Famed Denver gathering rounds up ciders, hard seltzer, cocktails for the first time

By Jay McKinney

Some people measure years by their birthday, but passionate beer lovers measure them by the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) returning to the Mile High City (whether they admit to it or not).

The boozy congregation is one of Denver’s most notable annual events, with patrons sipping their way through the country’s best craft beer, ounce by ounce. As a hub for craft beer and the gracious host state, Colorado’s brewers always have a strong presence in the chaotic tasting frenzy that takes over the Colorado Convention Center each fall. This year, cocktails, hard seltzers and ciders also will be served alongside the plethora of beer.

While the tasting and competition is the centerpiece of GABF, the festival inspires all kinds of promotions and parties across the city. From limited releases to sophisticated tastings, there’s plenty of ways to enjoy the hype. To celebrate cider being judged for the first time at the festival this year, Stem Ciders is hosting the inaugural Great American Cider Friends Tap Takeover at its RiNo location from Oct. 9 to 12.

“The idea here is just to curate an incredible tap list of ciders from across the country from some of our friends and favorites so that we can showcase this beverage in a way that is educational and interesting,” says Stem Cider’s director of liquids, Patrick Combs. “It’s nice to have a curated selection that allows people to explore. I think there will really be something for everyone.”

Combs believes the cider industry is perpetually playing catch-up with the beer industry, but with this event and an official judging at the GABF, cider is closing the gap as a popular beverage.

Back on the beer front, the 15th Denver Rare Beer Tasting is eagerly anticipated by aficionados. A curated selection of GABF breweries pour some of their hardest-to-find brews at this lunchtime event on Thursday, Oct. 10. The event is a fundraiser for Pints for Prostates, a non-profit organization that provides mens’ health screenings and support groups.

Other GABF-related events are just as much about food as they are beer. At first glance it may seem like pretzels are the only food to pair with beer, given the snack’s presence at the festival, but beer is a versatile drink that can be paired with an assortment of foods. On Oct. 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., beer enthusiasts are invited to attend a Beer and Food Pairing Workshop at Blue Moon RiNo.

The workshop is hosted by Master Cicerones Jason Pratt and Dan Imdieke, who co-own the Cicerone Certification Program. For $99 per person, guests will enjoy an interactive discussion where they learn the basics of beer and food pairing, guidelines for dinner pairings with beer, and guided tasting exercises from the most qualified individuals.

Another food based event happening is Paired, scheduled Oct. 10 and 11 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Craft breweries and renowned chefs from around the country will team up to create pairings that any Cicerone could get on board with. There are a number of chefs from Colorado as well as Tennessee, Iowa, California and others.

Additional beery gatherings are scheduled throughout the metro, so check in with Lady Justice Brewing, Cannonball Creek Brewing, Spangalang Brewery, Bruz Beers, Comrade Brewing and others for GABF-week special beers.

Whether sticking to 1-ounce pours and trying to sample as many craft beers as possible, or choosing to participate in a food pairing experience, there’s no wrong way to do GABF.