2026 GABF Competition Volunteer Schedule

Judge & Volunteer Reception Monday, October 5th | 5-7pm
Prost Brewing Northglenn
351 W. 104th Ave Unit A
Northglenn, CO
Competition & Judging October 6-8, Westin Westminster
10600 Westminster Blvd
Westminster, Colorado 
Staging – Westminster Ballroom
Judging- Legacy Ballroom
Great American Beer Festival® (GABF®) October 10-11, Denver CO (Levitt Pavilion)
GABF Awards Ceremony Sunday, October 11 | 12:15pm

Competition will be held at the Westin, Westminster, CO. (see address above)
Judging takes place in the Legacy Ballroom
Staging takes place in the Westminster Ballroom

2026 GABF style guidelines here https://www.greatamericanbeerfestival.com/brewers-information/gabf-competition/styles/

Monday, October 5

12:00-2:30pm Special set up with designated set up team – Operations, Admin Leads and BOH (those who signed up).

Tuesday, October 6

Daily theme: “Spirit of the West”- Darn Tootin’! Cowboy gear, paisley, boots. Make your west side your best side! Best dressed will be in the running for some great prizes.

6:15-7:15am Buffett breakfast available for volunteers- Lobby area near Westminster Ballroom and outside areas (North Legacy and North courtyard only) please note another group will be utilizing the courtyard closest to the Hotel entrance.
7:00am Volunteers arrive at the Westminster Ballroom lobby area. Check in with the fabulous Admin team, find name badge and assignment on whiteboard, get settled in, find work location, quickly catch up with friends.
Back of House (BOH) or Admin team Note: please refer to your start times with your Team Leaders (Sarah Aikman/Kristi Esslinger for Admin) and Gregg Teets for BOH)
7:25am Stretch and Flex- get your bodies moving – do a little dance!
7:30-7:45am Volunteer Meeting: Welcome, tips of the day, safety moments, announcements, all the good stuff you need to know
7:45am Get ready for judge arrivals head to your workstations
7:45am Admin team is in full force. Judges will check in and receive badges and schedules.
8:15am Judges in their seats. Mini orientation.
8:45 am-12:00pm Judging session 1- Beers on the Table
Note: 3 rounds am and pm
11:30am-1:00pm Judge and competition staff lunch
1:00-4:45pm Judging Session 2
 
4:45pm End of session – Volunteers will clean up and may leave after checking out with Operations team (no raffle day 1)

Wednesday, October 7

Daily theme: “Tropical, Peace, Love and Lilly”–In honor of our wonderful Lilly-Anne, we will celebrate her with her favorite themes. Feeling a little Hawaii vibe, or perhaps more of a Peace and Love (hippie juju) – you do you and join the fun! Best Dressed will be in the running for some great prizes!

6:15-7:15am Buffett breakfast available for volunteers- Lobby area near Westminster Ballroom and outside areas (North Legacy and North courtyard only) please note another group will be utilizing the courtyard closest to the Hotel entrance.
7:20am Volunteers arrive at the Westminster Ballroom lobby area. Check in with the fabulous Admin team, find name badge and assignment on whiteboard, get settled in, find work location, quickly catch up with friends.
Back of House (BOH) or Admin team Note: please refer to your start times with your Team Leaders (Sarah Aikman/Kristi Esslinger for Admin) and Gregg Teets for BOH)
7:25am Stretch and Flex- get your bodies moving- dance, dance, dance!
7:30-7:45am Volunteer Meeting: Welcome, tips of the day, safety moments, announcements, all the good stuff you need to know
7:45am Get ready for Judge arrivals and head to your workstations
8:00am Admin team is in full force. Judges will check in and receive schedules
8:30am Judges in their seats ready to go.
8:45am-12:00pm Judging session 3
11:00am-1:00pm Judge and competition staff lunch
1:00-4:45pm Judging Session 4
4:45pm End of session – Volunteers will clean up (Raffle and possible case distribution)

Thursday, October 8

Daily theme: It’s back to school (competition) day! Volunteers, please wear your new competition shirt and Judges please wear your new competition wearable.

