Sunday, October 6, 2024

2024 GABF Drinking Guide Zero-C

You ready??? GABF 2024 is here, and so here ya go, my yearly look at picks for beers to try at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival, broken down into a number of easy reads for the short attention span crowd.

3 Daughters Am I really going to start off this year's recommendations with a vodka-based drink? Eh, why not? Remember, people are going to stand in a line to try NA beer at GABF. It's a soft world. May as well stand around and judge those people as we sample the vodka/soda Rootbeer Float, Creamsicle, and RocketPop flavors from this St. Augustine, FL brewery.

3 Floyds Of course they're going to be on the list, and of course you were going to check out their booth regardless. Dark Lord Imperial Stout will be pouring, so come get a taste of Imperial Stout history. I'm looking more forward to Crushing Mass, the 15.1% coffee Imperial Stout. Oh, and if you still want more vodka/soda drinks, try the Pineapple Mango at 3 Floyds.

903 Brewers Another regular in my GABF picks, and this year it's not because of Pineapple Magic (though that would be enough), or Barrel-Aged Peanut Butter Stout. More interesting is both Bacon Cinnamon Roll Cream Ale, and the Zesty Ranch Taco Cream Ale.

Alternative Medicine Brewing A hibiscus (and 32 other ingredient) Pale Ale dry-hopped with Nelson might be enough to get on the list on it's own, but when it's named Bill Allen's Effing RAD!, that bumps it up. Bill Allen played Cru Jones in the 80's BMX movie RAD!, worth watching for the dance floor scene alone.

Alvarado Street Brewery Don't remember these guys being here the past couple of years. Love the tropicality that they bring to their hoppy beers. Looking forward to Double Mai Tai (the single version took a Bronze at the 2023 WBC), Keitora, and Double Howzit Punch.

Avery Brewing Co. You can always count on Avery for bringing BIG beers (Tweak 15.3% coffee Stout and Old Fashioned Friends, a 13.2% Quad aged in Bulleit barrels), and having brewing legend Adam Avery pour them for you. Always a treat.

Bearded Brewer Artisan Ales This Longmont, CO brewery is bringing some intriguing offerings, including Peacharine Memories Triple IPA with Nelson and Peacharine hops. Also Looking forward to PB Dream Imperial Milk Stout. Oh, and Carnival Dayz Caramel Apple smoothie hard seltzer.

Boneyard Beer No stranger to high ABV beers, Boneyard is pouring the 11% Notorious TIPA and Rum Barrel-Aged Suge w/ Coconut Imperial Stout.

Bootstrap Brewing Not many Imperial Red beers out in the wild anymore. Get a taste of Bootstrap's, the 2023 GABF Gold medal-winning Wreak Havoc.

Breakside Brewing Breakside does solid beers across many styles. Jaromir Lagr is, naturally, a Czech-style Lager that will be at the fest. Also looking to try the Fresh Hop Double Wanderlust, but the star is La Maison Du Bang!, a Barleywine aged in three types of barrels.

Brieux Carre Brewing A hearty welcome back to this NOLA brewery that skipped the fest last year. Known for their excellent lagers with clever names, Brieux Carre will be pouring standouts Malcolm in the Mittlefruh, Crispy Boiz to Men (GABF Silver 2022, Other Hoppy Lager) and Flek Me?? No Flek U!! GABF Bronze, 2023 International Dark Lager).

Burns Family Artisan Ales One of the more exciting breweries to hit the Denver scene, Burns will be bringing a Kvass, Old Ale, Quad, and the one I'm most looking forward to, N.P. Pilsner.

Cloudburst Brewing Our first Pumpkin Beer sighting, Your Worst Nightmare, a Pumpkin Double Milk Stout from Seattle's Cloudburst Brewing. Not sure if I remember seeing Cloudburst at GABF before.

Confluence Brewing Iowa is an underrated state, I decided on a road trip through last year. Get a taste of Des Moines' Confluence WBC medal winners Old Chungus, 2023 Gold in Wood and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer, and Over the Ivy, 2022 Gold in Bohemian-Style Pilsener.

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