Brewers across the United States gear up in the early Fall and head to Denver, Colorado for what amounts to the largest beer competition in the USA. I am referring to the Great American Beer Festival, an event that begun in 1982 and continues to attract many of the best and brightest stars in the world of craft- brewing along with thousands of adoring fans just waiting to sample each beer product.
What is the Great American Beer Festival?:
The Great American Beer Festival is a three- day festival that attracts nearly 500 breweries and includes approximately 2,000 different malt beverages, both for tasting and for entry in the competition. The event is held at the end of September or the beginning of October each year and continues to grow in popularity, with attendance levels for the three days approaching 50,000 for the 2008 festival. For the past several years, the event has been held at the Colorado Convention Center and will likely remain at this venue until the Great American Beer Festival reaches attendance levels too large for the facility to handle.
How is the Great American Beer Festival different from Other Beer Festvials?:
The Great American Beer Festival offers plenty of great beer, just like other beer festivals. But there are a few key differences; most notably the large numbers of breweries and beer products represented at this festival and the competitive aspects of the festival. Simply put, the Great American Beer Festival offers more beer products for your sampling pleasure than any other beer event in the United States, competitive or otherwise. In 2008, for example, more than 2,000 beers were available to the general public with another 800+ entered into the competition.
Speaking of the competition, this is another unique aspect of the Great American Beer Festival. More than 100 beer judges rate the entries in this festival, with awards given out among approximately seventy- five different styles. In most all of the categories, the three best beers are awarded with a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Medal respectively.
Why Should You Consider Attending the Great American Beer Festival?
Making a visit to Denver for the Great American Beer Festival is paramount to the beer education and adventure of any true lover of malt beverages. The event is huge, the beer is fresh, and many personalities in the beer world are present. So what are you waiting for? Mark your 2009 calendars for September 24 through 26, Pack your bags, reserve your airline tickets, and make your way to the Mile High City. The sessions open to the general public run from 5:30pm to 10pm each evening and the cost of each session is $55 for the 2009 Great American Beer Festival. It’s an event every beer lover should try to attend at least once.
Link on the World Wide Web: http://www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com/
Make Your Travel Plans to the Great American Beer Festival!
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