6:15-7:15am Buffett breakfast available for volunteers- Lobby area near Westminster Ballroom and outside areas (North Legacy and North courtyard only) please note another group will be utilizing the courtyard closest to the Hotel entrance.
7:20am Volunteers arrive at the Westminster Ballroom lobby area. Check in with the fabulous Admin team, find name badge and assignment on whiteboard, get settled in, find work location, quickly catch up with friends.
Back of House (BOH) or Admin team Note: please refer to your start times with your Team Leaders (Sarah Aikman/Kristi Esslinger for Admin) and Gregg Teets for BOH)
7:25am Stretch and Flex- get your bodies moving – do a little dance!
7:30-7:45am Volunteer Meeting: Welcome, tips of the day, safety moments, announcements, all the good stuff you need to know
7:45am Get ready for Judge arrivals and head to your workstations
7:45am Admin team is in full force. Judges will check in and receive badges and schedules.
8:30am Judges in their seats ready to go.
8:45am-12:00pm Judging session 5
11:00am-1:00pm Judge and competition staff lunch
1:00-4:45pm Judging Session 6
2 rounds and some tables may drop- if you are on a table that drops, please help out another table or check in with Ops for other assignments to close out the competition
5:00pm Pack and clean all supplies- once done we will have a special toast, a raffle and case distribution!

Good to know

  • Free parking near Westin- There is a public lot directly across the street from Westin. Please feel free to park there. Sadly, we cannot pay for individual parking in the actual Westin parking lot.
  • Judges: 230
  • Volunteers and staff: 154
  • Please note: the space we have for staging is MUCH smaller than the spaces we have had in the past. I kindly ask if everyone can be patient and cooperative as safety is number 1.  In the am, please stay behind your workstations when beers are placed on the floor. WALK slowly btw the rows and be aware of cases on the floor
  • Good news! We get to use the sinks in the back of the house for dumping and rinsing yah!
  • Good news- we can use the ice machine in the back of the house. Only take what you need please.
  • We will be using white paper for judges to see the best view of their beer’s vs white tablecloths. Note: the hotel could not provide the white – so we are using this as a work around.
  • Staging is in the Westminster Ballroom and Judging is in the Legacy Ballroom across the hall.
  • Due to space limitations- beers may be randomized daily vs last day
  • We have a nice group of newbies. – please take them under your wing and welcome them to our beer family and competition. 😉😉😉😉
  • Raffles – day 2 and day 3
  • Short survey is coming out to determine your case distribution plans- basically are you taking all 3 cases or not so the BOH team knows how many cases to make for all involved.

What to Wear

Feel free to wear any of these items:

  • Always wear closed toe, comfy, clean shoes
  • Fun socks (we have sock contests daily)
  • Pants (Nice jeans are acceptable)
  • Shorts (not too short)
  • Nice leggings
  • Skorts, skirts, dresses are all cool
  • Unscented products (like deodorant) Neutral rules!
  • Layers always work well in hotels as it can be hot and cold!

Please Do NOT Wear

  • Flip flops or other open toe shoes
  • Short shorts
  • Jeans or other clothing with holes
  • Clothing that does not allow for movement
  • Anything that may be offensive to others, distasteful, or distracting
  • Anything your grandma would not approve of if you stopped by for Sunday dinner
  • No beer gear shirts, or beer branded hats or pants
  • No strong perfumes, colognes, lotions, or potions (scent is a thing and it can be VERY distracting in our environment)
  • No smoking (please wait until the competition is over for the day).
  • Please beware of body odors (neutral deodorant and laundry products are recommended)
  • Anything scented. Please ensure you wash your hair, your clothes, and your body with non-scented products

What to Bring

  • You and your positive attitude 😉
  • A water bottle to fill up and stay hydrated
  • A bag to put your raffle prizes in so no one can see them
  • Sturdy wheelie cart for last day of competition to take your beers safely to your vehicle
  • Feel free to pack some snacks!
  • Extra personal coffee for the day. We will have some coffee/tea during our breakfast. If you like to drink coffee during the entire day- bring some extra along. Same for any of your other favorite non-alcoholic beverages.

Contests and Themes

  • Socks are Always cool!  Bring your sock game on each day for prizes! Who will be the Sock King/Queen?
  • Being kind is cool! More details on location!
  • Get in the groove and join us with our daily theme contests, outlined in the daily schedule above.
  • Be healthy. Stretch in the morning and afternoon. Do a little dance to start the day! Stretch zone will be made available in lobby area. Drink lots of water. Prizes are awarded for those that excel and take care of themselves.

G.O.A.T. Award

Who will win the G.O.A.T. award at this event?  Let’s give that GOAT some new life! After all it has been locked up in a box in the warehouse since WBC- BORING!

It’s time to unlock the potential and enjoy the G.O.A.T. !

Currently the Volunteer/Staff team are holding on to the G.O.A.T. award. We think the Judges are not fair competition, so let’s bring it all in house! Maybe it’s which table/work group could rein the in the G.O.A.T.? New! contests to be unveiled! cure the G.O.A.T!