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Part of the magic associated with the return of GABF involves all of the incredible beer events that take place outside of the actual festival. Although technically the Great American Beer Fest (GABF) begins on Thursday, October 6 and runs through Saturday, October 8, the festivities begin well before the main event and continue throughout the week.
From special tap takeovers to paired beer dinners, out-of-state bottle releases, and collaborations to full-fledged beer festivals, the beer world descends upon Denver in all of its glory. With over a week jam-packed full of events, it can be a bit hard to navigate. Luckily we’re here to help sort through it all with the return of our 2022 GABF Week Events Guide.
Be sure to bookmark this page or check back often as we will continue to update the page as events are released.
Something we missed? Is your brewery hosting a GABF event? Feel free to contact us and we’ll update this list.
Grab your tickets to one of GABF Week’s biggest events on October 5!
What? “It’s our 9th year of GRATITUDE, our customer appreciation party.”
Pre-order the collectible and very limited Gratitude Party Bundle while you can. Available on our website.
Beer: “Beer specials. Special beers.”
Food: “Rad BBQ from Pit Fiend.”
What? “Join us for our inaugural Small-Tober Fest, an afternoon of beer releases and live music at our new biergarten in Wheat Ridge.”
Entertainment: Live music starts at 12:30 pm and runs through 8 pm featuring The Weber Brothers Band at 6 pm.
Food: On-site pizza kitchen, Social Dough, “will be slinging pies all day and featuring limited Oktoberfest food specials.”
What? Celebrate crisp delicious LAGERS! A friendly competition. Come and see which brewery is crowned the first ever, Krispy King 2022!
“Leading into GABF when all the taps around the state are being taken over with DDH, imperial, pastry, triple fruited, gooey, sticky and what-have-you-nots, that it would be great to get together and celebrate light crisp lager in ALL its glory!!.”
9pm After-Party hosted by Cohesion Brewing
What? PorchDrinking.com is celebrating a decade of storytelling, entertainment, and reporting with a massive beer festival featuring an all-star cast of breweries. — 50+ breweries, distilleries, cideries and more surprises
Tickets: $60 – $75 (VIP Early Entry session from 5-6pm | General Admission from 6-9pm.) www.eventbrite.com/e/porchdrinking-10th-anniversary-beer-fest-tickets-407819407827
9pm After-Party at Cohesion Brewing!
Youth on Record: “A tremendous organization that provides educational opportunities for Denver youth to get involved with all aspects of the music industry. In addition to teaching children how to play music, they also provide learning opportunities around writing and composing, editing, recording, and even marketing/promoting shows as well.”
Bottleshare, to launch PorchDrinking’s mental health fund: “The end goal is to use this fund to provide free therapy sessions to applicants working in beer, while also supporting educational opportunities around mental health.”
What? Description:We’re kicking off GABF week with a kickass lineup from CSA’s portfolio.
Breweries & Beer (preliminary list):
Entertainment: Something Vinyl Club, a group of all-vinyl disc jockeys
Hosts: Crooked Stave and Baere Brewing Company
What? “Join us for a celebration and showcase of sour beer as understood, imagined and created by some of the wonderfully sour forward minds making it happen in Colorado.”
Admission: This is a non-ticketed event.
Food: There will be a food truck onsite, announced soon.
What? The brewery is re-releasing thirteen barrel-aged beers
“Not only will we be taking over our tap list with vintage barrel-aged beers, but we’ll also have limited quantities of bottles of everything to-go, so come up to Boulder during GABF week to revisit old favorites or discover some new ones!”
