Tickets are officially on sale for the 2025 Great American Beer Festival! The event takes place at the Colorado Convention Center from Thursday, October 9 through Saturday, October 11. Session times are from 5:30-9:30 Thursday and Friday, and 12:30-4:30 on Saturday.As with last year, there is no Saturday evening session. Tickets for Thursday night cost $85, while Friday and Saturday cost $95. If you think you can handle it, go for the the three-day fest pass for $220.
Last year also brought major changes to the festival, which is in its 47th year of celebrating craft beer. 2024 saw ready to drink cocktails to the festival floor. I may have sampled one or two myself. And for the first time, the fest will host the Distilling Experience, where 20 different distilleries will pour .25 oz pours to those who probably were catching a nice buzz from the beer but certainly wouldn't say no to a nip of craft gin or whiskey, thank you. And that size pour is perfect for distilled spirits, in my opinion. I've always felt like the 1 oz beer pours could be bumped up a bit, especially to experience the good lagers at the fest, of which there a surprising amount in 2024. But distilled spirits? Yeah, .25 oz will do just fine.
Themed areas return for 2025, including the popular Meet the Brewer section. My personal favorite section has always been the heavy medal section, where previous GABF medalists show off their beers.
Finally, Paired returns for another treat-filled flavor extravaganza, with world-renowned chefs showing their chops as their bites are featured alongside craft beers and cocktails. Paired is a separately-ticketed event. Get your GABF tickets while you can at https://www.axs.com/gabf
