The Ramblings of a GABF 2010 Survivor

For the mysterious Kelleigh and I the trip to Denver for The Great American Beer Festival wasn’t only our first time at the festival but also our first time in Colorado. During six glorious days we made our way from beer event to beer event, explored the surrounding area and even made it into the majestic Rockies. All this exploration brought out many points of observation. Those things that make you say hmmmm! Nothing too earth shattering or prophetic. They’re the simple ramblings, thoughts and tips of a wide eyed beer aficionado spending his first time in Shangri-La

Why can’t all things in life run this smooth?

The numbers say it all: 49,000 people in attendance over 3days, 3,523 beers vying for a medal, 151 beer judges, 79 beer categories, 3,400 volunteers, 2,200 plus beers served, 516 breweries in the competition and 455 breweries in the festival hall. This is a major gathering yet very few hassles. Yes there are lines but they move fast. Yes there are crowds but it’s not over crowded. Those who are responsible for the organization and execution of GABF deserve gold medals.

Tip #1: Go into the smoke

Don’t wait in line for the bathroom. Suck it up and go to the port-o-potties in the smoking area. Sure ya can’t breathe but at least you’re not in line swaying side to side trying to control the flood gates.

• Coors Light to sample? Really? Ok I get it. Sure there are people over 21 in North America who haven’t tried it. Watch it Coors will find you.

Tip #2: Get out of town

Why would you leave a town offering so many beer options? To have more beer options of course. Rent a van for a group (you go Dan), rent a car or find a friend with wheels, however you do it, get out of Denver. Boulder, Longmont, Golden and Fort Collins are all close. They all have breweries and a ton of other activities to make a road trip well worth it.

Tip #2a:  Go a little further

You’re going all the way to Colorado and not checking out those jagged peaks on the horizon? Really? Drive it, bike it or hike it. However you do it make sure to touch the Rockies.

Tip#2b:  Drivin' for bottles

Since you have wheels find time to check out the liquor stores.  Unlike PA, liquor stores carry bottled beer but to find a good selection you need to get out of the city. Try Total Beverage in Thorton or Colorado Liquor Mart on Colorado Blvd, Denver.

Molson Coors is as scary as the Death Star (and just as big)

On our last day in Colorado we headed to Golden

to do the Molson Coors brewery tour. From a production standpoint it’s damn impressive. Holy room of 50 mash tuns. After all it is the largest brewing facility in the world. From a good beer standpoint it’s a little sad what comes out of the place. A tear fell from eye as the production line churned out case after case of Keystone Light. Fraternity flashback. YIKES! The scarier fact, most of the people on our tour bus (a ride from the parking lot, through Golden for a history lesson and then to the brewery) were there to breeze through the self guided tour for the opportunity to sample in the tasting room. My one tasting surprise, Coors Colorado Native a new lager only sold in Colorado. It was better than expected. Think of it as a slightly sweeter grainier Yuengling Lager. Not great but good. For Coors it’s much better than their other flavored waters. In the end Kelliegh and I escaped the Death Star and made our way to Golden City Brewery.

GCB (Their tag line is, Second largest brewery in Golden) is a tiny brewery only a few blocks from the brewing behemoth. We were the only ones from our tour group to make the short trip. The stop gave us a chance to regain our beer sense over a Cuvee #1.  The Imperial Stout is aged 9 months on 18 year old bourbon barrels. I wept for those who couldn’t break the gravitational pull of the Silver Bullet.

 Sign on Coors tour

Age: Unlike wine beer doesn’t improve over time, so we use “pull dates” to ensure freshness.
Your beer doesn’t age. Those dusty bottles in my cellar are doing just fine.

Tip #3:  Relax and order the burger

Denver is cowboy country and cowboys know meat. Screw calories, fat, cholesterol, salt and all those other beautiful health hazards and throwdown. The Cherry Cricket does it right. It’s a Denver staple where the burgers are large, juicy and cooked to your liking. I had one with green chilies and cream cheese and lost myself in food heaven. Fries, onion rings and a drink large enough to dive into completed the perfect meal.

• 
  
  What is it about a women in dirndl?

Remember Breakfast is the most important meal of the day

Make mine anything from Snooze. Wow, wow, wow! A day of solid beer sampling calls for a good base on the stomach and Snooze provided that in a big delicious way. I’ll let the menu speak.

Sweet Potato Pancakes Our signature sweet potato buttermilk pancakes topped with homemade caramel, pecans and ginger butter.

Cinnfull Pancakes Glorious buttermilk pancake with white chocolate chips, drizzled with our homemade Bacon Caramel, vanilla cream sauce, pecans and topped with cinnamon butter. Brilliance

Snooze Spuds Deluxe A heaping portion of our hash browns, covered with melted cheddar & jack cheese, scallions plus two veggies and/or meats of your choice (Sooo good with an egg or two)

Snooze Breakfast Burrito Filled with scrambled eggs, hash browns, veggie black beans, cheddar & jack cheese, topped with salsa fresca and your choice of green chili or ranchero! (psst, love your veggies & meat)

Yes, you read that right, homemade bacon caramel. My life would be complete if I had a vat of this heavenly goo.

Tip #5: Go for the entire week or more

GABF is of course the main event but the week leading up is filled with beer activities. The week is actually known as the Denver Beer Fest, Sept 10-19 and also includes Brew at the Zoo and Oktoberfest. A few days in town before GABF will also give you a chance to game plan and hit some popular spots around the city before the crowds get scary.

•   Too much La Folie is a beautiful thing. My palate says yes but my pounding head says no.

Sometimes it's who you know

My father use to say, “Surround yourself with good people”. This bit of wisdom even works in the beer world. A huge thanks to John Jordon from Breckinridge Brewery and Brendan McGivney from Odell Brewing for open arms, personalized tours and tastings afterwards. I’ve known John since the first Philly Beer Week and met Brendan at an Odell’s event at Capone’s during the last Beer Week. Mr. Bengel, you are definitly good people. A big thanks for sliding us in on the Odell tour. Tasting beer from an oak barrel with friends is a nice way to roll.

•  Damn there are a lot of beers we get in PA. Damn there are a lot of beers we don’t get in PA.

GABF mystery

No line for the Bruery’s Black Tuesday. The Imperial Stout is aged in Bourbon barrels and is normally only available at the brewery. People have been mauled trying to get a taste. I got mine pain free.

•  After a few hours of sampling, pretzel necklaces seem like a great idea.

If you make the trip to GABF come to realization that you can’t make it to everything and live. Have a plan, drink with friends, Thursday & Saturday afternoon are best for avoiding ametuer hour, venture outside the beer box, pace yourself, water and pretzels necklaces are the cure, explore the mountains that don't turn blue when they get cold, rest when you can and take a deep breath because it's an amazing ride.

Philly well represented in Denver