Great American Beer Fest

[Sherwood]

Here in Colorado, we are somewhat spoilt for festivals. Between RMAF and GABF, most of the esoteric items in the world I would truly want access to are annually dropped on my doorstep for my consumption.

So I'm going to attempt to give back, in an ever-so-slight kind of way.

Take a look at this list here and tell me if there's anything you've always wanted to try, or wanted someone else to try and confirm your feelings, and I'll find it and drink it for you, with notes.

My tastes are broad, and I've picked up a respectable amount of knowledge in a few years of attendance, so hopefully I can shed some light on something for you.

Of course, if you simply have a recommendation, I'll happily take those too. There's more beer than I can drink, even one ounce at a time, so I like to plan my trip ahead of time.

Cheers!

[tyrion]

I would rather go to this than RMAF but Jp is still dealing with that HF CanJam nonsense so RMAF it is.

Check out the Cigar City Beer offerings.

[Dusty Chalk]

Jesus.

[Sherwood]

Will do, Mike. I swung by Cigar City last year, and the joint was abandoned. Plan on doing it again, fo sho.

[Dusty Chalk]

My list would look something like this (my list is alphabetical, as I wrote them down as I thought of them, so as not to provide duplicates, you're going to want to map a "shortest distance staggered" route):

Allagash,

Avery,

Bell's (obviously),

Bison,

Brooklyn (I mean, c'mon, how can you not like a company who makes a "Black Ops":

Barrel-aged in Woodford Reserve bottles. Brooklyn Black Ops does not exist. However, if it did exist, it would be a robust stout...They say there are only 1000 cases. We have no idea what they’re talking about.

...),

The Bruery,

Dogfish Head (obviously),

Duck-Rabbit,

Goose Island,

Great Divide,

Lagunitas,

Left Hand (obviously),

Pike,

Rogue,

Russian River,

Sierra Nevada,

Smuttynose,

Southern Tier,

Stone,

Terrapin,

Three Floyds,

Three Skulls (hey, maybe Black Bonny will be making an appearance!),

Tommyknocker,

Troegs (right next to Weyerbacher),

Victory (right next to Weyerbacher),

Weyerbacher (obviously).

[Sherwood]

You're straining my note-taking capacity, Dusty

A number of those are wholly foreign to me, so I'll have to map myself a route.

[jp11801]

unless they are springing some non standard shit I would skip most PA beer great for local drinking but not worth the limited (in the context of a festival) tastes you'll get before you are shot. Here is my short list

Russian River

Three Floyds

Cigar City

Deschutes

Ninkasi

Walking Man

Every Pizza Port ( they brew some incredible beer)

Ballast Point

AleSmith

Bruery

If Triple Rock is pouring a cask/gravity beer I'd grab a taste

I tend to only drink what I can't get at festivals before I drink stuff I can score on tap or in bottles

[Dusty Chalk]

Agreed. Unless it's something that I can't get myself to buy, like the Black Ops (reviews are mixed for a $35 bottle of beer), or some limited something, like the Bell's Batch series.

Goose Island, Russian River, Three Floyds, and Terrapin are all largely based on reputation, the rest I actually know and like at least one drink from (Avery make a killer Russian Imperial Stout called The Czar, for example, but I know from reputation that they make other good things; Pike make something called the XXXX Extra Stout which is surprisingly good for a $4 big bottle; etc.).

Oh, and scratch Bison -- I got it confused with something else. It's worth trying if "organic" interest you at all, but I ended up not liking it for entirely personal reasons.

And at the Three Skulls "tent" (?), you're basically just looking for cleavage, so don't waste too much valuable staggering time there.

And take into account that this is just one man's opinion, etc. I do love beer, but I'm a relative novice (only really started drinking recently about the beginning of the year).

Edited September 14, 2010 by Dusty Chalk

[jp11801]

Dusty Black Ops is dang good, when I see it out I buy the bottle and share it with however is around.

We gotta meet up at the joint I mentioned in B-more a few weeks back, lots of special shit

[Dusty Chalk]

Yeah, let me know the next time you're in town, I'm not averse to going up to B'more, need an excuse to go.