Beer: • Deep Dark Depths 2021 (12.6% ABV) • Peanut Butter Barrel’d Treat 2021 (12.1% ABV) • Barrel’d Coconut Treat 2021 (12.6% ABV) • Barrel’d Vanilla & Cinnamon Treat 2021 (12.5% ABV) • Barrel Aged Adjunct Calendar 2021 (12.2% ABV) • King Billy (Bear Creek) 2021 (11.7% ABV) • King Billy (A.D. Laws) 2021 (11.7% ABV) • King Billy (Stranahan’s) 2021 (11.7% ABV) • Barrel Aged Big Mole 2022 (13.2% ABV) • Barrel Aged Fluffernutter 2022 (12.7% ABV) • What Did We Do 2022 (11.3% ABV) • Oh Kriekey 2022 (9.3% ABV) • Blackberry & Vanilla Rum Barrel Aged Quad 2022 (10.2% ABV)
Attendance: Free to the public
What? Tapping 5 Beers including Collaboration Beer at Sloan’s Tap
Em Sauter, an advanced cicerone and illustrator, is the author of Hooray for Craft Beer! An Illustrated Guide to Beer. She educated and entertained beer fans for years with her unique illustrations.
Note: Sauter will sign copies of her book and have “merch” available for purchase.
What? “The big, malty ales are taking over River North’s Blake Street taproom!”
Every day there will be 3+ barleywines on tap with special releases throughout the week.
Attendance: Free to the public
What? GABF kick-off party at Occidental with Ratio Beerworks and Ska Brewing of Denver, CO along with Half Acre Beer Co. from Chicago, IL, and Bone Yard Brewing from Bend, OR.
Beer: “We are SO pumped to have teamed up with such heavy hitters from out of town AND we get to showcase our new seasonal brew ‘Lucky Lighter Kölsch’ at Occidental!” ~ Ratio Beerworks
Admission: See Event Page to obtain code for tickets
What? Beer & Cheese Pairing
“We’re hosting five days of parties with different craft beer themes.”
Get ready for five days of rare, limited and special releases, in addition to enjoying those all-time favorite craft beers and partying with beer lovers from around the world.
BEER WEEK BASH EVENTS: 🍺Wednesday, 10/5: Wisconsin Wednesday 🍺Thursday, 10/6: Brewed by All 🍺Friday, 10/7: IPA Throwdown 🍺Saturday, 10/8: Lager Lounge & Sour Sessions 🍺Sunday, 10/9: Brewmaster Brunch
This GABF® celebration, hosted by MobCraft Dee Tacko, Lady Justice Brewing and Melvin Brewing, will carry on the spirit of the iconic Falling Rock Tap House.
Note: MobCraft Dee Tacko is located one mile from the convention center.
Details: “Don’t miss your chance to try some very special, rare beers while hanging out with other beer-lovers and taking home limited edition swag. Check back soon for our full brewery and tap list!
Em Sauter, an advanced cicerone and illustrator, is the author of Hooray for Craft Beer! An Illustrated Guide to Beer. She educated and entertained beer fans for years with her unique illustrations.
Note: Sauter will sign copies of her book and have “merch” available for purchase.
What? Beers from Culture Beverage
“We’re keeping the GABF party going all week long with live music + a rotating taps (with 20 extra taps for the week!).”
Description: “What in the hell is the Dumpster Garden? Glad you asked. The Dumpster Garden is our back alley, pop up beer garden that saved our asses during pandemic shutdowns and we’re reviving it to make room for the GABF swarm and feature one of the best draft lists in the city.”
From Thursday (10/6) through Saturday (10/8) 2-10pm we’ll be featuring draft beers in the Dumpster Garden from
TRVE beers will also be on tap.
“Everything you could possibly need for GABF week in one grimy parking lot. See you there.”
Admission: Free to the public
What? “Plumb the Depths of Crispy Beers.”
Details: “It’s seen a number of different incarnations, but this year’s is sure to be our favorite one yet. BOTTOM FEEDERS, our annual lager showcase, is coming to the DUMPSTER GARDEN this GABF.”
“Join us as we bring together leagues of lagers for from our own brewery and from some of the best in the game.”
Host: Lady Justice & Bean to Barstool
Tickets: $30 www.eventbrite.com/e/chocolate-and-beer-pairing-with-david-nilsen-tickets-414665544807
What? “Advanced Cicerone and award-winning professional beer writer and educator David Nilsen will lead a curated chocolate and beer pairing consisting of four expertly chosen craft chocolates and Lady Justice beers.”
