October 9-11: The Great American Beer Festival, North America's Greatest Beer Celebration

WHAT: October 9, 10, 11, 2008, is the 27th edition of the Great American Beer Festival (GABF). The granddaddy of all US beer festivals, the 2008 event is expected to serve more than 1,800 different beers, in 1-ounce tasting portions, from an estimated 400 U.S. breweries to the event's 46,000-plus attendees. In 2007, the entire event sold out in advance of the opening session.

WHEN: Thursday, October 9 5:30 pm-10:00 pm
Friday, October 10 5:30 pm-10:00 pm
Saturday, October 11 12:30 pm-4:30 pm (Members-only session)
Saturday, October 11 5:30 pm-10:00 pm

WHERE: Colorado Convention Center
700 14th Street, Denver, Colorado

WHY: The largest collection of U.S. beer ever gathered in one place. One-stop access to the brewers and beers that make the U.S. the globe's greatest beer-making nation. Liquid proof of why beer sales far exceed the sales of wine and spirits combined in America.

WEB SITE: http://www.GreatAmericanBeerFestival.com

NOTE TO EDITORS:
B-roll: http://www.beertown.org/events/gabf/b_roll/index.htm
Photos: http://www.beertown.org/events/gabf/media_photos.htm
On site: Photography of the public and brewers in the 188,000 square foot hall.





STORY IDEAS:
More than 400 breweries!
Chances are a brewery in your town or state is participating. Keep an eye on:
http://www.GreatAmericanBeerFestival.com for a list of who will be serving this year.

Festival Favorites:
-Beer and Food Pavilion (Demonstrations and talks by craft brewers, chefs and the brewing world's rock stars.)
-You Be the Judge Booth (Where the public gets its chance to judge a beer with a GABF judge or brewer.)
-Pro-Am Competition and Pro-Am Booth (A special professional/amateur competition that will be judged by the same judge panel that evaluates all GABF entries and the public can sample the entries during the festival.)
-Inside the Brewers Studio (Intimate interviews/podcasts with brewing industry luminaries.)
-GABF Silent Disco (A festival favorite where attendees take their turn dancing with the group all while listening to the same song broadcast to everyone via headphones!)

GABF IS GREEN:
In 2007, approximately 84% of the beer arrived in kegs, which are reusable. The festival recycled just over 39,000
bottles and cans. For the competition, approximately 8,500 bottles/cans were recycled. The 2007 grand recycling total
was 47,500 bottles and cans.

GABF Competition:
In 2007, 2,793 beers were judged over 3 days by more than 100 judges. Among this year's 75 beer categories, new ones include: Fresh Hop Ale, American-Belgo Style Ale, and Leipzig-Style Gose.

Top Entered Beer Styles:
In 2007, the most hotly contested styles were: American-Style India Pale Ale (120 Entries), Fruit Beer or Vegetable Beer (94 Entries), American-Style Strong Pale Ale (91 Entries), Wood and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer (72 Entries), Imperial or Double India Pale Ale (72 Entries), American Style Pale Ale (68 Entries), American Style Amber/Red Ale (66 Entries), Robust Porter (62 Entries), and South German Style (60 Entries).

Business Angle:
In 2007, over 1.4% of the U.S Gross Domestic Product came from beer. Beer sales tower over both liquor and wine
sales. According to the Adams Beverage Group, sales were as follows: $97.975 billion (Beer), $62.610 billion (Liquor),
$28.135 billion (Wine). Beer is big business, and brewers large and small compete head to head during the GABF
with only the best example of a beer style winning the gold.

Craft Brewer Success: In both 2006 and 2007, 47 of the top 50 craft brewing companies grew to keep up with demand. American craft brewers (smaller-producing, independently owned and traditionally practicing) have commanded attention in the be