(Photo © Brewers Association)

One of craft beer’s most exciting events returns to Denver this week. And as most veterans know, you’re not going to survive the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) without a strategy…

And that’s where we come in.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records there is no other place on earth where a beer fans can sample more beers than at the GABF. And with more than 3,500 different beers from 800+ of the nation’s best breweries, one needs to be both prepared and strategic if you want to survive this beast of an event.

And with that in mind here’s some Great American Beer Festival survival essentials…

Eat Breakfast

You came to drink, and drinking does start early at the GABF. But don’t even think about entering the Colorado Convention Center without having consumed breakfast (and the greasier the better).

Once you start drinking you won’t be thinking food until it’s too late. And once it’s too late, you’ve blown it.

(Photo © Brewers Association)

Drink Water

Although this suggestion might strike you as obvious, an event of this scale can startle first-timers. And with so many great beer options available, even seasoned GABF veterans can make rookie mistakes…

Water or Coolship Balaton from Allagash? You choose. Agua or Heady Topper?

See what we mean?

Punctuating your drinking with water is essential…

Sip Don’t Guzzle

If you’re not enjoying what you’re drinking, dump it out immediately… that’s what those buckets are for.

Using a disciplined strategy you’ll be able to sample more new beers without staggering around like a frat boy.

You’ll have the energy to negotiate Day 2 like an industry player, hangover-free.

(Photo © Brewers Association)

Planning Your GABF Journey VS the Zen Approach

There are two different schools of thought when it comes to navigating a drinking session successfully. And we come down solidly on both sides.

Some argue strongly for having a plan, for studying the Great Hall’s layout intensely the night before you hit your first session. And if you’re in that camp know that this year’s festival format returns to booths being arranged alphabetically by region.

Having a map on hand is always useful (assuming you can hang on to it) and downloading My GABF app is pretty essential assuming you don’t get so buzzed that your phone gets misplaced.

Others take a more Zen approach to their beer journeys and go wherever their whim takes them…After all, most of these breweries are gonna be fantastic and every one of them will be serving their best beers.

If you opt for a more random approach, and decide to throw any kind of game plan out the window, we still have some suggestions…

Working the outsides of the hall is a more comfortable option. For some unknown reason these peripheries are the last to get crowded and will allow you the opportunity to actually hang with the brewers in a more comfortable and less frenzied space.

And no matter your approach, plan to arrive to any drinking session early…Why wait in line, only to wait in other beer lines later?

All photo credits: Brewers Association’