How to Book Tickets for the Great American Beer Festival Denver

The Great American Beer Festival (GABF) in Denver is more than just a beer event—it’s a pilgrimage for craft beer enthusiasts, brewers, and industry professionals from across the globe. Held annually in downtown Denver, GABF showcases over 4,000 beers from more than 900 breweries, awarding the nation’s top brews in over 100 competitive categories. For many, securing tickets is the first and most critical step in experiencing one of the most prestigious beer festivals in the world. But with demand far outpacing availability, knowing how to book tickets efficiently, strategically, and successfully is essential. This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step roadmap to help you navigate the process, avoid common pitfalls, and maximize your chances of attending this iconic celebration of American craft beer.

Step-by-Step Guide

Booking tickets for the Great American Beer Festival requires preparation, timing, and attention to detail. Unlike typical online ticket purchases, GABF operates on a highly structured, time-sensitive system designed to ensure fairness and accessibility. Follow these steps carefully to secure your admission.

Understand the Festival Structure and Ticket Types

Before you begin the booking process, it’s vital to understand the different ticket types offered by GABF. Each serves a distinct purpose and has different access levels:

• General Admission (GA): Open to all attendees 21+, this ticket grants access to the main tasting floor for a 3-hour session. It includes unlimited tastings of all participating beers, but does not include food or special events.
• Session-Specific Tickets: GABF runs multiple sessions over three days (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). Each session has limited capacity, so you must select your preferred date and time slot during booking.
• Premium Sessions: These include early-entry access (typically 1–2 hours before GA), exclusive tasting areas, and sometimes complimentary food pairings or limited-edition pours. Premium tickets are priced higher and sell out fastest.
• Designated Driver (DD): For non-drinkers or those who plan to drive others, DD tickets offer entry to the festival grounds with access to non-alcoholic beverages, food, and educational seminars—but no beer tastings.
• Beer & Food Pairing Experiences: Separate from main sessions, these are ticketed workshops led by brewers and chefs. They require additional registration and often sell out within minutes.

Understanding these options allows you to prioritize your purchase based on your goals—whether you’re seeking a relaxed tasting experience, exclusive access, or educational enrichment.

Register for a GABF Account Early

Access to ticket sales is gated through the official GABF website, which requires a registered user account. Do not wait until ticket sales open to create your account. Visit gabf.org and click “Sign In” or “Create Account” as soon as the festival calendar is published—typically in late spring or early summer.

When registering:

• Use a valid email address you check daily.
• Ensure your profile includes your full legal name, date of birth, and a secure password.
• Verify your email address immediately after registration. Unverified accounts may be blocked from purchasing.
• Save your login credentials in a secure password manager.

Having a verified account in place eliminates one of the most common causes of failed purchases: login delays during high-traffic sales windows.

Monitor the Official Ticket Release Date

Ticket sales for GABF are not open year-round. They typically launch in late June or early July, with exact dates announced on the official website and via email newsletters. Mark your calendar and set multiple reminders. Ticket releases often occur at 10:00 a.m. Mountain Time on a Tuesday or Wednesday.

Subscribe to the GABF newsletter and follow their official social media channels (Instagram, Twitter/X, Facebook) for real-time updates. Avoid third-party sites claiming to offer early access—they are not affiliated and may be scams.

Prepare Your Device and Internet Connection

Ticket sales are extremely high-demand events. Thousands of users attempt to access the system simultaneously, which can cause website lag, timeouts, or crashes. To maximize your chances:

• Use a desktop or laptop computer—not a mobile device. Desktop browsers handle high-traffic pages more reliably.
• Use Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox. These browsers offer the fastest rendering and most stable performance under load.
• Close all unnecessary tabs and applications to free up system resources.
• Connect via Ethernet if possible. If using Wi-Fi, ensure you’re close to the router with a strong signal.
• Disable browser extensions that may interfere with form submission (e.g., ad blockers, privacy tools). Temporarily whitelist gabf.org.

Test your connection by visiting the GABF website in advance. Familiarize yourself with the layout so you can navigate quickly when the clock strikes 10 a.m.

