What’s New at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival in Denver
The Great American Beer Festival (GABF) is reinventing itself for 2024, offering an experience-focused event rather than just a beer showcase.
Key Highlights:
- Themed Areas: Five themed sections will replace the traditional regional or alphabetical brewery organization. Activities will include stein-hoisting competitions, costume contests, and various games.
- New Beverages: Expect canned cocktails, hard teas, ciders, and hard seltzers alongside traditional beers.
- Fewer Sessions: The festival will have three sessions instead of four, eliminating the Saturday night session due to complaints about empty kegs and excessive rowdiness.
Attendance and Tickets:
- Organizers anticipate 40,000 attendees, consistent with previous years.
- Tickets go on sale Wednesday, with the opening session on October 10 priced at $85, and Friday and Saturday sessions at $95.
What They’re Saying:
“Beer is still the star of the show, but we know younger attendees are interested in an overall experience,” says Ann Obenchain of the Brewers Association. This shift reflects the need for continual reinvention to stay relevant, especially post-pandemic.
Stay tuned for more updates as the festival approaches!
