The Great American Beer Festival® was founded in 1982, and has been growing and evolving along with the American craft brewing industry ever since. GABF® was voted the No.1 beer festival in the country by 10Best and is listed as one of the top 1,000 places in the U.S. to visit before you die.
Due to COVID-19, the country’s preeminent beer festival and competition will pivot this year's event to an immersive online experience, October 16–17, 2020.
Between October 1-18, GABF passport holders will have exclusive access to online deals at more than 800 participating breweries nationwide. The lineup of breweries and deals is updated daily and will be finalized on September 15.
With something for every beer lover or beer-curious viewer, GABF’s online programming features some of the best known and rising stars in brewing. The sessions will cover a variety of topics and include tips and tricks to enhance beer knowledge and enjoyment; lager lore and sudsy stories from craft beer luminaries; profiles of breweries and individuals that are transforming their communities one beer at a time; and flavor fusions through beer and food pairings to tantalize the taste buds.
Airing October 16-17 via GABF partner The Brewing Network, the online content will be available exclusively to GABF passport holders. The virtual festivities kick off on Friday, October 16 at 5:00 p.m. MT with the Great American Beer Festival awards ceremony, then shift to exclusive passport holder content beginning at 7:00 p.m. MT. Confirmed speakers include Ken Grossman (Sierra Nevada Brewing), Natalie and Vinnie Cilurzo (Russian River Brewing Company), Garrett Oliver (Brooklyn Brewery), Gina Marsaglia (Pizza Port) and Tomme Arthur (The Lost Abby), Matt Meadows (New Belgium Brewing Company), Chef Danny Lee (Mandu and CHIKO), Marcus Baskerville (Weathered Souls Brewing Company), Jose D. Beteta, Tamil Maldonado Vega, and Martín D. Vargas (Raíces Brewing Co); among others. The complete lineup can be found here.
Virtual GABF passport holders will also be able to download tasting tip sheets prior to each session so they can make a list of beers and beer styles, and food in advance, then sip and snack along during the program.
GABF passports may be purchased for $20 and in addition to the online content, including access to brewery deals between October 1-18 at nearly 750 breweries from all 50 states.
Learn more about the 2020 Great American Beer Festival.