Have Your Payment Method Ready

Payment processing must be completed within seconds once you select your tickets. Delayed payments result in lost inventory. Prepare in advance:

• Use a credit card with a high enough limit to cover ticket(s) and service fees (typically $10–$20 per ticket).
• Ensure your billing address, CVV, and expiration date are accurate and up to date in your card’s digital wallet.
• Do not rely on PayPal or Apple Pay unless you’ve confirmed they’re accepted during checkout. GABF primarily uses direct credit card processing.
• Have a backup card ready in case the primary one declines.

Do not attempt to use gift cards, debit cards with low daily limits, or prepaid cards—they are often rejected during high-volume transactions.

Know the Session Availability and Plan Your Choices

When ticket sales open, you’ll be presented with a list of available sessions. Each session has a fixed number of tickets, and once sold out, they’re gone for the year.

Before the sale begins, research the schedule:

• Friday sessions are typically less crowded and ideal for first-timers.
• Saturday is the busiest day, with the largest number of breweries and most exclusive pours.
• Sunday sessions often feature rare or limited-release beers from breweries that didn’t pour on Saturday.

Decide on your top 3 preferred sessions in order of priority. For example:

1. Primary Choice: Saturday Premium Session (12:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.)
2. Backup Choice: Friday General Admission (1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.)
3. Last Resort: Sunday General Admission (10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.)

When the system loads, select your first choice immediately. If it’s sold out, the system will prompt you to choose another. Do not hesitate—delays cost you the opportunity.

Complete the Purchase Within 90 Seconds

Once you’ve selected your session(s), you’ll be directed to the checkout page. You have approximately 90 seconds to complete payment before your cart expires. During this time:

• Confirm the number of tickets, session date/time, and total cost.
• Review the terms and conditions (including refund policy and age verification).
• Click “Purchase” and wait for the confirmation page.

If you receive an error message, do not refresh the page. Instead, wait 10–15 seconds and check your email for a confirmation. Sometimes, the system processes the order even if the page appears to hang.

Check Your Email for Confirmation

After a successful purchase, you’ll receive a confirmation email from GABF within minutes. This email contains:

• Your unique ticket barcode
• Session date, time, and location
• Instructions for Will Call pickup (if applicable)
• Link to your digital ticket wallet

Save this email. Download the barcode to your phone’s wallet app (Apple Wallet or Google Pay) for easy scanning at the venue. Print a hard copy as backup, though digital tickets are now the standard.

Understand Will Call and Entry Requirements

All GABF tickets are digital. However, if you purchased under a different name than the attendee, or if you’re picking up tickets for a group, you may need to visit Will Call at the Colorado Convention Center.

To pick up tickets at Will Call:

• Bring a government-issued photo ID matching the name on the ticket.
• Have your confirmation email accessible on your phone or printed.
• Arrive at least 60 minutes before your session start time to avoid long lines.

Entry is strictly 21+. No exceptions. IDs will be scanned and verified at the door. Bring a valid U.S. driver’s license, state ID, or passport.

Best Practices

Success at GABF ticket sales isn’t just about speed—it’s about strategy. These best practices, developed from years of attendee feedback and industry observation, will significantly improve your odds.

Practice the Purchase Process in Advance

One week before ticket sales, visit the GABF website and navigate to the ticket page as if you’re buying. Even if tickets aren’t live yet, the layout remains the same. Practice clicking through the session selection, entering a test payment, and confirming. This muscle memory reduces panic during the real event.

Enlist a Ticketing Buddy

Have a friend or family member attempt to purchase tickets simultaneously on a separate device. Use different browsers, networks, and payment methods. If one attempt fails, another may succeed. Coordinate via text to avoid duplicate purchases.

Set Multiple Alerts

Use a combination of calendar alerts, phone reminders, and third-party tools like Google Alerts or IFTTT to notify you when the sale goes live. Set alerts for:

• 24 hours before sale
• 1 hour before sale
• 5 minutes before sale
• At the exact sale time

Don’t rely on a single method. Redundancy saves you from missing the window.

Don’t Chase Sold-Out Sessions

It’s tempting to refresh the page repeatedly after a session sells out. But this wastes time and may trigger website throttling. Instead, move to your backup choice immediately. Sessions often reopen due to cancellations—check back the following day.

