Great American Beer Festival attendees clink glasses outside Upslope Brewing Co.'s booth during the festival at the Colorado Convention Center. Pictured with glasses in hand from left to right are Austin Grissom, David Kolodziej, Daniel Currens, Al Panicucci and Al's wife Kathy Panicucci. (Andy Colwell, Special to The Denver Post)
Charlie Ingram with Telluride Brewing Co pours a beer on opening night of the Great American Beer Festival October 6, 2016 at the Colorado Convention Center.
DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 7: Mark Quinnell pours the Scottish Export for an attendee at Castle Rock Beer Company's booth during the Great American Beer Festival at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado on October 7, 2016. Castle Rock is seeing a boom in breweries, with two currently open and another two slated to open soon. (Photo by Seth McConnell/The Denver Post)
Opening night of the Great American Beer Festival October 6, 2016 at the Colorado Convention Center.
John West of Fredricksburg, Texas negotiated his way beneath a human limbo pole during a congo line dance at the Oskar Blues Brewery sponsored Silent Disco dance floor at the Great American Beer Festival in 2013. (Denver Post file)
Russell Arons, left, and Brian Burke, right, poked their faces through a cutout and took pictures with friends Saturday at the Great American Beer Festival in 2013. (Denver Post file)
Destihl brewery pours beers during opening night of the Great American Beer Festival October 6, 2016 at the Colorado Convention Center. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)
Lakefront Brewery, Inc. from Wisconsin, pours beers opening night of the Great American Beer Festival October 6, 2016 at the Colorado Convention Center. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)
Mathew Kopetsky, left, and his fiance Ann Dalee, dressed for the event as they and thousands of beer fans flocked to the Great American Beer Festival at the Colorado Convention Center Saturday afternoon, October 12, 2013. (Denver Post file)
Hundreds attend opening night of the Great American Beer Festival October 6, 2016 at the Colorado Convention Center. (John Leyba, The Denver Post)
Christopher Bennett from San Antonio, Texas poses for a portrait during the Great American Beer Festival at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. (Seth McConnell, The Denver Post)
Great American Beer Festival attendee Dan Powell takes a selfie with his wife Karen Powell, second from left, along with Larissa Wasilevsky, second from right, and her boyfriend Zack Frasher. (Andy Colwell, Special to The Denver Post)
Mark McMillan from Aurora poses for a portrait during the Great American Beer Festival at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Colorado on October 7, 2016. McMillan recommends trying the India Pale Ale from Odells Brewing during GABF.
A Great American Beer Festival volunteer pours a sample during the first night of the event, held at the Colorado Convention Center. (Andy Colwell, Special to The Denver Post)
Chris Zarate, left, and Levi Nickoles pose for a portrait during the Great American Beer Festival at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver on October 7, 2016. (Seth McConnell, The Denver Post)
Kelli Trostel poses for a portrait during the Great American Beer Festival at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver on October 7, 2016. (Seth McConnell, The Denver Post)
Attendees of the Great American Beer Festival mingle at the Colorado Convention Center during the 2017 event's opening night. (Andy Colwell/Special to The Denver Post)
Telluride resident Dave Shaver adjusts his beer-stein-shaped hat while attending the Great American Beer Festival's opening night at the Colorado Convention Center. (Andy Colwell, Special to The Denver Post)
Dressed as beer steins, Boston resident Katie Piscopio, left, of Boston, and her friend Andrea Liner, of Denver, walk through the Great American Beer Festival at the Colorado Convention Center after trying beer from Colorado breweries. (Andy Colwell, Special to The Denver Post)
Boulder resident Glenn Grant displays his lanyard of pretzels, beer buttons and other Great American Beer Festival paraphernalia during the event's first night at the Colorado Convention Center in 2017. (Andy Colwell, Special to The Denver Post)
Great American Beer Festival attendees wait in line to sample Melvin Brewing Company beer while listening to music played by the Jackson, Wyo. brewery's resident DJ Brian James, left, known as DJ Cut la Whut, at the Colorado Convention Center during the festival's opening evening. (Andy Colwell, Special to The Denver Post)
Denver resident James Tilley tips back a beer sample at left while attending the Great American Beer Festival at the Colorado Convention Center with friends including, from left: Kendra Spangler of New York, John McGhie, center, of Scotland; and Danica Reno of Centennial, right. (Andy Colwell, Special to The Denver Post)
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Great American Beer Festival attendees clink glasses outside Upslope Brewing Co.'s booth during the festival at the Colorado Convention Center. Pictured with glasses in hand from left to right are Austin Grissom, David Kolodziej, Daniel Currens, Al Panicucci and Al's wife Kathy Panicucci. (Andy Colwell, Special to The Denver Post)
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By John Frank | jfrank@denverpost.com | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your player ready...
Colorado beer fans can set the countdown clock.
go on sale to the public Aug. 1 at 10 a.m. mountain time. A presale for American Homebrewers Association members is July 31 at the same time.
The 2018 beer festival — the largest in the nation — takes place later this year, at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.
The Boulder-based Brewers Association hosts the event and this year the organization moved to AXS for ticket sales, ending the run with Ticketmaster.
The 37th annual beer bacchanal will feature more than 4,000 beers and 100,000 more square feet for social spaces, such as yard games and more.
Other new elements for 2018 includes a barrel-aged beer garden and a larger space for — the can’t-miss festival within the festival that features food and beer pairings from elite brewers and chefs.
