Great American Beer Festival

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"GABF" redirects here. For the airport with that ICAO identifier, see Bafoulabé Airport.

The Great American Beer Festival (GABF) is an annual beer festival hosted by the Brewers Association, held in Denver, Colorado. Typically held in late September or early October, the event is currently held at Denver's Colorado Convention Center. Established in 1982, it is the largest ticketed beer festival in the U.S. and one of the largest in the world.[1]

History[]

The GABF was founded by brewer Charlie Papazian, and the first festival was held in conjunction with the American Homebrewers Association's annual conference in Boulder, Colorado in June 1982, featuring 24 participating breweries and 47 beers.[2][3]

In a private event held the week prior, judges evaluate the beers in the associated competition, and award medals in over 100 beer style categories. In 2019, the panel consisted of 322 judges from 18 countries, who evaluated over 9,400 beers.[4]

The most recent GABF was held in 2019, featuring 800 breweries and 4,000 beers.[5] The in-person festival was cancelled in 2020 and 2021, with a virtual event held instead, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is scheduled to return in 2022.[6][7]

Statistics[]

For a list of all medalists, see the List of Great American Beer Festival medalists

2004[]

  • Attendance - 28,000
  • Breweries at the festival - 334
  • Beers at the festival - 1,454
  • Breweries in the competition - 398
  • Beers in the competition - 2,016
  • Medals awarded - 201

2005[]

  • Attendance - 29,500
  • Breweries at the festival - 377
  • Beers at the festival - 1,672
  • Breweries in the competition - 466
  • Beers in the competition - 2,335
  • Category with most entries - American-style India Pale Ale: 103
  • Medals awarded - 206

2006[]

  • Attendance - 41,000
  • Breweries at the festival - 384
  • Beers at the festival - 1,668
  • Breweries in the competition - 450
  • Beers in the competition - 2,402
  • Category with most entries - American-style India Pale Ale: 94
  • Medals awarded - 203

2007[]

  • Attendance - 46,000
  • Breweries at the festival - 408
  • Beers at the festival - 1,884
  • Breweries in the competition - 473
  • Beers in the competition - 2,973
  • Category with most entries - American-style India Pale Ale: 120
  • Medals awarded - 222 + 3 in Pro-Am

2008[]

  • Attendance - 46,000
  • Breweries at the festival - 432
  • Beers at the festival - 2,052
  • Breweries in the competition - 472
  • Beers in the competition - 2,902
  • Category with most entries - American-style India Pale Ale: 106
  • Medals awarded - 222 + 3 in Pro-Am [8]

2009[]

  • Attendance - 49,576
  • Breweries at the festival - 457
  • Beers at the festival - 2,100
  • Breweries in the competition - 495
  • Beers in the competition - 3,308
  • Category with the most entries - American-style India Pale Ale, 134 entries
  • Medals awarded - 234 + 3 in Pro-Am [8]

2010[]

  • Attendance - 49,000
  • Breweries at the festival - 455
  • Beers at the festival - 2,248
  • Beers in the competition - 3,523
  • Category with the most entries - American-style India Pale Ale, 150 entries
  • Medals awarded - 236 + 3 in Pro-Am [8]

2011[]

  • Attendance - 49,000
  • Breweries at the festival - 466
  • Beers at the festival - 2,375
  • Beers in the competition - 3,930
  • Category with the most entries - American-style India Pale Ale, 176 entries
  • Medals awarded - 248 + 3 in Pro-Am [8]

2017[]

  • Attendance - 60,000+
  • Breweries at the festival - 2,217 (from all 50 states + D.C.)
  • Beers at the festival - 3,900
  • Beers in the competition - 7,923 entries

2019[]

  • Attendance - 60,000+
  • Breweries at the festival - 2,300 (from all 50 states + D.C.)
  • Beers at the festival - 4,000+
  • Beers in the competition - 9,300 entries
  • Beer style categories in the competition - 107

See also[]

  • Craft beer

References[]

  1. ^ Fredrix, Emily (September 7, 2011). "Oktoberfest in America? Drinks, festivals abound". NBC News. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  2. ^ "A Beer Drinker's Program to the Great American Beer Festival 1982" (PDF). Great American Beer Festival. 1982. pp. 20–34. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  3. ^ "Then and Now". Great American Beer Festival. September 1, 2017. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  4. ^ "America's Finest: The Country's Best Beers Celebrated at 2019 Great American Beer Festival®". Brewers Association. October 5, 2019. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  5. ^ "FAQ: Attendees". Great American Beer Festival. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  6. ^ "GABF Shifts to Oct 16-17, Goes Online". Great American Beer Festival. May 21, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  7. ^ "Great American Beer Festival Plans for Return to In-Person Gathering in 2022". Great American Beer Festival. April 4, 2021. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d "Great American Beer Festival". Great American Beer Festival. Retrieved May 4, 2017.[not specific enough to verify]

External links[]

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