And alright, you talked me into it, I'll go back and buy it if they still have it.

[Sherwood]

Cleavage is appreciated, Dusty, and not often selected for. Kudos to you.

And JP, you're dead right regarding Pale Ale and beers I often buy myself. I made the "too many pale ales" mistake last year, and got burned out quick.

[jp11801]

I went to the Ft Mason Beer fest in SF after drinking with Al all day, CHP was there and was doing BAC tests for fun. I blew a .16 as I entered the fest god only knows what my BAC was upon leaving. Not my best moment, thank god for cabs.

[jp11801]

BeerAdvocate's Guide to the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) - US - Mountain - BeerAdvocate

Beer Advocate's guide to the fest and in general some good beer fest tips to live by

[Sherwood]

2 errors in there:

1) pretzel necklace is a must. I bake my own pretzels.

2) It is pretty much impossible not to drop your cup. Around 10PM those things get mighty slippery.

[Sherwood]

BeerAdvocate's Guide to the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) - US - Mountain - BeerAdvocate

- Mile-High. (Mandatory)

No joke. You'll be a mile-high sea level. Due to the higher altitude, the humidity level will be low and the air dry. Drink tons of water before, during, and after your trip; twice as much as you normally would. We also recommend moisturizing your skin, and pack some sunscreen, lip-balm, and eye-drops. The air is thinner too, so don't overexert yourself. Some also recommend eating foods high in potassium; broccoli, bananas, avocado, greens, chocolate, granola, dried fruits, potatoes, tomatoes, etc. As well as foods high in absorbable iron, like red meats.

Fuckin' pussies.

[Uncle Erik]

Sherwood, if you haven't tried anything from Bear Republic yet, drop by. More of their beer has been showing up down south and I've been very happy with their Racer 5.

Another brewery I'm happy to see on the list is Bend Brewing. I used to go there regularly when I lived in the area. Haven't been for a few years, but they always had great beer, food and a friendly staff. Likewise Deschutes, but they're better known.

Also spent a lot of time at BridgePort in Portland as well as Rogue when I hit the coast.

I've also had a few good brews from Lagunitas - they're worth sampling.

[Salt Peanuts]

I am jealous. We went to Colorado Brewfest in Ft. Collins during our honeymoon and we had a great time.

[grawk]

I stlil put weyerbacher up against any other brewery, so I'd find out what they're bringing.

[Sherwood]

As I'm sure you're aware, Dan, that recommendation will be well heeded. Yours as well, Erik, though much of what you've listed I can buy with frequency here, and as such am already in love with. Bend is new to me, however, so I'll give them a spin.

[emelius]

sierra nevada's gonna have some barrel aged life & limb...

if you get the chance, have pooka at the brugge...

have a great time:)...i like to take my camelbak to these things filled with fiji...strangely, i've never needed sunscreen at a festival...must be some weird body chemistry at work...

[emelius]

per DFH:

Here is what we're planning to pour - come by our booth to try some of them out.

1) Theobroma

2) Palo Santo Marron

3) Chateau Jiahu

4) Midas Touch

5) Bitches Brew

6) Portamarillo

7) GrainToGlass

per Founders:

Here's what we'll be pouring at #GABF: Porter, Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS), Devil Dancer, Dirty Bastard, and Centennial IPA

try the canadian breakfast...you will likely never get the chance again...

new glarus would be a good place to stop...

[emelius]

& don't forget Lost Abbey...

Angel's Share Grand Cru, Cable Car 2009, Carnevale, Amorosa, Red Poppy 2010 & Road to Helles...

[Voltron]

So I assume you are going just to get some CBS, right?

[emelius]

i can't make it...haha...three other trips to deal with...

BUT...CBS is going to be on tap in Muncie next month...the Fickle Peach is having a 5th anniversary party with 20 rare taps...

hopefully i can hit the GABF someday...the brewery up the street from me's sending a contingent...

[Dusty Chalk]

sierra nevada's gonna have some barrel aged life & limb...