Event 1: GABF Pacific Northwest Tap Takeover 12-4pm
Event 2: Bending Thursday with Deschutes & Boneyard- 4-8pm
Attendance: Free to the public
What? “Join Ratio Beerworks and a killer lineup of all our best brewery buds for a tap takeover at The High Lonesome!”
Note: The High Lonesome is only a 9-minute commute from downtown Denver.
Admission: Free to the public
What? “The big, malty ales are taking over River North’s Blake Street taproom!”
Every day there will be 3+ barleywines on tap with special releases throughout the week.
Admission: Free to the public
What? A Celebration of Diversity with Lady Justice
“We’re hosting five days of parties with different craft beer themes.”
Get ready for five days of rare, limited and special releases, in addition to enjoying those all-time favorite craft beers and partying with beer lovers from around the world.
BEER WEEK BASH EVENTS: 🍺Wednesday, 10/5: Wisconsin Wednesday 🍺Thursday, 10/6: Brewed by All 🍺Friday, 10/7: IPA Throwdown 🍺Saturday, 10/8: Lager Lounge & Sour Sessions 🍺Sunday, 10/9: Brewmaster Brunch
This GABF® celebration, hosted by MobCraft Dee Tacko, Lady Justice Brewing and Melvin Brewing, will carry on the spirit of the iconic Falling Rock Tap House.
Note: MobCraft Dee Tacko is located one mile from the convention center.
Admission: Free to the public
Details: Check Jagged Mountain for updates
Attendance: Brewers Badge Required, free entry.
Hosts: Little Machine Beer, Five Start Chemicals & Supply, and Country Malt Group
What? Free food, beer, swag, and live music.
Admission: Free to the public
What? “We will be hosting Weldwerks x Casey Brewing for a massive tap takeover.”
Entertainment: “We’ll also have The One & Only Jon Hamm playing some high-energy one-man-band party music.”
GABF is our biggest week of the year and after a three-year absence, we are throwing down (with 20 extra taps on for the weekend!).
COVID Protocol: “All attendees must present proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID or a negative test result within 48 hours of the event.”
What? “58 of America’s leading craft breweries have committed to pour at the Oct. 7 event to raise funds for Pints for Prostates… a chance to sample rare, exotic, and vintage beers from dozens of leading craft breweries and the opportunity to meet the men and women who made them.”
Ticket Info: $200, only 600 available. https://pintsforprostates.ticketspice.com/denver-rare-beer-tasting-lucky-13
Each attendee receives beer samples, lunch, a collectible tasting glass, t-shirt and program. Attendees will be entered in a drawing to win an amazing beer trip, bid in an exciting silent auction that includes a variety of unique beer experiences and collectibles, and participate in the Brewers Health Initiative, a free men’s health screening.
• Alamo Beer, San Antonio, TX • Amalgam Brewing, Denver, CO • Avery Brewing, Boulder, CO • Baere Brewing, Denver, CO* • Beachwood Brewing, Long Beach, CA* • Big Sky Brewing, Missoula, MT • Boston Beer, Boston, MA • Bottle Logic Brewing, Anaheim, CA • Bow & Arrow Brewing, Albuquerque, NM* • Branch & Bone Artisan Ales, Dayton, OH • Broken Compass Brewing, Breckenridge, CO* • Bruz Beers, Denver, CO* • Burns Family Artisan Ales, Denver, CO • Casey Brewing and Blending, Denver, CO • Cellar West Artisan Ales, Lafayette, CO* • Cerebral Brewing, Denver, CO • Cosmic Eye Brewing, Lincoln, NE* • Denton County Brewing, Denton, TX* • Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Milton, DE • Drekker Brewing, Fargo, SD • Ecliptic Brewing, Portland, OR • Firestone Walker Brewing, Paso Robles, CA • Forager Brewing, Rochester, MN • Fremont Brewing, Seattle, WA • Garden Path Fermentation, Burlington, WA • Great Divide Brewing, Denver, CO • Jagged Mountain Craft Brewery, Denver, CO* • Joyride