Great American Beer Festival

September 16-18: The Great American Beer Festival, North America’s Greatest Beer Celebration

Beer Lovers, Food Lovers, Fun Lovers and Brewers to Attend Brewers Association Festival in Denver, CO

WHAT: The 29th edition of the Great American Beer Festival (GABF). The premier U.S. beer festival will serve more than 2,200 different beers, in one-ounce tasting portions, from an estimated 462 U.S. breweries to the   event’s 49,000-plus attendees. In 2009, the entire event sold out weeks in advance of the opening session.

WHERE: Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th Street, Denver, Colorado

TICKETS: Tickets are going fast and available for purchase online.

WEBSITE: www.GreatAmericanBeerFestival.com

New:

• Support Your Local Brewery Pavilion, presented by CraftBeer.com, with displays of items used in the brewing process.
• Upgraded Farm to Table Pavilion featuring four-ounce pours and a variety of fresh local food items selected to pair with the beers. Additional ticket required.
• Presentations in the Beer and Food Pavilion and Brewers Studio Pavilions include:·         Hosea Rosenberg, season five winner of Bravo’s Top Chef.
  ·         Ken Grossman, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, and Charlie Papazian, Brewers Association.
  ·         Teddy Folkman, winner of an episode of “Throwdown with Bobby Flay” on the Food Network. 

Sustainability:
Partnering with Zero Hero, our goal is to recycle or compost 85 percent of waste produced at the event.

Competition:
In 2010, 3,594 beers (up from 3,308 in 2009) will be judged by 150 judges. Top three styles by number of entrants: American-Style India Pale Ale (IPA) (150 entries), American-Style Pale Ale (112 entries) and Imperial IPA (100 entries).

Business:
The number of U.S. breweries is at its highest level (1,599) since before Prohibition. In 2009, overall beer sales decreased 2.2%, while the craft brewing industry (small and independent) grew 7.2% by volume and 10.3% by dollars. Of the 1,599 breweries in the U.S., 1,558 are considered independent craft brewers (Brewers Association).

Beer & Food:
Food-beer pairings were cited by the National Restaurant Association Chef Survey (see results) as the number five alcohol and cocktails trend to watch for in 2010. The Farm to Table Pavilion and the Beer and Food Pavilion will provide festival-goers the opportunity to taste the best that food and beer pairings have to offer.