La Cumbre Brewing Co. They skipped last year's fest, so it's good to have them (and Project Dank) back this year.
Lakefront Brewery Let's hear it for Milwaukee, WI Lakefront Brewery, part of the old guard in the American beer scene- 34 years and running. Black Friday is the heavy hitter of their GABF lineup (14%), but any of the 7 beers they are pouring are worth a stop.
Live Oak Austin's iconic brewery will once again have patrons and brewers alike lining up for their fabled Hefeweizen. I'm partial to their Czech lager, Pilz.
Maplewood Brewing Chicago's Maplewood is bringing Super Son of Juice DIPA and Barrel Aged Cuppa Imperial Stout.
Milieu Fermentation Looking forward to this Aurora, CO. brewery, specifically Milieu Pils. and Be Dope NEIPA with Citra, Nelson, and Nectaron hops.
Modern Times Beer Get it while you can. Sad to see a brewery that brought such great beers slowly going away. I'm going to wash away my sorrows with Mega Devil's Teeth: Double Dutch S'mores and the 16.2% Decahex: Double Coconut.
MORE Brewing They always bring a stout that's almost too much, and the 2023 Mendhi Imperial Stout, aged 27 months in four different bourbon barrels, certainly fits the bill.
Morgan Territory Brewing Who? This California brewery has been quietly racking up the medals since 2004, and they are pouring five of the winners at GABF: Big Bock Energy, The Cushman, Old Diablo, Metalmark Marzen, and HopTomic (2023 WBC Gold in Imperial IPA category). In all, Morgan Territory has amassed 26 medals at WBC and GABF.
Off The Rails Brewing Looking for something different? How's about a carrot cake pale ale? No? Ok.
Old 121 Brewhouse Well then, how about a Cinnamon Roll Dunkel? Hey, you didn't pay $100 to drink yet another Amber Ale named after a dog, did ya?
Pals Brewing At risk of completely ruining all beer credibility, here's another suggestion: The Big Pickle, a Cream Ale with dill, salt and garlic.
Pax Verum More Czech Dark lagers, please. Midnight Shadow from this Indiana brewery is just what you need. No carrots, no cinnamon, no pickles.
Pinthouse Brewing Austin's IPA specialists will be bringing three, including the Fresh Hop Training Bines. Tubinger Festbier is pouring as well.
Pure Project Will Pure Project make us wait until 7:30 before pouring Corylus Imperial Stout? Probably. Ugh, I hate scheduled pourings. But I'll hang around and enjoy sips of Rain, their unfiltered Pilsner while I wait.
Quarter Celtic BrewpubABQ local favorite has a couple of medal winners on tap at the fest, Prince of Dort-ness Dortmunder; 2020 GABf Silver, and Kill or be KILT; 2022 Bronze Scotch Ale.
Radiant Beer Co. Was hoping they'd bring Southern Holiday, but I'll settle for A Touch of Everything, a barrel-aged vanilla Imperial Stout with Comorous, Ugunda, and Mauritius vanilla.
Resolute Brewing Execrator Dopplebock has medaled 3 times at GABF/WBC. And it's 10%. I would call that a Triple Bock, but there can be only one. RIP.
Revolution Brewing Not only is Revolution bringing their fantastic V.S.O.J. BA Barleywine, they're making me type awkardly with D.B.V.S.O.D, a 17.6% ABV Imperial Stout, aged in 4 different bourbon barrels and finished on French oak.
River North Brewing The 7 beers pouring from the two booths from this Denver brewery come out to an average of 16.7% ABV. Enough said.
Russian River Brewing Could I leave them off a list? Heck no. Two booths at GABF and they'll still have some of the longest lines. They make a beer called Pliny the Elder. It's worth trying, I hear.
Samuel Adams Is this the year I'm finally around the Samuel Adams booth at the time they pour the 28% Utopias? Doubtful.
Skeeta Hawk Brewing I'm looking at your lagers, Skeeta Hawk. This New Orleans brewery is pouring Dorgenois Pilsner, February 7th Munich Dunkel, and Masopust Czech Dark Lager.
Sketchbook Brewing It's fitting for an Illinois brewery to have a medal winning Grodziskie. Try that and Celestial Figgy Pudding, a BA Imperial Stout with orange zest and black mission figs.
Social Project Brewing It's been years since I had an Arkansas-brewed beer. About time to try Drops of Jupiter, an all Nectaron hazy DIPA.
Strngebird Brewing Yeah, this Rochester, NY brewery is pouring Unfettered Soul, their 2024 WBC Bronze winning hazy DIPA. But they're also pouring Rode Vogel, a Flanders Red. How many of those do you count at the fest?
TapRoom Beer Company San Diego, home of the Barleywines. At least this place is, with their Moments of Silent Banter, a bourbon/port Barleywwine.
Templin Family Brewers Lagers are the focus of this Utah brewery, and their Granary Keller Bier is the highlight, in my opinion. But all the lagers are worth trying.
The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. Another Brewery that can't be left off a GABF list, ABGB has won many medals for their Hell Yes! Helles, Rocket 100 Pilsner, and Industry Pils. And you can try them all.
Toppling Goliath The king of Imperial Stout producers (debateably) is bringing their hard to get and mega-hyped Assasin.
Verboten Brewing Take it Easy lager with corn, salt, lime, and ancho and chipotle chiles, and Smoke Monster BA smoked Barleywine. That's reason enough to stop by Verboten
Von Ebert Pils. And more Pils. Please.
Weldwerks Brewing Who's got the longest line? They'll be in the running. And they always bring the bangers, with Coconut PVW 23 Medianoche leading the way this year.
Wren House The line last year to try whatever special Imperial Stout they were pouring (that got spilled all over me) was ridiculous. Will it be the same for Kingsnake, a rye barrel aged Stout? Probably.
ZwanZigZ BrewingLet's end the fest with a beer that could ruin your night: the Ghost Pepper Imperial Stout from ZwanzigZ. You go first.