Consider the Premium Session Trade-Off

Premium tickets cost $100–$150 more than General Admission. Ask yourself: Is early entry worth it? The answer depends on your goals. If you want to taste rare beers before crowds form, yes. If you’re there for the general experience, GA is sufficient. Many experienced attendees skip Premium and instead focus on Sunday sessions, which often feature the best leftover pours.

Plan Your Transportation and Accommodations Early

Denver hotels book up months in advance for GABF weekend. Secure lodging as soon as you purchase tickets. Use ride-share apps or public transit—parking near the convention center is expensive and limited. Consider staying in nearby neighborhoods like LoDo or RiNo for walkable access.

Download the Official GABF App

Once tickets are secured, download the GABF mobile app (available on iOS and Android). The app provides:

• Live brewery maps
• Beer lists by category
• Session schedules
• Real-time updates on beer availability
• Push notifications for special pours or events

It’s an indispensable tool for navigating the festival efficiently.

Know the Rules of Tasting

Each attendee is limited to one sample per beer per session. Pouring more than one serving of the same beer is prohibited. Do not attempt to sneak extra pours—staff are trained to spot this behavior, and violators are ejected without refund.

Use the provided tasting glasses. Do not bring your own glassware. Water stations and palate cleansers (like crackers and water) are available throughout the venue—use them to maintain your sensory acuity.

Tools and Resources

Several digital tools and official resources can streamline your GABF ticketing experience and enhance your overall attendance.

Official GABF Website

gabf.org is the only legitimate source for tickets. It also hosts the full event schedule, brewery directory, competition results, and educational programming details. Bookmark this site and check it regularly.

BeerAdvocate and RateBeer Apps

These community-driven platforms offer user reviews and ratings of GABF-winning beers. Use them to identify which breweries and styles you want to prioritize. Many attendees create “must-try” lists based on past winners.

Google Calendar + Browser Extensions

Set up a recurring event for GABF ticket sales in Google Calendar. Use browser extensions like “Tab Reloader” or “Auto Refresh Plus” to auto-refresh the ticket page 5 minutes before the sale (use responsibly—do not overload the server).

Reddit Communities

Subreddits like r/GABF and r/beer are invaluable for real-time updates. In the days leading up to the sale, users share tips, warn of technical issues, and post screenshots of session availability. Search “GABF 2024 tickets” to find threads from previous years for historical patterns.

Twitter/X Alerts

Follow official GABF accounts (@GABF) and popular craft beer influencers like @BeerAdvocate, @CraftBeerCom, and @TheBeerNut. They often post countdowns, sale reminders, and last-minute availability updates.

Payment Security Tools

Use services like Apple Pay, Google Pay, or virtual credit cards (e.g., from your bank) to protect your financial information. These tools mask your real card number and reduce risk of fraud.

VPN for Network Stability

If your home internet is unreliable, consider using a trusted VPN service to switch your IP address and potentially bypass regional throttling. While not required, it can help if your ISP is experiencing congestion during peak sales.

Printable Checklist

Before the sale, print or save this checklist:

• ✅ GABF account created and verified
• ✅ Payment method ready and tested
• ✅ Preferred sessions researched and prioritized
• ✅ Device and browser optimized
• ✅ Internet connection stable
• ✅ Backup plan in place (friend, alternate session)
• ✅ Accommodations booked
• ✅ GABF app downloaded

Real Examples

Real-world scenarios illustrate how the ticketing process plays out—and how preparation leads to success.

Example 1: The First-Time Attendee

Jessica, a 28-year-old beer enthusiast from Austin, had never attended GABF. She heard about it from a friend and decided to go in 2023. She created her account in March, subscribed to the newsletter, and set 10 a.m. MT reminders for June 27. On sale day, she used her desktop with Chrome, had her Visa card ready, and selected Friday GA as her first choice. The session sold out in 12 seconds. She immediately switched to Saturday GA and secured two tickets. She downloaded the app, booked a hotel in LoDo, and used the festival map to target 12 breweries she’d researched on BeerAdvocate. She left with a full glass of her favorite IPA and a plan to return next year.

