There are more than 750 breweries from around the country pouring at the Great American Beer Festival, which kicks off tonight in Denver, Colorado (with three more sessions on Friday evening and Saturday). There’s a ton of beer being poured in every conceivable style. For a serious beer drinker this is the place to be.
Return visitors will tell you that there’ll always be a line at breweries such as Russian River Brewing Company (Santa Rosa, California) or Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales (Milton, Delaware). Breweries with limited distribution but big reputations such as Shorts Brewing Company (Bellaire, Michigan) also usually garner big crowds. Still, there’s a lot to be discovered where lines don’t exist. So as you’re exploring, roll the dice. Hopefully you’ll like your small pour, but if not, there are plenty of dump buckets and more taps to try.
Here are ten breweries that are pouring at the festival this year that are worth stopping by for a visit and a tick off your beer list.