The Great American Beer festival is this weekend in Denver and for the first time in a long time, it has a new location. That’s just one of many changes coming to the venerable gathering. Tristan Chan, formerly of PorchDrinking, is in the host seat this week. He’s joined by Shawnee Adelson the Executive Director of the Colorado Brewers Guild and Jonathan Shikes of the Denver Post. They talk about what to expect, the changes, and what this means for festivals in general.
Additional Coverage
A New Era Begins for the Great American Beer Festival
The greatest tragedy of reveling in the glow of nostalgia is the often fleeting realization that you didn’t appreciate just how great a moment was while you were living in it. Many beer fans who had the privilege of attending the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) during its golden era of opulence likely felt that all-too-familiar pang of regret on June 1 when the Brewers Association announced that GABF would be moving on from the Colorado Convention Center after 26 years to a smaller venue down the road to Denver’s Levitt Pavilion.
The Guide to 2026 Great American Beer Fest Week Events
Start prepping your livers accordingly because the new-look Great American Beer Festival (GABF) is set to return October 10-11, 2026. While the festival itself has scaled back in both size and scope this year, what happens outside of the fest continues to be a spectacle with tap takeovers, special releases, hangover brunches, mini beer fests, and more!
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Drink Beer, Think Beer podcast listeners are among the first to know: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company’s famed rare beer Celly Drippins will be released to the public on Friday November 6 at both the Chico California and Mills River North Carolina locations. Learn more about the details of the release events at https://sierranevada.com/event/celly-drippins-release-2026 and plan your trip to experience this extra special beer, available only on tap at the brewery for a limited number of days while supplies last.
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John Holl is the editor of All About Beer Magazine.
JohnHoll@allaboutbeer.com
Tristan Chan
Tristan Chan is a freelance beer journalist and former founder of PorchDrinking.com. Based in Denver, CO, Tristan has covered the craft beer landscape for the last 14 years and is excited to bring his coverage of the Great American Beer Festival to All About Beer for the first time. He's also the founder of The Porch Collective PR, a boutique PR firm that supports Colorado's thriving beer and hospitality industry.
