GABF 2018: A Go-To Festival Survival Guide

Here at Hoplight, we are gearing up for one of the year’s biggest craft beer events, The Great American Beer Festival (GABF). We have been to numerous festivals and we have made our fair share of pre-festival and during-festival preparation mistakes. Whether you are a rookie to the festival experience or a seasoned veteran, it is always smart to pack a survival kit. After all, you will be either in the elements or in a hot convention center and keeping these necessities on hand may make or break your experience. So, check out our survival guide, pack up your fanny pack, and head out to one of the best days you might not remember!

Pre-Festival Preparations

Water, Water, Water!

Start drinking a ton of water a few days in advance. We cannot stress this enough. This is especially handy if you are coming to The Great American Beer Festival in Denver, The Mile-High City. Altitude sickness is a thing, trust us, and it’s the last thing you want ruining your trip. Even if you are accustomed to the altitude, or you are attending a festival in your area, hydration is key to an enjoyable beer festival experience and a less painful morning.

Eat a Full Meal

As important as water is, make sure you eat a full breakfast or lunch before you head to an event. Don’t eat too much though and be sure to plan it for at least an hour out so you have time to digest. Most festivals will have food, but it’s imperative to have a good meal in your belly before you start sampling all the delicious beer you are about to encounter.

Tip: Try to not go out the night before. We know we sound like your mother, but trust us, a hangover is the worst thing you can put yourself through during a beer festival.

Weather

Check the weather before you head out to your event. If you need to change up your outfit or pack a rain jacket, be sure to do so. We have fallen victim to weather before and spent an entire festival soaking wet. Trust us, it’s not fun.

Make a Plan

Get together with your pals and map out which breweries and booths are must visits, especially before you have a few too many samples. This will not only save you time but will also ensure you make the most of your experience.

Tip: Pick a point and a time where you and your pals can meet up at the end if you get separated. Set a reminder on your phone with the details so if you have one too many, you won’t forget. The last thing you need is to leave a friend behind!

Check out this year’s brewery line for GABF HERE.

Download the App

GABF has an awesome, free app that you can use to see what breweries will be at the festival. It also has a section for tasting notes and it provides you with a map of where the breweries will be set up. This way you can scout your course of attack ahead of time.

Download the app here: Android | Apple

Plan Your Costume

That’s right! Costumes are encouraged at most festivals and GABF has stepped it up a notch by providing an awesome private tasting experience. How do you win the coveted Golden Ticket? During each evening session, two rock-star craft brewers will pluck a lucky attendee and their friends from the queue in Hall A. Each brewer will use their own criteria—the chosen posse might be rocking their GABF pride, some brewery apparel, or costumes that can’t be beaten.

How Will You Get Home Safely?

Even more important than making your festival attack plan is making sure you get home safely. Talk with your crew about how to get back to where you are staying via the numerous cab and ride-share programs out there. Bonus points if you have a designated driver!

Tip: DD tickets are available for purchase at a discounted rate on the GABF website.

Festival Pack Necessities

Now the fun part – packing up your festival survival bag! Below are some tried-and-true items and tips for making the most of your festival experience.

Identification

Ever been in a long line to get in somewhere and realize you left your ID at home or it’s expired? Not fun, right? Make sure you have your up to date drivers license, government-issued photo ID, or passport with you before you head out to the event!

Comfortable, Sturdy Shoes

This one might be a no-brainer, but we have seen our fair share of heels and blisters at festivals. Make sure you have a comfy and sturdy pair of broken-in shoes to wear at the event. You are going to put some miles on your step counter going from booth to booth, that’s for sure.

A Lightweight Fanny Pack or Purse

Again, might seem like we are preaching to the choir here, but the last thing you want to do is lug around a pack that is uncomfortably heavy. Plus, you will most likely be picking up some swag and other goodies during the event, so pack in only the necessities!

Tip: GABF guidelines state that fanny packs, purses, and bags must be 6x6x12″ or smaller.

A Water Bottle

Water is your best friend. Bring in an empty bottle so you can stay hydrated during the festival! Tip: locate a water filling station and fill up your trusty pal as soon as you get in. This will save you in the long run and you won’t want to be on the hunt after a few beers, trust us.

