On September 29, the 30th annual Great American Beer Festival will kick off in Denver, CO. Around 49,000 attendees are expected (it sold out in a week) and 465 breweries will be on hand to pour more than 2,400 beers. If you haven’t been, the festival is a must at some point in your life for anyone who calls themselves a beer drinker. There are two parts to the festival: the country’s most-respected private judging and awards recognition for beer, and then the festival for the public.

Of the 465 breweries on hand, 28 of them will be representing Washington. As a preview for those going and as a guide to who might be up for awards this year, I’ll be posting as much GABF beer info as I can get from WA breweries over the next couple weeks.

Big Time Brewery
We are sending:
Cat 24: Old Ale Old Sol Wheat Wine 2009 ( Judge only – not on the floor )
Cat 41A: Larry Bock Dopplelbock
Cat 46: Prime Time Pale Ale
Cat 50: Icculus Pale Ale
Cat 74: Coal Creek Porter
Cat: 83A: Old Wooly Barey Wine
Cat 84 – Pro Am Competition beer; Husky Imperial Stout ( pouring at pro am booth )

Scarlet Fire IPA – ( no judge / pouring at the Washisgton Guild Tap at the Guilds Booth )

American Brewing Company

1) Pilsener Elite Category 28 German Style Pilsener
2) Chocolate Caboose Oatmeal Stout Category 7 Chocolate Beer
3) American Blonde Category 43 Golden or Blonde Ale
4) Brave American Category 61 American Brown Ale
5) Breakaway IPA Category 51 American-Style India Pale Ale

Chuckanut Brewery
We’ll be pouring:
Helles
Kolsch
Pilsner
Vienna Lager
Fest Bier

Also, according to Mari Kemper:

We have actually been asked by the GABF to be one of the highlighted beers at the prestigious credentialed Journalist luncheon. A very limited amount of journalist are invited to this 4 course paired food to beer luncheon. I sent them several of our beer dinner menus we have prepared here at Chuckanut and they chose to make the roasted beet, green apple, and chevre salad served with our Vienna Lager. As there are only 8 beers served during this luncheon it’s very special that they chose Chuckanut Vienna as one of the 8.