As the American craft beer landscape continues to evolve and change, so too must the festivals and events associated with it. Nowhere was this more evident than at the latest iteration of the Great American Beer Festival (GABF), the largest public tasting event in America.
Organised by the Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade association for small and independent American craft brewers, the 42nd GABF took place recently in Denver, Colorado, and drew approximately 40,000 people to sample the 2,500 beverages from more than 600 breweries, cideries, distillers and other beverage producers.
But this year’s festival brought a fresh and exciting new vibe. In previous years, breweries were organised by geographic region and the presence of ‘beyond beer’ beverages was rarely seen. This year the festival underwent a complete make-over with themed experiential sections designed to offer immersive experiences, specialised beverages, and engaging entertainment.
Highlights included ‘Prost’, a traditional German-style Biergarten featuring a popular stein-holding contest and traditional Bavarian music; ‘Score’, a sports-lovers haven which combined the thrill of sports with the joy of craft brewing; ‘Fright’, an immersive Halloween-themed experience; ‘Blast-Off’, an ‘out-of-this-world flavour blast’ showcasing the beer and beyond experience; and ‘Chill’, a backyard gathering space with music, lawn games and exclusive brews.
IPA dominates
The result? A refreshing burst of creativity and energy aimed at attracting a diverse crowd seeking more than just beer tasting. From wild costumes and pretzel necklaces to karaoke, a silent disco, and new activities like Lucha Libre wrestling, there were endless Instagram-worthy moments and beverages to suit every taste.
Yet beer remained the star of the show. In total, 8,836 beers and 233 cider entries were judged across 102 beer categories and five new cider categories, all evaluated by 285 beer experts. In total, 326 medals were awarded to 273 breweries.
There are two trends within craft beer styles in the US that are growing the fastest right now:
- IPA in its many iterations continues to lead the American craft brewing landscape, now accounting for 46% of the US$29-billion craft beer industry, up from 30% in 2017. Hop-forward beers like American IPA, juicy/hazy IPA and Imperial IPA saw the strongest market share gains in 2023.
- Lighter styles, like American lager, wheat ale, and pilsner, are also gaining traction, showing growth at both ends of the ABV spectrum.
- Overall, growth is coming from both high and low ABV styles while mid-range ABV beers face more challenges.
High or Low?
Topping the bill for extreme offerings was Sam Adams Utopias, boasting an impressive 28% ABV. This rare, bi-annual, boundary-blending, barrel-aged masterpiece drew the longest lines at the festival.
Other popular examples included Revolution Brewing’s DBVSOD (Double Barrel Very Special Old Deth) at 17%, a double-barrel-aged imperial oatmeal stout; Fremont Brewing Company’s Rusty Nail, a bourbon-barrel-aged imperial stout infused with liquorice and cinnamon bark, coming in at 14.5%.
Lager and lighter styles are having their moment in the spotlight and there were plenty of excellent examples at the festival. Deschutes Brewery’s Fresh Hop King Crispy is a German-style pilsner which medalled in the latest competition, while Uinta Brewing Co’s Was Angeles, a 5% cream ale proudly took home a gold medal.
Another strategy for navigating GABF was to seek out unique alcohol-free options. Athletic Brewing Co., a high-profile brand available in many international markets, picked up two medals at the GABF competition, making it an excellent choice.
Fremont Brewing won gold in the amber to dark non-alcohol category. The low and no-alcohol beer segment is still small but rapidly expanding within the US craft brewing market.
Weird and wacky
For the adventurist, the festival presented a cornucopia of experimental concoctions, notably, 903 Brewers’ Zesty Ranch Taco, a 6% cream ale, that delivered the savoury umami experience of eating a taco in liquid form!
A festival favourite overseas, Destihl Brewery’s Dill Pickle Sour offered a distinctive flavour experience, while Denver Beer Co.’s intriguing Fennel Rye ale took home a gold medal at the competition.
Indian breweries are invited to compete on the global stage and register for the World Beer Cup 2025, the largest and most prestigious beer competition in the world. Registration close on 13 December 2024, with winners announced at the annual Craft Brewers Conference in Indianapolis, on 1 May 2025. Check out the details on www.worldbeercup.org.
