GABF

I'll be going to! Make sure to stop by the Saint Arnold Brewing Co. booth!! That's where I'll be working.

I'll be there Saturday afternoon!

_Randal

I must despise you now.

Penelope

I'd never waste my money going to that festival again! Can't stand that shot of beer sample rule they have. Can't get a good feel for a beer with a 2oz sample. The Great British Beer Festival (GBBF) is a much better festival (held first week of August every year in London). There you can get either a 20 ounce imperial pint or a 10 oz half pint.

Bruce

Bruce

You're kidding! That's absurd. It's like, why bother.

nb

They're pretty small samples, but I was pretty well able to get an idea of most of the beers I sampled. Of course I had to get repeats of some special ones (Pizza Port cuve de Tomme, Hop 15, Bitter End's lambic, Michigan's Celis White, New Glarus's Belgian Red and Raspberry Tart all come to mind)

They'll give you unlimited refills.

With over 1500 beers, it would be a little tough to try very many if you could have a pint, plus, all the brewers would have to send many, many kegs instead of 5(maximum per brewery). There's barely enough room to store the ones that are there, much less triple or quadruple the amount to send. There is a 4 ounce pour area, for some select beers, I believe. Frank in Austin

You. You're the guy. I wanted to try some of your Elissa IPA and had Specs in my bookmarks...always assumed they'd ship to other states but no....only within a limited area of Texas. :^( You better believe that I'll be stopping by your booth, Frank!

Best regards, Bill

That's why you go with friends, so you can sample some of theirs.

It also helps that at the GBBF, most of the beers are aroun 3.5 to 4.5 abv.

While I like the pint/half-pint system at the GBBF, I've also done just fine with 4 oz pours at the Chicago Real Ale Festival and other American beer fests. I've not gone to GABF, and probably won't anytime soon (various reasons, including it's too close to my annual Oktoberfest trip), I'm reasonably sure I'd hate 2 oz pours. That's too little to really get an appreciation for a beer, and certainly too small a payoff for waiting in line for a beer.

-Steve

No you don't. You're actually gonna wish that I have a jolly good time. Same thing I'd wish you if you had some beerfest to go to.

Best regards, Bill

lol. Do we get name tags to wear?

Best regards, Bill

Just weear a beer t-shirt and we'll find you.

it helps to have a friend from NM who thinks to bring a bottle to you while traveling thru your state!

I believe the serving sizes are more a rule imposed by the Denver Convention Center than the GABF organizers themselves. Regardless, it does suck.

For those who haven't been:

The fest floor only permits 1oz samples in the fest plastic glass with two exceptions. During the Saturday afternoon Connoisseur Tasting session attendees receive an actual glass glass that can only be used during that session (still 1oz samples). During the entire fest, there is a small section (a beer garden in a sea of beer if you will) of breweries that can serve a 4oz portion in exchange for a (single) ticket you receive when entering each session. Also, the 4oz sample cannot be removed from the beer garden area.

Servers have been warned and removed from the floor for overpouring samples. The beer police are on constant patrol.

Joe

I gotta try it, Bruce.

Best regards, Bill

Good excuse to "get out of town"? lol That'll work.

Best regards, Bill