Denver, Colorado—Lotte Peplow, the Brewers Association’s American Craft Beer Ambassador for Europe, highlights the latest trends in American craft beer as the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) evolves to meet the changing landscape of the industry. The festival, organized by the Brewers Association, took place last week in Denver and welcomed approximately 40,000 attendees eager to sample over 2,500 beverages from more than 600 breweries, cideries, and distilleries.
This year marked the 42nd edition of the GABF, featuring a revamped format that aimed to engage a broader audience. Unlike previous years, where breweries were categorized by geographic regions, the festival introduced themed experiential sections, each offering unique activities, specialized beverages, and entertainment.
Highlights of the festival included:
Prost: A German-style Biergarten with stein-holding contests and traditional Bavarian music.
Score: A sports-themed area combining craft beer with sports entertainment.
Fright: A Halloween-themed immersive experience.
Blast Off: An exploration of innovative flavors in the Beer & Beyond experience.
Meet the Brewer: An interactive space for attendees to connect with brewers.
Chill: A backyard-style gathering area featuring music, lawn games, and exclusive brews.
These changes aimed to create an inviting atmosphere that appealed to a diverse crowd, complete with festive costumes and various activities such as karaoke and silent disco.
Despite the festival’s varied attractions, craft beer remained the focal point. In the lead-up to the event, the GABF competition evaluated 8,836 beers and 233 cider entries across 102 categories, with results announced on Saturday. This year’s competition involved 285 beer experts and over 250 volunteers, resulting in 326 medals awarded to 273 breweries. The most entered styles included Juicy/Hazy IPA, West Coast IPA, and American-style IPA, with IPA varieties accounting for a staggering 46% of the $29 billion craft beer market, reflecting a significant rise from 30% in 2017.
The festival also showcased a range of high-ABV offerings, with Sam Adams Utopias leading the pack at an impressive 28% ABV. Other notable high-alcohol brews included Revolution Brewing’s Double Barrel Very Special Old Deth (17% ABV) and Fremont Brewing’s Bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout (14.5% ABV).
Lighter styles, such as American lager and pilsner, are gaining popularity as well, with Deschutes Brewery’s Fresh Hop King Crispy earning recognition in the recent competition. The festival also embraced innovation beyond beer, introducing refreshing options like hard tea and hard lemonade from local breweries.
As the industry adapts to consumer preferences, non-alcoholic options are becoming increasingly important. Athletic Brewing Co. secured two medals, highlighting the growth of the low- and no-alcohol segment within American craft brewing.
For those seeking unique flavors, the festival offered a variety of experimental brews, including 903 Brewers’ Zesty Ranch Taco cream ale and Destihl Brewery’s Dill Pickle Sour, showcasing the adventurous spirit of craft brewers.
Looking ahead, Australian breweries are encouraged to register for the upcoming World Beer Cup 2025, the largest and most prestigious global beer competition. Registration will be open from November 12 to December 13, 2024, with winners announced during the Craft Brewers Conference in Indianapolis from April 28 to May 1, 2025.
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