MN at GABF

First, here is the list of who is displaying at the festival:

August Schell
Fitgers
Lucid
Town Hall
Summit
Surly

But I was more surprised to see how many great MN breweries are not listed as showing at GABF. I hope that at the very least, the following breweries have entered beers, even if they decided not to set up down there:

Steel Toe
Indeed
Brau Brothers
Dangerous Man
Flat Earth
Fulton
Harriet
Lift Bridge
Northbound

And yes, I get the allocation of funds, time, resources; but as MN rockets into becoming one of the premier craft beer markets, there needs to be better representation of the local breweries at events like this. And I am sure that others have more breweries that they would like to see representing MN at GABF. Again, understanding the costs I can see from my own list who can more realistically budget this or not, but there are some on that list who shouldn't have any issue fitting a GABF booth into their yearly budget.

I am just going by the list that GABF has posted, so if I have any of these wrong, my apologies. But I really hope that more breweries plan to attend next year.

 

I didn't realize that brewers spots sold out that fast. I know that they expanded (again) the number of brewery slots available. GABF isn't a surprise event each year, so hopefully some of these local breweries can get a jump on this to get in next year.

 

$175 if you are a Brewer's Association member. I think that it is twice as much if a brewery is not part of the association. As you might imagine, membership to the association has benefits for members for all levels of participation in GABF, but I think that the most dramatic difference is in the submission cost for competition.

 

Actually, here is the page on the costs:

http://www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com/brewers/quick-summary-to-entering-the-gabf/

Note that all beers being poured at GABF are automatically part of the competition. So if a brewery wanted to enter up to 5 beers, the cost is for the festival floor pouring includes the cost of entry for the competition.

 

I am not sure how familiar you are with GABF, but at least half (probably well over half) of those participating do not distribute outside of their respective states or don't distribute at all (some of the many brewpubs that participate). In fact, of the ones going from MN, only two distribute outside of MN. I am not sure what you are imagining GABF to be, but what it isn't is just another Colorado beer fest, meant to market to Colorado consumers. And I acknowledged when making that list (a list of what I personally consider the best of the current MN breweries that were not already going), that some may not have it in their budget, but I am looking at two breweries with massive expansions on the horizon, another that obviously isn't in a position of needing to cut corners (despite being so new) and yet another that is quietly pouring liquid gold from their no frills operation.

 

624 pouring, 745 competing (overall), of which 230 are first time participants:

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_24278228/great-american-beer-festival-bigger-than-ever-but

I see a lot of articles stating that the festival sold out for attendees in 20 minutes, but can't find any source for this 10 minute sell on the brewers side of things. Not saying that it isn't so, but there are a lot of sites breaking down the numbers, including GABF themselves, who don't seem to make any mention of brewers spots going in record time:

http://www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com/press/festival-history-facts-figures/

And the proposed accommodations for next year and the massive expansion the year after that certainly show that more brewer accommodations are needed, so I hope that if they did miss the application window, that they take advantage of the fact that next year they seem to be guaranteed (as part of the waiting list) a spot to pour on the floor.

 

That is a surprise. A comparable operation that is going to be there is Two Roads out of CT.