TrekUnity
When
September
Attendance
~40,000
Admission
Ticketed
Setting
Indoor
The Great American Beer Festival is the largest ticketed beer festival in the U.S. — a Denver Convention Center takeover where thousands of beers from breweries across the country are poured in one enormous hall, alongside the industry's most prestigious medal competition.
Sessions are timed and tickets are limited, so it's a plan-ahead event. Between the tasting hall, the competition results, and Denver's own booming brewery scene, it's a long-weekend trip for craft-beer fans.
Want to go? Turn Great American Beer Festival into a trip you plan with your group.
Creates an editable trip seeded with a starter itinerary, hotels & eats.
Event details
Typical dates
Late September / early October (3-day, multiple sessions)
Admission
Ticketed by session · 21+ only
Parking
Downtown garages nearby, but the light rail and rideshare are the smart (and safe) call for a tasting event.
Nearest airport
Denver International (DEN) — ~40 min via train to downtown
Typical weather
Mild, dry Denver early fall — 70s by day, cool evenings; the venue itself is indoors.
Official website
Location
Denver, CO
Where to stay
The Crawford Hotel
Inside historic Union Station — steps from light rail.
The Maven at Dairy Block
Trendy rooms in LoDo, walkable to the convention center.
Hyatt Regency Denver
Connected to the convention center — closest big hotel.
Where to eat & drink
Denver Milk Market
Food hall in Dairy Block — easy for a hungry group.
Snooze A.M. Eatery
Beloved breakfast spot for the morning after.
Great Divide Brewing
Flagship taproom for pre-festival warm-ups.
Nearby attractions
RiNo Art District
Murals, breweries, and distilleries a short ride north.
Union Station
Restored rail hall with bars and shops.
Red Rocks (day trip)
Iconic amphitheater and park ~30 min west.
A sample itinerary
1Arrive + LoDo
- •Train from DEN to Union Station
- •Afternoon: check in downtown
- •Evening: warm-up at Great Divide
2Festival session
- •Morning: RiNo brewery walk
- •Afternoon/Evening: GABF tasting session
- •Late: food hall dinner
3Recover + Red Rocks
- •Brunch at Snooze
- •Afternoon: Red Rocks day trip
- •Head to DEN
Make it yours — an editable trip you can share with your group.
Travel tips
- Buy session tickets the day they drop — they sell out fast.
- Stay near Union Station so you can train in from the airport and skip a rental car.
- Pace yourself with the free pretzel necklaces and water stations inside.
Frequently asked questions
Do Great American Beer Festival tickets sell out?
Yes — sessions are capped and typically sell out in advance. Buy as soon as tickets are released.
Is it 21+?
Yes, it's a 21-and-over tasting event; bring valid ID.
How do you get around safely?
Use Denver's light rail and rideshare rather than driving — it's a tasting festival, and downtown is well connected.
Going with friends?
TrekUnity keeps the whole group on the same page — vote on plans, split costs, and see who's arriving when.
Start planning freeTrekUnity is an independent travel guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Great American Beer Festival or its organizers. Dates, prices, and details are provided for informational purposes and can change — always confirm on the official event website before booking.