When it comes to US beer, Denver is the daddy … the king of kings … the premiership . There’s a serious beer culture in the Mile High City. By some accounts, it’s second only to San Diego for being the US city with the most number of breweries. And Coors is just 15 miles away in Golden; the largest single-site brewery in the world.
It’s no wonder then, that Denver plays host to the country’s largest beer festival – The Great American Beer Festival, organised by the Brewers Association.
Over three days in October (always a Thursday through Saturday – October 11-13) the Colorado Convention Centre is packed with stations serving some 2,700 different beers produced by nearly 600 breweries from all over the US.
From humble beginnings more than 30 years ago, the event has become mega-popular: some 50,000 people attend annually. Judging by how fast the tickets sell out (in under an hour), it could become even bigger.
When you arrive, you exchange your ticket for a wristband and an 1oz tasting “glass”. Then you’re free to explore and try whatever catches your eye. Of course, this being a serious beer festival, 80 different beers are being judged in the background.
With so many beers to try, it’s reassuring to know there are lots of different beer-friendly foods to snack on (including ridiculously large necklaces made of hundreds of pretzels).
And if you’re serious about food pairings, there are presentations hosted by chefs and brewers linking brews with their culinary counterparts.
This is definitely one for those who enjoy their craft beers. We just wish it was held somewhere like Red Rocks (we LOVE Red Rocks). But you can’t have everything …
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
