Well it is getting to be that time of year again. Time to dust off the old liver and really give it a go at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF). This will be Jim and I’s second trip to Denver for the event, and I am looking forward to it more this year than last! Why, you might ask? well, because this year we know how to do it better! Last year’s event was a first for Jim and I. And like noobs do, we have learned from our mis-steps. We made a couple while we were in Denver last year and we know better what to do, and what to avoid this year.
The one thing that we absolutely nailed last year was the Denver Rare Beer Tasting for Pints for Prostates. Pints for Prostates is an organization dedicated to funding prostate cancer research and finding a cure. What better way to do that but to put on great beer events around the country. In association with the GABF, Pints puts on their annual Rare Beer Tasting…
The worst part about the event was the line to get in! It starts forming around 11:30 and grows until they open up at 1:00. But we even met some folks in line which was very cool. Is a matter of fact the person that took this photo was one of the people we met, Dave from Drunken Polack. It was great to meet him, and we look forward to meeting a lot of our other friends this year too!
Last year the line up of beers was impressive. Here is a recap:
In 2010, these beers were poured at the Denver Rare Beer Tasting II: Alaskan Whiskey Barrel-Aged Smoked Porter; Avery Quinquepartite; Bell’s Eccentric Ale 2004; Big Sky Barrel-Aged Ivan the Terrible; Samuel Adams Cosmic Mother Funk; Brooklyn Reinschweinsgebot; The Bruery Melange #3; Cascade Noyeaux Sour Ale; Cigar City White Oak-Aged Jai Alai India Pale Ale; Deschutes Black Butte XXII; Dogfish Head Namaste; Foothill 2009 Sexual Chocolate; Founders Nemesis; Goose Island Bourbon Barrel Coffee Stout; Great Divide Flanders Red; Jolly Pumpkin Biere de Goord; New Belgium Tart Lychee; Pike Tripel Kriek; Rogue 21 Ale; Russian River Temptation; Sierra Nevada Brandy Barrel-Aged Belgian Trippel; Stone Collaboration ESB; Three Floyds Dark Lord; Upstream 2006 Gueuze; Weyebacher Decadence; and Wynkoop Orville 33.
Last year they concentrated on barrel aged beers and sours. This year I hope there are fewer sours and more barrel aged ales and stouts! Those are the big brews that Jim and I love so much. They have yet to finalize this year’s list, but all indications are that it will be fantastic again. So why am I bringing this up now, especially when the GABF is over 3 months away? Because tickets for the third installment of the Rare Beer Tasting just went on sale yesterday. There are a limited number of tickets (500 I think) and they have sold out each year prior. I didn’t want to chance not getting mine and Jims, so I have already purchased them. They are available on line here. $80 each, and all proceeds go to Prostate Cancer awareness and research. It is a great time for a great cause so if you are in Denver, or planning on being in Denver for GABF this is a must attend event. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
UPDATE:
I just got an e-mail from Rick Lyke, the gentlemen who’s struggle with Prostate Cancer inspired PFP. He says:
Thank you for ordering tickets for the Denver Rare Beer Tasting III on Sept. 30 from 1-4 p.m. We very much appreciate your support of the Pints for Prostates campaign.
During the first day of sales beer fans purchased 25% of the available tickets, so it looks like we will be headed to a sold out event again this year. THis means if you have friends “thinking about it,” let them know they need to act soon or they could be left out.
Trust me you don’t want to be in the “left out” category.
-Don
Beer & Whiskey Brothers 
Yeah! It’s like booking tickets to Christmas morning, but it’s more beerier!!
Beer, Beer, Beer Beer, Beery Beer, Wonderful Beer!
I’m debating whether or not to go to this, but that beer list might have pushed me over the edge. Either way I hope to see you guys this year since we didn’t get a chance to meet up last time. Can’t wait for the Christmas of Beer!
It was great last year, Billy. It was by far the best part of our visit.
Billy, if you do only one thing with GABF this year make it this! It is Soooo….worth it.
