GABF is back and bigger than ever (Denver Post file)
When organizers of the Great American Beer Festival let slip last year that they , the obvious questions arose. What to do with it? More breweries pouring? More tickets available?
The confirmation came Tuesday from the Boulder-based Brewers Association, which stages the hugely popular event: yes and yes.
An additional 90,000 square feet means total attendance will bump from 49,000 to 60,000 and the numbers of breweries pouring will jump from about 700 to more than 800. More than 3,500 beers will be available.
Even with the extra space, expect the usual mad scramble for tickets when tickets to the general public go on sale at 10 a.m. Mountain Time on July 29 (once again, the oft-maligned Ticketmaster will be the vendor).
Members of the American Homebrewers Association and Brewers Association get the jump a day earlier, at 10 a.m. on the 28th. Colorado leads the way in AHA membership, and that jump start on GABF tickets may be a factor. Still, the BA restricts those tickets as well.
The BA does not disclose how many tickets are actually sold. That attendance figures includes ticket-holders, brewery reps and media.
The 34th annual festival has some other changes, including new “Meet the Brewer” booths where you’re guaranteed a chance to chat up brewers or brewery staff. Most booths are manned by volunteers and sometimes only volunteers. GABF staff have sought to convince brewers to give more face time to the public over the years, with mixed success.
Tickets made available to the general public last year , as lightning-fast sellouts to the online-only sales have become the norm. Last year’s sale came off cleanly, .
Fest organizers held the line on prices this year; tickets remain $80 for the public and $75 for members. As in years past, GABF General Session ticket sales are capped at four tickets per session per ticket buyer.
As always, your First Drafts team will be providing wall-to-wall coverage of the on-sale, the festival, the many side events that have sprouted up around it, the awards ceremony and more.