Brewing, Edgewater, CO • Kane Brewing, Ocean, NJ • Left Hand Brewing, Longmont, CA • The Lost Abbey, San Marcos, CA • Metazao Brewing, Indianapolis, IN* • Moksa Brewing, Rocklin, CA • Nebraska Brewing, La Vista, NE • New Image Brewing, Arvada, CO • NoDa Brewing, Charlotte, NC • Odyssey Beerwerks, Arvada, CO • Olde Hickory Brewery, Hickory, NC • Ozark Beer, Rogers, AR • Perennial Artisan Ales, St. Louis, MO • Prison City Brewing, Auburn, NY • Radiant Beer, Anaheim, CA* • The Referend Bier Blendery, Kutztown, PA* • River North Brewery, Denver, CO • Rowley Farmhouse Ales Santa Fe, NM • Saint Arnold Brewing, Houston, TX • Sierra Nevada Brewing, Chico, CA • Spice Trade Brewery & Kitchen, Greenwood Village, CO* • Trophy Brewing, Raleigh, NC • Union Craft Brewing, Baltimore, MD • Verboten Brewing, Loveland, CO • Wayfinder Beer, Portland, OR* • Weathered Souls Brewing, San Antonio, TX • WeldWerks Brewing, Greeley, CO • Westbound & Down Brewing, Idaho Springs, CO • WestFax Brewing, Lakewood, CO • Wild Mind Ales, Minneapolis, MN • Woods Boss Brewing, Denver, CO (* First Denver Rare Beer Tasting appearance.)
2022 Format (designed to create less crowding and more space for people to relax while sampling the beers).
Hosts: Jagged Mountain Craft Brewery, MobCraft Beer, and Vail Brewing Company
Admission: Free to the public
What? Celebrating hops from around the globe.
Description: “What in the hell is the Dumpster Garden? Glad you asked. The Dumpster Garden is our back alley, pop-up beer garden that saved our asses during pandemic shutdowns and we’re reviving it to make room for the GABF swarm and feature one of the best draft lists in the city.”
Admission: Free to the public
From Thursday (10/6) through Saturday (10/8) 2-10 pm we’ll be featuring draft beers in the Dumpster Garden from
TRVE beers will also be on tap.
“Everything you could possibly need for GABF week in one grimy parking lot. See you there.”
Attendance: Free to the public
Attendance: Free to the public
What? “[Ratio has] teamed up with the fine folks at Cart Driver (RiNo) for a special happy hour party to get a base going before getting wild.”
Beer: $5 cans of Dear You – our GABF and World Beer Cup Silver Medal Winning- Citra French Saison will be available on the back patio!
Oysters/Food: Shuck as you order $2 oysters will be on special from Cart throughout the event! We’ve also heard good things about their pizza but you know….
Note: “Cart Driver is only a 6-minute commute from the convention center and located only 4 blocks West of [Ratio’s] RiNo taproom…swing by both spots for the ultimate RiNo (AND RATIO) experience!”
Adminssion: Free to the public
What? Let’s celebrate diversity within the Craft Beer Industry! We are inviting everyone to stop by Raices on Friday Oct 7th to celebrate GABFiesta.
Admission: Free to the public
What? “The big, malty ales are taking over River North’s Blake Street taproom!”
Every day there will be 3+ barleywines on tap with special releases throughout the week.
Admission: Free to the public
What? IPA Throwdown featuring highly sought-after IPAs
The Week: “We’re hosting five days of parties with different craft beer themes.”
Get ready for five days of rare, limited and special releases, in addition to enjoying those all-time favorite craft beers and partying with beer lovers from around the world.
BEER WEEK BASH EVENTS: 🍺Wednesday, 10/5: Wisconsin Wednesday 🍺Thursday, 10/6: Brewed by All 🍺Friday, 10/7: IPA Throwdown 🍺Saturday, 10/8: Lager Lounge & Sour Sessions 🍺Sunday, 10/9: Brewmaster Brunch
This GABF® celebration, hosted by MobCraft Dee Tacko, Lady Justice Brewing and Melvin Brewing, will carry on the spirit of the iconic Falling Rock Tap House.
Note: MobCraft Dee Tacko is located one mile from the convention center.
