|
Great American Beer Festival: Beer today, beer tomorrow - Beer Festival |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Written by Glenn BurnSilver
|
|
Wednesday, 27 September 2006 |
|
|
|
|
|
Page 1 of 7
 “The beer landscape in the United States was, well, let’s say it was an empty landscape,” Charlie Papazian said, referring to the microbrew prospects in the early 1980s. “It was by and large an empty landscape as far as flavor, diversity and having choices.”
Papazian is the founder of the Great American Beer Festival and something of a guru for homebrewers everywhere, having authored many of the definitive homebrewing books. This year, as the GABF celebrates its 25th year, the “beer climate” in the United States has warmed significantly. When Papazian put on his first GABF in 1982 there were only 44 breweries operating nationally. In fact, he had a hard time just getting quality beer for the inaugural event. Only 20 breweries —three of those microbreweries — attended. “We were just doing good with getting some porters and stouts and a stray India pale ale,” Papazian continued. “The choices that beer drinkers have these days are astronomically better than in 1982.”
 Today, more than 500 American breweries overflow the marketplace, producing more than 60 categories of beer with customized styles with origins from around the world. Local breweries New Belgium, Odell, Fort Collins and CB & Potts Big Horn will be represented at the GABF. In all, 385 breweries offering one-ounce tasters of more than 1,600 beers will be available.
But is that enough for even the most seasoned beer aficionado?
“It doesn’t work out to any advantage to increase the numbers,” Papazian said, then added with a laugh: “Three hundred eight-five breweries and 1,600 beers is plenty. We want to keep it manageable.”
Manageable indeed. The event, at the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver, requires 188,000 square feet and is attended over the three nights (last pour at 9:45 p.m.) by more than 30,000 people. Size is one thing, but Papazian noted that more beer drinkers attend because they have become more sophisticated, too.
“It was interesting for beer drinkers to come in and discover all these great beers,” he said of the first festival. “That happens now in 2006, but there is not so much discovery anymore. Beer drinkers are more educated these days. … They are there to experience the unimaginable opportunity to be able to taste so many different kinds of beer.”
Whether you are a Bud drinker or prefer something more akin to Arrogant Bastard, with 385 choices the fun is in exploring, taking chances and trying something new.
“You may find beers you do not like, but technically, you will not find any bad beers,” he said, then added with a laugh, “I haven’t found any stinkers in a long time.”
|
|
|  | "Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only truth." | |
|  | We're not that bright, even though in our own little world, we're geniuses. We like 80s hair bands and one-hit wonders, but among us we have respectable tastes, too. Metallica, Iron Maiden, U2. Pursuit of all things trivial is a lifestyle, not just a game. We like some sports, love other sports, and can find something to say about anything. We watch TV and movies and we've read a book or two, even a few classics (Yes, Classic Comics count!)
We call it insight, you call it what you will. | |
|  | Felix Wong is an outdoor enthusiast living in Fort Collins. A mechanical engineer by day, he is especially passionate about bicycling, running, and backpacking. | |
|  | Hola Amigos! I'm Sandra. I like to believe that people are 70 percent good and 30 percent dumb. I'm stickin to that story. Reading this blog might make you want to be good, but probably just dumb. | |
|  | Donovan Henderson is editor of NEXTnc. | |
|  | Here at Nextnc we have some characters. Get a sneak peak behind the curtain and find out what amusing antics our staffers get themselves into on a weekly basis. | |
|  | What is up FoCo?
I am a recent college graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead. After recieving my B.A. in English and Mass Communications this past August I moved down to Colorado.
I enjoy long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners, and heavy metal. My hobbies include reading and writing, music, movies, and getting drunk. Some of my favorite contemporary authors include Bret Easton Ellis, Chuck Palahniuk, and Kurt Vonnegut. My top movies are anything directed by Kubrick. I enjoy listening to anything that rocks.
Right now I am just trying to get to know Colorado and FoCo better. Mostly in order to find the best drink specials on each day that ends in Y. So if you know where I can get a cheap drunk on, let me know!
--Drew | |
|  | Life's little morsels of inspiration, observation and encouragement seen through the eyes of the Nextnc reporter.
| |
|  | Ms. Giles currently lives in Colorado where she stars in her own private reality show. She writes aphoristic accounts of her life, taken completely out of context, and embellished with characters and situations disguised to resemble something close to interesting. | |
|  | over and out | |
| | My name is Michelle Turley and I'm 28 years old. I live in Severance with my hubbie, Brandon. We have 2 dogs and a cat. We enjoy camping, four-wheeling, and just being in the mountains. I like to cook, clean (go figure), flea market, and play poker. I have so much to say about poker... | |
|
|
