By Tyra Sutak
Missed out on your chance to grab those coveted tickets to the Great American Beer Festival this year?
Huge bummer, dude.
But don’t worry. Even though thousands of people battle it out on the interwebs each year to snag a ticket to the fest before they sell out (which happens in a matter of minutes), the GABF craft beer fun doesn’t stop at the walls of the Colorado Convention Center. Local breweries are updating their events calendars as we speak with craft beer-centric events, special tappings, and additional tour hours to celebrate GABF week and all that is good about craft beer.
Check out how these local breweries are celebrating GABF week this year:
Avery Brewing Co.
Oct. 1st through Oct. 3rd - Avery will be running brewery tours at 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., with special tappings taking place at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Oct. 3rd - Great Avery Boulder Fest | The Fox Theater | 8:30 p.m.
Join Avery as they bring a little bit of the GABF to Boulder at this event that celebrates a local venue, locally-made beer, and live music by local bands. They’re busting out the big guns at this event, and dipping into Adam Avery’s own personal cellar along with favorite special tappings from the Avery tap room including: Rumpkin, Pump[KY]n, Bad Apple, Lillikoi Kepolo, Chai Brown, Out of Mind, Wet Hop Pale Ale, and GORED! The Magic Beans and Analog Son! are providing the live music. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here.
Bru
Sept. 29th - The Art of Pairing Beer & Food | 6 p.m.
Sept. 30th – Special Tapping – Loch Wee Heavy Scotch Ale | 6 p.m.
Oct. 1st – 2nd Annual Steins & Staches | 7 p.m.
$8 house pint pours in your stein. Contest for best facial hair
Oct. 2nd – Special Tapping – 2nd Anniversary Ale | 6 p.m.
Complimentary hand built ale for GABF ticket holders
Oct. 3rd - Beer Dinner in the Brewery | 7 p.m. | $40 per person
An intimate 3-course family-style beer dinner
Oct. 4th – Special Tapping – Fresh Hop American Pale Ale | 6 p.m.
Oct. 5th - GABF Hangover Brunch | 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. | $22 per person
Entree & 2 hand built ales included in ticket price
Click here for more info on all of Bru’s GABF events.
FATE Brewing Co.
Now through September 28th- The folks at FATE feel bad for you for not snagging GABF tickets this year. But it’s cool. They’re giving a pair away! Click here for more info on how to win.
Upslope Brewing Co.
Oct. 1st - Special Tappings | 11 a.m.
While Upslope has a lot going on in Denver during GABF week, they’re kickstarting festivities at their Flatiron Park location by tapping a Nitro Blonde Ale and the UpUpUpUp Local Honey Pale Ale— a collaboration beer with Freshcraft.
Oct. 1st - The Perfect Pairing: The local cheese gods at Cured are stopping by the Flatiron Park tap room for a beer and cheese pairing.
Wildwoods Brewery
Sept 27th – Wildwoods is throwing down on September 27th with a big ol’ anniversary party to kick off GABF festivities. Enjoy special beers, live music from Caribou Mountain Collective, food from Blackbelly, and commemorative mugs.More info here.