“Kick off GABF weekend with a BANG as members of the Colorado Avalance Drumline join select members of the Guerilla Fanfare Brass Band for a special evening! Plus enjoy special GABF week beer releases!”
Admission: Free to the public
Attendance: Free to the public
Em Sauter, an advanced cicerone and illustrator, is the author of Hooray for Craft Beer! An Illustrated Guide to Beer. She educated and entertained beer fans for years with her unique illustrations.
Note: Sauter will sign copies of her book and have “merch” available for purchase.
Admission: Free to the public
What? “Cerebral Brewing is coming in to do some ~field research~ . They’ll be bringing beers in tow from Vitamin Sea, Humble Sea, Finback, Other Half and plenty from the Cerebral brand along with plenty of swag. As always, we recommend getting here early!.”
Hosts: Cervecería Colorado & Denver Beer Co.
Admission: Free to the public.
What? Annual Great Mexican Beer Fiesta, a Mexican Street Fiesta “to celebrate collaboration in craft beer with a few of the best brewers from our neighbors in Mexico.”
Extras, Food & Entertainment: “Lucha Libre, Folklorico Dances courtesy of ArtistiCO, live entertainment, food trucks, mercadito featuring local artisans and a few of our Cervezas for Causes charity partners, and of course, lots of Mexican fare!”
Description: “What in the hell is the Dumpster Garden? Glad you asked. The Dumpster Garden is our back alley, pop up beer garden that saved our asses during pandemic shutdowns and we’re reviving it to make room for the GABF swarm and feature one of the best draft lists in the city.”
Admission: Free to the public
From Thursday (10/6) through Saturday (10/8) 2-10pm we’ll be featuring draft beers in the Dumpster Garden from
TRVE beers will also be on tap.
“Everything you could possibly need for GABF week in one grimy parking lot. See you there.”
Admission: Free to the public
Details: Check Jagged Mountain for updates
Admission: Free to the public
What? “Join us in celebration of some of the best and most bad ass female, owned, operated and lead breweries from Colorado and around the country..”
“We hope to see you…to raise up, celebrate, and toast the incredible work these women.”
Admission: Free to the public
What? “The big, malty ales are taking over River North’s Blake Street taproom!”
Every day there will be 3+ barleywines on tap with special releases throughout the week.
Admission: Free to the public
What? “We’re hosting five days of parties with different craft beer themes.”
Get ready for five days of rare, limited and special releases, in addition to enjoying those all-time favorite craft beers and partying with beer lovers from around the world.
BEER WEEK BASH EVENTS: 🍺Wednesday, 10/5: Wisconsin Wednesday 🍺Thursday, 10/6: Brewed by All 🍺Friday, 10/7: IPA Throwdown 🍺Saturday, 10/8: Lager Lounge & Sour Sessions 🍺Sunday, 10/9: Brewmaster Brunch
This GABF® celebration, hosted by MobCraft Dee Tacko, Lady Justice Brewing and Melvin Brewing, will carry on the spirit of the iconic Falling Rock Tap House.
Note: MobCraft Dee Tacko is located one mile from the convention center.
Admission: Free to the public
Details: Check Jagged Mountain for updates
Admission: Free to the public
What? “The big, malty ales are taking over River North’s Blake Street taproom!”
Every day there will be 3+ barleywines on tap with special releases throughout the week.
Admission: See the event page to obtain code for tickets.
What? “We’re hosting five days of parties with different craft beer themes.”
Get ready for five days of rare, limited and special releases, in addition to enjoying those all-time favorite craft beers and partying with beer lovers from around the world.
BEER WEEK BASH EVENTS: 🍺Wednesday, 10/5: Wisconsin Wednesday 🍺Thursday, 10/6: Brewed by All 🍺Friday, 10/7: IPA Throwdown 🍺Saturday, 10/8: Lager Lounge & Sour Sessions 🍺Sunday, 10/9: Brewmaster Brunch
This GABF® celebration, hosted by MobCraft Dee Tacko, Lady Justice Brewing and Melvin Brewing, will carry on the spirit of the iconic Falling Rock Tap House.
Note: MobCraft Dee Tacko is located one mile from the convention center.
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