GABF 2016

Any been to bottlefest at first draft before?

 

Think this is the first year they are doing it, grabbed the 430 tickets as soon as I saw it though, will be interesting how they deal with the shift between the 30 minute sessions.

Also I kind of wonder if they'll be delaying some of the rarer pours for later in the night, but for $12 bucks or whatever after tax it seems like a good deal.

 

I snagged two 6:30 tickets. I hope they spread the beer around.

 

https://www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com/breweries-beers/beers-at-the-festival/

Beer list is up. I can already see the massive lines at a few of these.

 

I tried to have a plan, and it all went out the window when I walked in the doors. I wound up hitting all the Colorado breweries I never get a chance to try. I spent a full session drinking Colorado beers, and STILL didn't get to hit all the ones I wanted. You'll be fine.

 

I had a plan last time and managed to hit 95% of the planned places. But I can see some of the long lines potentially throwing a monkey wrench into the plans.

 

I don't understand how or why people wait in lines for like 15-20 minutes rather than hitting places with no lines- especially early on.

I can see doing that later, after buzzes have been caught, but still.... Guess my FOMO isn't quite what others experience.

 

I'm headed to Denver tomorrow and super stoked - thanks for all of the great suggestions in this thread.

The issue I always run into is after-hours food - anyone have any recs for post-festival eating? Near the convention center is great but I'm staying a little farther out and willing to Uber. Anything interesting/unique/Denver-specific would be awesome. Thanks!

 

Headed out from San Diego and arriving tomorrow. First timer and wondering if I should be bringing any good beers for possible shares. Thinking even if I don't stumble upon one that I can drink them with friends.

Anybody ever luck into shares in the downtown hotel lobbys or elsewhere?

Thanks.

 

Heading up to Denver for tomorrow nights session, looking forward to it. Going to be my first GABF, always just hit up the special tappings around town in the past. Decided to finally check out the actual event this time around.

 

Just got into town today. Hit up Ratio Beeworks, Our Mutual Friend, Finn's Manor, Star Bar, and about to go to Falling Rock Tap House. Hooray Beer!

 

I am bringing some beers as well and figure there MUST be a share in every hotel lobby across Denver over the next 3 nights.

 

I'm hoping for the same thing. I hoard all of these beers, may as well bring some. Just worried about the survival in the luggage. I do have the special packing though that are used for packing wine bottles.

 

Ian's Pizza few blocks away from Falling Rock has great pizza slices. New York style pizza, super thin and crunchy but really substantial.

 

Sam's #3 - 15th and Curtis. Your Welcome.

 

Yes. Just ask around and keep yer ears open. Beerhunter Logan used to have a huge bottle share, but I think that hasn't been around for years. Too bad, super duper fun times. It was all organized and stuff. Nowadays, it's pretty much an open invite to shares if you catch wind of them

 

This will my first GABF ever, very excited. Got in tonight and hit up some great events and tap take overs. My question for those who have be, who like to get in relatively quick into the event, but also want to check into some events and breweries. What is a good time to get to the convention center to get into line.

Thanks for the advice, and cheers!

 

Backcountry had 6 Melvins, 4 Russian Rivers, a bunch of Firestones and Bells, and a ton of sours on tap yesterday. The Asterisk was killer

 

I took 6 bottles to Hawaii and brough 6 bottles back and all of them survived. I taped all the caps with electrical tape, and I put them mostly in the middle of the suitcase wrapped in clothes. I avoided putting them near the edges and sides. Also keep them from touching each other.

Be aware that putting bottles of beer inside a foam shipper greatly increases the chance that you'll get a secondary TSA inspection of your checked luggage.

 

I have 2 tickets for Casey's 2pm session for tomorrow (Friday) if anyone wants to go. PM for details.

 

I am looking at the beer list and I'm sure liking what I see. There is some really awesome stuff out there. Yeah we lost some good ones but no one should be hurting for choices no matter what you are into. IPA game gonna be strong this year.

Kind of a sleeper but Destihl gets almost no love due to kind of high prices, but last year there was no line for awesome BA stouts and sours.

Odd13 is pouring Codename: Superfan and n00b, if you've never tried them make sure you stop by.

 

There is no reason for a young man to die of prostate cancer! And, "young" is getting older and older daily. This is amazing. Kudos, kudos, kudos.

I am a prostate cancer survivor. My cancer was discovered when I was relatively young through the painless and super fast blood test. My cancer was caught fast and I took care of it. This is an amazing program. Please, if not for yourself then for your kids, family and friends. PLEASE PLEASE TAKE THIS TEST. IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE.

