2025 GABF Judging Schedule

2025 GABF judging sessions will take place over 3 to 4 day blocks of time called “Phases”:

PHASE I	September 24 – 27, Louisville, CO
PHASE II	October 6 – 9 Denver, CO (Hyatt Regency @ Colorado Convention Center)
Great American Beer Festival® (GABF®)	October 9 – 11, Denver, CO (Colorado Convention Center)
GABF Awards Ceremony	October 11

All judging sessions and lunch will be held at the Brewers Association warehouse at 587 S Taylor Ave, Louisville, CO.

Hotel & Travel

The closest hotel for judges is the Courtyard Marriott Louisville (from which a daily shuttle is provided to/from judging). Discounted Hotel Reservation Link Here

Shuttle Times:
Morning: 7:30am first shuttle will load up and drop off then will loop 3 times (ride is roughly 10 minutes and – we have roughly 60 people in waves)

Afternoon: 3:30 to 5:30 pm Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday (4pm – 6pm FRIDAY due to Afternoon social)

Courtyard Marriott Louisville
948 West Dillon Road
Louisville, CO 80027
Ph: +(303) 604-0007

Tuesday, September 23

Most Phase I judges will arrive on this day

Wednesday, September 24

Daily theme: “Team Players” – Rep your favorite sports teams, brewery or homebrew clubs, competition teams (like old GABF/WBC Judge shirts). Show your team spirit!

8:00 am – 8:30 am	Judge Check In – 587 S Taylor Ave, Louisville, CO: Judges receive their judge packets & daily judging schedule
8:30 am	Judges gather at assigned judging tables – brief 15-30 minute on-site judge orientation
9:00 am – 12:00 pm	Judging Session 1
11:30 – 1:00 pm	Judge and Competition Staff Lunch
1:00 pm – 4:45 pm	Judging Session 2
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm	Judge Evening Happy Hour @ Prost Brewing Northglenn Biergarten 351 West 104th Avenue, Unit A Northglenn, CO 80234 A couple of beers and food provided *Bus transportation provided from Hotel – Bus leaves hotel 5:30pm. Last bus leaves Prost to return to hotel at 8:00pm

Thursday, September 25

Daily theme: “Spirit of the West” – Darn Tootin’! Cowboy gear, paisley, boots – make your west side your best side!

8:15 am – 8:30 am	Judge Check In – 587 S Taylor Ave, Louisville, CO. Judges arrive with their judge packets and pick up their daily judging schedule
8:30 am	Judges gather at assigned judging tables
8:45 am – 12:00 pm	Judging Session 3
11:30 – 1:00 pm	Judge and Competition Staff Lunch
1:00 pm – 4:45 pm	Judging Session 4
Thursday Night	Dinner on your own; (Suppliers or brewers, interested in hosting a judge event? Let us know!)

Friday, September 26

Daily theme: “Back In School” – Picture day! We’ll do a huge group photo with the crew, so wear your new competition shirt!

8:15 am – 8:30 am	Judge Check In – 587 S Taylor Ave, Louisville, CO. Judges arrive with their judge packets and pick up their daily judging schedule
8:15 AM	Phase I Judges & Competition Team PHOTO! – Wear your new shirt!
8:45 am – 12:00 pm	Judging Session 5
11:30 – 1:00 pm	Judge and Competition Staff Lunch
1:00 pm – 4:45 pm	Judging Session 6
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm	Competition Social @ Taylor Warehouse featuring LIVE MUSIC from KD & The Painkillers!

Saturday, September 27

Daily theme: “Tropical Zoo Day” – Whether it’s your spirit animal or the Spirit of Aloha, embrace whatever spirit moves you for the last day of judging. Hawaiian shirts, tropical attire, animal gear (full body animal outfits not recommended… but not prohibited)

8:15 am – 8:30 am	Judge Check In – 587 S Taylor Ave, Louisville, CO. Judges arrive with their judge packets and pick up their daily judging schedule
8:45 am – 12:00 pm	Judging Session 7
11:30 – 1:00 pm	Judge and Competition Staff Lunch
1:00 pm – 4:45 pm	Judging Session 8
Saturday evening	Dinner on your own; many Phase I judges depart

All judging sessions, breakfast, lunch and Judge Orientation will be held at the Hyatt Regency Denver Convention Center Hotel (NOT the Convention Center, as in the past few years).

To make hotel reservations at, you may visit the event Hotel & Travel page here to view all hotels

If booking at the Hyatt Regency Hotel – here is a direct link for a block set aside for judges during judging days.

Sunday, October 5

Some overseas judges may arrive on this day

Monday, October 6

All remaining Phase II judges will arrive on this day

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm	Judge Orientation & Reception – Odell Brewing Sloan’s Lake Brewhouse 1625 Perry St., Denver, CO 80204 (Note: judges arrive on their own, there is no bus/shuttle to this event)

Tuesday, October 7