Example 2: The Seasoned Veteran

Mark, a 42-year-old homebrewer from Portland, has attended GABF since 2015. He never buys Premium tickets. Instead, he waits for Sunday’s 10 a.m. session, which he calls “the hidden gem.” He knows that many breweries bring their rarest releases for the final day, knowing the crowd is smaller. He uses two devices—one with his credit card, one with his wife’s. He’s also a member of the Brewers Association, which gives him early access to the Beer & Food Pairing workshops. In 2023, he secured a spot in a session featuring a limited-run sour aged in bourbon barrels. He shared the experience on his blog, which now draws 50,000 monthly visitors.

Example 3: The Last-Minute Cancellation

After buying a Premium ticket for Saturday, Sarah realized she couldn’t attend due to a work emergency. She didn’t panic. Instead, she logged into her GABF account, clicked “Transfer Ticket,” and sent it to her sister in Denver. GABF allows one free ticket transfer up to 48 hours before the event. Her sister attended, tried 18 beers she’d never heard of, and posted about it on Instagram. Sarah later refunded her hotel and used the experience to plan a better trip for 2024.

Example 4: The Scam Avoidance Story

Tom received a text message claiming to be from “GABF Ticket Support” offering “guaranteed tickets” for $250. He almost sent money via Venmo. Instead, he searched “GABF ticket scam” on Google and found a 2022 article from the Denver Post detailing fake websites and reseller fraud. He visited gabf.org directly and waited for the official sale. He got a General Admission ticket for $75 and saved $175. He now warns others in online forums.

FAQs

Can I buy GABF tickets at the door?

No. All tickets are sold exclusively online in advance. No walk-up sales are available. The festival sells out each year, and capacity is strictly enforced for safety and experience reasons.

Are tickets refundable?

GABF tickets are non-refundable. However, you may transfer your ticket to another person once, free of charge, up to 48 hours before your session. Transfers are done through your GABF account dashboard.

What if I miss the ticket sale?

If you miss the initial sale, check the GABF website daily for 7–10 days afterward. Some tickets are returned due to cancellations, and these are released in batches. You may also join the official waitlist (if offered) via the website.

Can I buy tickets for someone else?

Yes. During checkout, you can enter a different attendee name. That person must bring a valid photo ID matching the name on the ticket to enter the venue.

Do I need to be a member of the Brewers Association to attend?

No. GABF is open to the public. However, Brewers Association members receive early access to ticket sales and discounted pricing on certain events.

What’s the best day to attend?

It depends on your goals. Friday is less crowded and ideal for beginners. Saturday offers the widest selection and most buzz. Sunday often has the most unique and rare beers due to breweries bringing out their final pours. Many experienced attendees recommend Sunday for a more relaxed, high-quality experience.

Can I bring my own glass or growler?

No. All beer samples must be consumed using the official GABF tasting glass provided at entry. Growlers and personal glassware are not permitted on the tasting floor.

Are there food options at the festival?

Yes. Dozens of local food vendors offer a wide variety of cuisine—from gourmet tacos to vegan bites. Premium sessions include complimentary food pairings. General Admission attendees can purchase food separately.

Is there a limit to how many beers I can taste?

There’s no official limit on the number of beers you can sample, but you’re limited to one sample per beer per session. Pouring more than one of the same beer is not allowed and may result in removal from the event.

Can I bring children or pets?

No. GABF is strictly 21+. No minors are permitted, even with a designated driver ticket. Pets are not allowed, except for certified service animals.

How early should I arrive on the day of the event?

Arrive at least 60 minutes before your session start time. Lines form quickly, and entry involves ID verification, bag checks, and ticket scanning. Latecomers may be denied entry if the session is full.

Conclusion

Booking tickets for the Great American Beer Festival in Denver is not just a transaction—it’s a ritual for craft beer lovers. The process demands preparation, patience, and precision. By understanding the structure of the event, mastering the technical steps, leveraging the right tools, and learning from real experiences, you transform a stressful scramble into a confident, successful purchase. Whether you’re a first-time attendee or a seasoned veteran, the key to success lies in readiness. Set your alarms, verify your account, choose your session wisely, and be ready to act the moment sales open. The aroma of fresh hops, the clink of tasting glasses, and the shared excitement of thousands of beer enthusiasts await you in the heart of Denver. Don’t just dream of GABF—secure your ticket and make it real.