GABF- who got tickets and who is pissed?

[h2so4]

I didnt get tickets. I was mad for a few min... but that just frees up $85 for alot of micro brew beer from Tipsys! Gonna get the guys together and we will all bring something unique and have our own beer and bbq day. I hate you ticketmaster... haha

[BigDee]

I usually buy my tickets on Craigslist the day of or day before the event. I always manage to find someone that can't go at the very last minute and is willing to sell their tickets for much less than face value just to make sure they don't take a complete loss.

[ChadAmberg]

Great American Beer Festival I think...

[trlcavscout]

gabf? is that something like nsync?

Must be a city thing?

[h2so4]

Must be a city thing?

Great American Beer Festival
whats nsync?

[3beansalad]

whats nsync?

isn't that the thing ford puts in cars now? The voice activated thing.

[Dave]

I'll be in driving to Michigan on the 12th so I didn't get any tickets this year. It's way too crowded anymore with so many there just wanting to get slammed, especially on the Friday night session. I used to work it as a volunteer and a brewery rep from Dry Dock when I worked there, and the last two years I'd go on Saturday afternoon for the AHA member session. Now people buy AHA memberships even though they do not nomebrew just to go to that one since there's usually some extra reserves brought out for it.

[Fromk]

My sister was refreshing the page waiting for them to go on sale and they came up sold out right away. She's pissed.

[james_bond_007]

While being able to sample 1500-2000 beers seems exciting, I stopped going a few years back because I started leaving sort of disappointed.

Of the 1500 beers there (no, I did not sampe them all ), I only found about 100 or so really "good" beers.
The others were N-A-S-T-Y.

Pine Bark Beer ? yes, there was some at GABF
Young, Unfinished/wort-y beer ? YES...lots
Chili Beer ? Yes (Chilit beer may be a personal preference, but not by me...but when the Brewer starts describing his beer as "...and it is great to marinate chicken in..." I have an issue.
......................being a "good marinade" is not a quality I look for in a beer.
Over-carbonated ? YES
Under-carbonated ? YES
Oregano/basil/rosemary beer ? YES
Super MALTy ? yes
Old World recipes ? YES (do you really think you can enjoy a beer the way it was brewed in ancient Egypt ?...YUK !!!!)

If you do go, pay attention to the booths where the lines are long. THEY are the GOOD beer sites.
THEY are worth the wait ...but I don't know if they are worth $85-worth of wait.

Although it is too late, it is sometimes possible to sigh up as a volunteer for the event.
This also involves supporting the judging sessions that take place the prior week(s) to the public "festival".
As a volunteer at the pre-festival activities, you get 1 or 2 tickets to let you into the "festival" for free.

Getting to be a volunteer "used" to just require an application. Now, they have more volunteers that they need...so you pretty much need to "know" someone to get a volunteer slot.

And as always, have someone drop you off and pick you up. There are SWARMS of cops waiting for the "fools" that "enjoyed the festival a little too much" and want to drive on public roadways.

...or "Get A Room" and enjoy downtown Denver for the weekend.

[james_bond_007]

As an alternate to the large crowds at GABF, try these.
Most (if not all) are willing to give you some free samples for those beers "on tap".

Falling Rock Tap House @ 1919 Blake, Denver
Yard House @ 1555 Court Place, Denver
Yard House @ 14500 West Colfax Ave., Lakewood (CO Mills)
Yard House @ 8437 Park Meadows Center Drive, Lone Tree (Park Meadows Mall)
Ale House at Amato's @ 2501 16th Street, Denver
Cheeky Monk Belgian Beer Cafe @ 534 E. Colfax, Denver
Cheeky Monk Belgian Beer Cafe @ 14694 Orchard Parkway #700, Westminster (Orchard Place Mall)
World of Beer - Cherry Creek @ 660 South Colorado Boulevard, Denver (Cherry Creek area)