I guess I’m an uber beer geek, but this is one of the events I’m most looking forward to: http://www.siebelinstitute.com/course_desc/sensory_analysis.html. Tasting intentionally bad beer – yay!
I guess it would help train your palate, but seems like a lot of $$ for tasting bad beer! You know for just about $15 bucks you can actually buy 30 really bad beers, and save yourself $165. 😉
Hmm, this might be an either/or situation for me. I really can’t afford tickets to both Pints for Prostates and GABF. Decisions, decisions.
PFP, hands down. Finding a great beer at GABF was a bit of a needle-in-a-haystack kind of thing, but this event was packed with amazing stuff. Plus most of the big-time brewers are there, and it’s nice to chat them up.
When we left Denver last year, we concluded that we didn’t really need to go to GABF after the PFP event.
Yeah…What Jim said!
Just bought my ticket, so I’ll see you guys there! I may get a chance to volunteer at GABF as well, which would take care of my admission. Is it September yet?
Great Alex, we look forward to meeting you. 🙂 As it gets closer we will have to make sure we hatch a plan to meet up. It is pretty crowded most the time, so we will need to make it happen.
Sounds good. Or, I’ll just look for the huge crowd of beer blog groupies!
Our groupies are very stealthy and try very hard not to be noticed! 😉
I flying into Denver on Sept. 30th around 6 p.m….meetup? I have a conference there….
I miss Denver. I need to get back there not during the Great American Beer Festival. I mean I’m all for another trip to GABF, but it would be nice to hit up all the beer stops without the massive crowds the GABF brings.
Crowds are assured Beau during GABF, but so are amazing beers! I’ve heard that they save the best stuff for that week.
I’ll second that observation, Don. Falling Rock is a mainstay for after work beers, being only two doors down from the office, but I won’t go in there anymore during GABF: it’s literally wall to wall people. But there are a few places that aren’t as crowded, relatively. There’s also quite a number of places that just opened in the past year that I’ll relate either here or on my own blog for everyone to check out. We should do a B&WB meet and greet someplace. 🙂
Will, that sounds like a great idea. Do you think anyone would show up?
I have no excuse not to show up! Any ideas for a venue, Will?
Both Amato’s and Euclid Hall have greatly impressed me recently for both their beer selections and food, and I can’t wait to see how Ghost Plate shakes out since it should be open before GABF; all of them in or very close to downtown. I’d say for the view of downtown, the beers on tap, and food, it should be Amato’s if we can get in there early enough. What about you Alex? Any ideas? Then again, there’s always Pint’s… 😉
im in!
I haven’t tried the food at Amato’s yet, but that sounds like a solid choice, although it would require a cab ride from downtown. I would second the Euclid Hall recommendation, due to their truly outstanding food and proximity to other downtown venues. We would probably want to make reservations well in advance for either place, since they are bound to be super busy!
Guys, I want to say that I (and I’m sure Jim too) are flattered by this discussion. We will be happy to show up and do whatever. We’ll have to figure something to “do” for everyone if this all comes together. Like I said we are flattered, but we know less about Denver than most, so we will be dependent upon you all to set it up. Cab, no cab, either way is fine. And of course if it actually does come together we will be plugging the hell out of it on the blog. So we are happy to do something, and if you actually get it set up we will do our best to make it a fun and enjoyable “event” associated with GABF. Thanks everyone.
Come early and go to the PFP event! We can meet up there! And I expect some awesome whiskey from you too!
I get to pick my plane ticket tomorrow so I’ll see what I can do, but I spoke with the wife and we and another couple are coming Saturday for sure. I’ll bring some of my homebrew and let me know any bourbon you want and I’ll bring it for you (not for Jim).
Just got my tickets for this. Looks like it’s gonna be a par-teh. 🙂
Hands down the best event during the GABF week. Absolutely a must-attend. Plus, Laughing Dog is pouring the barrel-aged Belgian strong dark. Fred and I will be behind the tap. Stop in and say Hello (Just not in the manner that Ben uses to say hello)!
The BeerClub4Men will be there boys, get ready
Can’t wait to see your shirts this year!