they announce?

 

Nm got it.

Zombie dust, alpha king, gumballhead, yum yum, blot out the sun and dreadnaught

 

FYI, brewtallyinsane posted a thorough calendar of events for GABF week.

http://brewtallyinsane.com/2016/09/19/gabf-2016-calendar/

 

Really looking forward to coming up for my first GABF experience and all of the events that surround it. Highly recommend checking out Pinthouse Pizza's IPAs for anyone attending (assuming they bring some).

Speaking of, anyone know when we should expect to see a beer list come out?

 

Last year it didn't come out until the day or two before IIRC.

 

Looks like the map on the website is now 2016. The app is still stuck in last year mode though. Should be soon though.

 

Gotcha. I'll try to be patient.

Anyone have first hand experience with the Tavour event at First Draft on Saturday? Or is this the first of its kind?

 

This is the first I've seen this event happen. Wasn't there last year that I remember. I signed up for 4:30 to 7:00 slots. No beer list yet but those are all solid breweries.

 

whoa, did I misread? thought you can only reserve :30 slot...
on FB First Draft replied

"Pours will cost anywhere from 1-3 tokens, depending on the beer. You can purchase additional tokens onsite for $2 per token.

For timing - our space is limited and buying additional tickets for different times guarantees your entrance at those times. We may have space available for people to stay longer than 30 mins at one time upstairs, but we can't guarantee it."​

 

I took it to mean if you keep buying the other slots too it would get you more tokens and keep you from having to leave. If turnout is lower than expected, maybe I wouldn't have needed to buy more slots, but would rather be safe than sorry. With those breweries listed, I can imagine it sells out once people see what beers they have.

 

Besides rare beer tasting, which I couldn't get tickets for at all, is there any cool events going on on Wednesday?!

Is Boulder worth visiting during gabf btw?

 

Nah, Stay in Denver with all the other Cool Kids.

 

If you've followed all 2 pages of this thread, there have been links posted to websites that have lists of events during GABF week...To answer your second question, besides a few breweries, there's no reason to ever visit Boulder.

 

If you are heading to Denver for GABF, please take 10 minutes to take charge of your health. The Brewers Health Initiative, a collaboration between Pints for Prostates, the Prostate Conditions Education Council and 1400 Miles, and sponsored in part by MicroStar, is a free men's health screening event. This year’s screening program honors the memory of Steve Anderson of Big Bend Brewing. The Texas craft beer pioneer lost his battle with prostate cancer on Nov. 25, 2015.

The simple blood test taking screens for prostate specific antigen, glucose, lipids and testosterone levels. Participants will receive a confidential report sent directly to them after the event that they can review with their doctor.

Here are the locations and hours:

Wednesday (Oct. 5), 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Inside the Colorado Convention Center from 10:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. for brewers and vendors at GABF during badge pick up and booth set-up.

Thursday (Oct. 6) from Noon to 5 p.m.: Focus Parking Lot at 14th Street and Stout Street adjacent to The Beerliner as part of the 1400 Miles activities. This location is across from the Colorado Convention Center and convenient to everyone attending the GABF.

Friday (Oct. 7) from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Outside of the McNichols Civic Center Building at 144 W. Colfax, the site of the Denver Rare Beer Tasting VIII, which is hosted by Pints for Prostates.

Saturday (Oct. 8) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Focus Parking Lot at 14th Street and Stout Street adjacent to the Beerliner, across from the Colorado Convention Center.

 

http://www.westword.com/restaurants...-week-2016-calendar-of-amazing-events-8246507

If it were me, I would go to either Hops and Pie or Weldwerks release. The Mercantile dinner has potential to be great if that's your thing.

http://www.westword.com/restaurants...-week-2016-calendar-of-amazing-events-8246507

 

Me and my buddies drove out to Avery in Boulder during GABF week last year, and we all had a lot of fun and got to try a lot of brewery only releases. I'm sure it's not that exciting for locals, but it was a high point of the trip for us. Avery's brewery is beautiful, by the way.

 

I think Avery is awesome. Maybe the best beer destination in the state.
They have a ton of beer (including multiple gold foil items), excellent food, and it's a hell of a cool facility as well.
Avery and New Belgium are probably my two favorite breweries to visit.