If you want to get the most out of Great American Beer Festival Week, there’s more to do than just attend a session. This guide is for anyone in Denver for the festival — including a last-minute plan to help you dominate any GABF session. Cheers to an amazing beer week!
The Great American Beer Festival (GABF) is widely considered the premier celebration of American beer. If you haven’t been, it’s the largest public tasting and competition in the U.S. There are four tasting sessions where attendees can visit hundreds of breweries and sample thousands of different beers, usually served in one-ounce pours so you can try a wide variety without overdoing it.
GABF offers something for every beer lover — from hop-forward IPAs and classic lagers to sours, barrel-aged stouts, and experimental brews. With so many options, a little planning goes a long way. Below are practical tips to help you enjoy the festival, avoid common pitfalls, and discover great beer around Denver during GABF Week.
1. Know a Few Breweries You Want to Hit
You won’t realistically plan every stop in a session — beers run out, lines form, and you’ll inevitably be tempted by booths you didn’t expect. Instead, go in with a partial plan: pick a handful of breweries you don’t want to miss and be flexible beyond that. The official “My GABF” app (or festival listings) is very useful for this. It typically lists participating breweries, the beers they’ll be pouring, and their locations inside the convention center, which helps you map an efficient route through the maze of booths.
Save your target breweries ahead of time and keep the app ready to rate beers as you go. Note that convention center reception can be spotty, so download or screenshot key info if you expect connectivity issues.
2. Check Your Favorite Breweries for Their Pouring List
The app and festival updates usually post what breweries plan to pour, often within a day or two of the session. Many breweries bring special or rare beers to GABF, including limited releases you might otherwise only find at their taprooms. If there are a few names you really want to try, check their pouring lists and plan to hit them early before their best taps run dry.
Some breweries often worth prioritizing include established regional favorites and breweries known for rare releases. Save time by identifying a few must-visit booths and then explore newer or smaller breweries nearby when lines or timing work in your favor.
3. Don’t Forget Events Outside the Sessions
GABF Week extends throughout Denver, with many special tap takeovers, tastings, and brewery events around town. These offsite events are a great way to try beers that might not be available inside the convention center or to enjoy slower, more social tastings with taproom vibes. Popular venues around the festival often host themed nights, brewery takeovers, and rare pours.
Some venues to look for during GABF Week include restaurants and taprooms that curate rotating lists and host special tappings. Check local listings and the festival’s week-events info for schedules — you’ll find early tastings, collaborations, and rare bottles that complement the convention experience.
4. Tips for Your Session
GABF isn’t a sprint — treat it like a marathon. Pace yourself, sip thoughtfully, and prioritize quality over quantity. It’s easy to sample too many high-alcohol or very intense beers early on and then miss out on the rest of the session.
Practical session tips:
- Start with lighter styles and progress to heavier, higher-ABV offerings later in the session.
- Use water and snacks to stay hydrated and grounded. Many vendors and food options are available at or near the convention center.
- Expect lines: for entry, for popular booths, and for restrooms. Be patient and use wait times to talk with other attendees or to check nearby booths.
- If you’re in a group, split up briefly to sample different beers and share notes — it’s a good strategy to maximize exposure to more breweries without lingering in every line.
- Bring your ticket and valid ID. Festival staff will check both, and it’s unfortunately common for people to forget one or the other.
Finally, be open to discovery. Some of the best experiences at GABF come from stumbling upon small, excellent breweries you hadn’t planned to visit. Strike up conversations with pourers and brewers — they’re often happy to talk about their beers and production stories.
With some basic planning, pacing, and a willingness to explore offsite events, you’ll get far more out of Great American Beer Festival Week. Enjoy the beers, meet the people behind them, and above all — have fun and drink responsibly.