Does the Great American Beer Fest Still Matter to Beer Lovers?

The streets of Denver are already awash in crisp American lagers, hazy New England IPAs, ultra-tart fruited sours, and the darkest porters, because thousands of brewers and beer lovers are descending on Mile High for the Great American Beer Festival this weekend! After a two-year absence, the country’s biggest celebration of all things beer returns to downtown Denver, but this year it brings an uncomfortable question: Do craft brewers still want a massive fest like this? Host Bree Davies sits down with the Colorado Beer Man himself, Jonathan Shikes, to get some answers. 

Jonathan is also Entertainment Editor at the Denver Post, where this week he and his colleagues published a few great stories on the return of GABF:

• GABF turns 40: How Colorado’s biggest beer festival shaped the American craft industry
• Big beer competitions like GABF could see a major shakeup this year
• What will fill Falling Rock Tap House’s void during the Great American Beer Festival?

For even more from Jonathan on beer, check out his book: “Denver Beer: A History of Mile High Brewing.”

We’ve got plenty of non-beer news you can use in today’s CCD newsletter: https://denver.citycast.fm/newsletter/

What’s your current favorite local brewery? Give em a shout out on Twitter and remember to tag us! @citycastdenver

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