More than 60,000 beer drinkers this weekend will descend on Denver for the 36th annual Great American Beer Festival.
During three nights, festival attendees will have the chance to try nearly 4,000 beers from 800 breweries across the country. By Saturday winners of the world’s largest beer competition will be chosen from a boozy pool of some 8,000 entries. The GABF awards narrow down the country’s best beers in a given year across 160 styles.
For those gearing up for the weekend festivities, overwhelmed by the options, or just plain uninterested in that much beer tasting, last year’s medal winners are a good starting point for a self-guided tour of Denver-area breweries.
From Evergreen to Aurora, Fort Collins to Castle Rock, 26 Front Range breweries took home medals at the 2016 GABF. They range from Colorado classics, such as Coors, to startups, such as 14er, which has yet to open its brewhouse.
Seek them out while they’re still the reigning champions, and watch for an updated 2017 list to plan the next tour of GABF medal winners.
Breweries are listed from north to south.
• The Hottest Breweries in Denver Right Now, Summer 2017 [EDEN]
• The 38 Essential Breweries in Colorado, July 2017 [EDEN]
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