 

I've been to several GABFs. Biggest secrets? Perspective. First, don't wait in line. Wait a half hour or 40 minutes and then get there. You will miss nothing! You will walk right in without waiting and without the hassle. Moreover, you're never going to try it all. Most fun is to go to the places without the lines and try lots of different things you've never heard of. It all seems to work out.

 

leelas euro cafe

 

For perspective....
We entered the convention center about 4:30, and when we made it through ID, ticket, detector, we were towards the front of the second column of waiting line.
Once they started letting everyone in, I had my first taste of beer at 5:34.
Depends on how excited you are to have your first beer... How long do you wait?

 

How did the entrance line work this year? Looks like there is a new corral type area inside the hall?

 

No issues with the entrance. Took about 5 minutes to get in and we were in line about 40 minutes early. Walked over to Pacific NW region to start where there were no lines and great beers. A couple of favorite sleepers were Great Notion Juice Box and Alvarado Contains No Juice - excellent IPAs.

 

Ok, what are the favorite beers coming out of last night's session???

 

I heard City Star is pouring a sour beer that is turning some heads...

Pancho Sour Tequila Wheat

 

Took the light rail and arrived a little after 6. Big line to get in at that point and we decided to grab some dinner first. Returned at quarter to 7 and no line, in right away. I didn't go in with any must tries or agendas, so our timing worked perfectly fine for me. Noticed Wicked Weed, Funky Buddha and Jester King were out of beer when walking by each of their stations FWIW.

My 2 standouts for the night were Fremonts BBA Dark Star and Cannonball Creek's Featherweight. Only line I waited in was for Weldwerks, tough choice betweeen that Coffee Maple Stout and Double Dry Hopped Juicy Bits, I chose the stout but kinda wish I went Juicy Bits instead. Stout was really good though, so it really wasn't that big a deal. I didn't feel like waiting in line again so not trying Juicy Bits was ultimately my choice.

First GABF and really happy to have finally checked it out. Definitely worth it. That said, not sure I need to go back. In the future I see myself sticking with the side events.

 

IMO, Toolbox stole the show with their sours at last night's session. So delicious!

 

Went to GABF yesterday for the first time ever. It was amazing. Gonna definitely have to try and do all 3 days next year.

 

THAT VELVET FOG THOUGH.

 

Twelve Degrees?

 

Nah. Sun King. Barrel-aged Quad.
So much yum.

 

J Wakefield was the highlight for me. Their berliners were one of the best fruited ones I've had. Haterade was the best one I've had.

Highlights for me were: Drake's, jester king, weldwerks, Toolbox, Alvarado, Kane, Beachwood, and Lost Abbey of course.

Got in line about 5:20 and it took about 25 minutes to get inside.

 

My favorite beers last night were:

Weldwerks BA Mexican Achromatic
Fremont BBA Dark Star
Bottle Logic Stronger Than Fiction
Fremont B-Bomb
Hops & Grain 78702
Oakshire Especial
Jester King Atrial Rubicite
Smog City Snugglebug
A couple Scratch beers

 

I attended both the Thurs and Fri night sessions. A few observations that I hope maximize others enjoyment:

- There's really no point to getting to the festival early. On Thursday, I arrived 40 mins early and had my first pour around 5:35PM. On Friday I arrived exactly at 5:30PM and had my first pour at 5:40PM. 30 mins of standing in a corral for 5 mins of extra drinking? No thank you.

- I have a new appreciation of the distro we enjoy here. I probably tasted 30 IPAs and none of them rank above Comrade, Odd13, or Melvin.

- The lines for the "beer geek" breweries (Lost Abbey, RR, etc) were longer than I remember. I didn't wait in one of them. The quality of beer brought by other brewers is so high that I think you're wasting your time by waiting in line.

Favorites:
- Tayberry Gose from Alvarado St
- Tangerine IPA from Stone (might as well have Xocoveza while there)
- Anything from 5 Rabbit Cerrveceria
- Yuzu Fierce, Hellbroth, and BA S'Mores from Off Color
- Madam Basil from Holy City
- Chocolate Rain from Bruery
- Snake Cake from West Sixth (only if you like sweet milk stouts)
- Katy and Art of Neurosis from 2nd Shift
- Velvet Fog from Sun City
- Welcome to Scofille from Jailbreak Brewing
- Legion from Adroit Theory

 

Anyone have a favorite IPA?

 

Modern Times was my favorite brewery that I had never tried before last night. Really solid sours, ipas, and stouts/strong ales.