The wonderful
part about this festival is that you get to taste 
beers
from, not only breweries, but also brewpubs from all over the U.S. You
would normally have to travel many miles to try these. It also allows you
to compare beers from the major breweries with the beers of the smaller
ones side-by-side...(Guess which ones are better?) Additionally,you
can find that the brews which once dominated the market are still available
or being revived by the larger breweries, i.e. Schlitz, Schaefer, Stroh's,
Pabst Blue Ribbon, Rheingold, etc., although they are not any better today
than they were years ago. We've come a long way and will hopefully keep
on going! If growing attendance at these festivals is any indication, the
brewing industry will continue to prosper. If only we could get more people
to realize that there is such a great selection of beers and that trying
something new may lead to enjoying a beer for its flavor!
The city of Denver really gears up for this event and all the brewpubs
and beer bars in town usually hold special events in honor of it. So, in
addition to the Festival, there are places to go before or after the GABF
for a meal and a pint. We made a point this year to visit a different establishment
each day for lunch or dinner. Reviews of these places will be in future
Brewpubs of the Month.
For those
who wish to make the trip, the AHA has set up special room rates with many
hotels and other group travel arrangements through a travel agent in Denver.
This info can be gotten from their Web Site, www.gabf.org
. The tickets for the event became available online for the first time
this year and usually go on sale in August.
Any beer
aficionado should make this trip at least once. It is so spectacular, it
will be tough not to go every year. The City of Denver is a beautiful destination
with many activities that are family-oriented. The scenery alone is breathtaking
with the snow-capped peaks and the golden alder on the foothills. Not to
mention brewery tours,gold mine tours,museums and parks. The weather is
surprisingly mild although volatile. We had 80 degree weather this year
though it had snowed the week before. (Keep a close eye on the forecast
to be prepared for whatever comes.)
Remember
to make your plans early as there are usually several other conventions
in town at the same time and accommodations become scarce. Hope to see
you there!
I will be
adding beer reviews from the Festival and more pictures as time and space
allow.
Enjoy life
and drink responsibly!
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