Tip: GABF guidelines state that all water bottles must be 32oz. or less and CLEAR. Glass and metal bottles will NOT be permitted.

Snacks

Some festivals will have food trucks or snack stations, but they are not always guaranteed. Pack in some easy, non-perishable snacks like trail mix, pretzels, and dried fruit for a quick pick me up while you are searching for your next beer.

Tip: Make sure to check festival guidelines to see if food will be provided and if outside food is allowed. GABF allows pretzel necklaces and prohibits all other outside food.

Portable Phone Charger

Let’s face it, we have all been in a situation where we lose our friends, can’t call a cab, or don’t have enough juice to check-in a new beer on Untappd. A quick way to combat that? Pack a portable phone charger and cable! Some events will have charging stations or outlets that you can plug into for a quick charge, but most will not.

Tip: Make sure to charge it the night before and do not use it until absolutely necessary.

Cash is King

Yes, it is 2018. Yes, most booths could have a card reader. Make it easier on yourself and the representatives by bringing cash to buy swag and other goodies at the festival.

Tip: Put a few dollars in your Oh-Snap Kit! You never know when that extra $5 will come in handy.

Pen & Paper

You might not use Untappd, or you might forget to check in a beer that you love and want to try again later. Either bring pen and paper to write down your favorites or take pictures on your phone so you can remember them later on!

Camera

GABF allows still photography during the event. Pack up your camera so that you can snap photos of your favorite booth, grab a photo with the head brewer, or capture a photo of your buddy doing something embarrassing. If you take photos and post them on social media, be sure to tag the festival and the brewery so they can see them!

Small Oh-Snap Kit

This one might seem silly, but anything can happen at a beer event. Plus, if you are accident prone, having a band-aid on hand keeps you from having to find the medic tent. It doesn’t have to be a full-on wilderness survival first-aid kit, but include these small items:

• Band-aids
• Neosporin
• Lip Balm
• Tylenol/Excedrin
• Hand sanitizer – trust us on this one
• Sunscreen if outside
• Bug spray if outside

Prohibited Items at GABF 2018

• Outside alcohol
• Bottles
• Cans
• Outside food/beverages
• Metal water bottles (clear, plastic water bottles permitted)
• Weapons (i.e. knives, pepper spray, stun-guns, any concealed weapons, firearms, etc.)
• Illegal drugs
• Chemicals
• Fireworks, smoke bombs, etc.
• Backpacks (i.e. a multi-compartment/multi-strap bag) suitcases, large beach bags, etc.
• Smoking (including the use of e-cigarettes or vape pens) inside the Convention Center
• Skateboards, roller skates, ice skates, use of roller shoes, etc.
• Unapproved pamphlets, handouts, advertisements, etc.
• Other items as determined by facility management

Find more information on what is not allowed HERE.

Tips for During the Festival

Talk to the Brewers and Brewery Representatives

They are here to serve you their beer and answer any questions that you may have. Every brewery is unique and learning about them can really enhance your experience. Just be sure to be mindful of other beer lovers trying to sample at the same booth!

Don’t Be a Harsh Critic

Festivals are not the best place for breweries to present their beer, and sometimes the elements don’t always cooperate making the temperature of your sample not ideal. Plus, most festivals do not provide the correct tasting glasses for certain styles which won’t allow the full aroma and flavor to hit your palette. Appreciate the blood, sweat, and tears these fine folks have put into making that tasty beer you are sampling!

Tip: Taste a beer that you love? Find out if you can purchase it somewhere locally to get the full experience.

Bathroom Lines

The lines will always be painfully long. The best plan of attack? Grab a sample, secure your spot, and be quick. This will also allow you to rinse out your taster so it will be fresh for the next round of sampling.

Have a Blast!

Festivals are one of the most informative and fun parts of the beer industry, so enjoy it! Pick up stickers, swag, and names of your favorite breweries so you can check them out later.

Pace yourself, drink water, eat some food, and be sure to get home safely. Look out for Kristina, William, Karen, Aryelle and I during all three days of the festival! We would love to cheers with you and to you!

Check out all of the GABF week events HERE.

Find this years GABF FAQ HERE.

Check out some of the breweries we are excited to see at this years GABF HERE.

For more information on the Great American Beer Festival, be sure to check out their:

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM

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