We will continue to distribute badges as identification/nametags for participating breweries, however, wristbands will be distributed for each session and will serve as your primary access credential for entry into the hall.
Brewers Schedule / Hall Access Times
(when you can get in to set up your booth)
| Event | Day | Brewers’ Setup Time | Event Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brewers Gathering | Wednesday, October 9 | N/A | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm |
| GABF Session | Thursday, Oct. 10 | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm | 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm Last call- 9:15 pm |
| GABF Session | Friday, Oct. 11 | 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm | 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm Last call- 9:15 pm |
| Awards Ceremony | Saturday, Oct. 12 | N/A | 10:00am – 12:00pm (doors @ 9:30am) *Limited capacity. Admittance limited to participating breweries. |
| GABF Session | Saturday, Oct. 12 | 10:00am – 4:30 pm | 12:00 pm – 4:30 pm Last call- 4:15 pm |
Participating Breweries Credential Pickup Information
Pickup Process
- A valid photo ID is required to pick up any credential.
- Credentials = One name badge + one wristband for each session
- Individuals who’s names have been associated with a specific credential will be allowed to pick up only their one credential.
- OR the main GABF Contact for the brewery will be allowed to pick up any/all credentials for that brewery
Credential Pickup / Brewers Check-in Hours (Get there early…)
| WEDNESDAY | 8:30 am – 7:00 pm* |
| THURSDAY | 8:30 am – 9:00 pm |
| FRIDAY | 2:00 pm – 9:00 pm |
| SATURDAY | 9:00 am – 3:00 pm** |
*Wednesday/Brewers Gathering
If you have a ticket to the Brewers Gathering, this will be a separate ticket. A credential will not allow access to the Brewers Gathering. You will need to pick up your ticket prior to 7:00 pm on Wednesday in order to attend the Brewers Gathering.
**Saturday credential Pickup Last call @ 7:00 pm
Check-in closes at 7:00 pm on Saturday night. Credentials not picked up by that time will not be available for pickup after 7:00 pm on Saturday night.
Brewery Representatives and Credentials
As part of the festival booth registration process, each brewery may designate up to four representatives (depending on the number of beers entered) who may promote and distribute its products at the brewery booth.
Booth at the festival = Four (4) complimentary brewery rep credentials
Meet the Brewer Booth at the festival = Seven (7) complimentary brewery rep credentials
No booth at the festival/Competition Only = Zero (0) complimentary brewery rep credentials unless purchased separately
The Brewers Association is dedicated to presenting GABF beers in a favorable light. Part of this plan is to provide a safe and secure environment. Make sure that your brewery representatives are aware of and adhere to the ONE-OUNCE POUR RULE.
Festival breweries (i.e. those with a booth at the festival) may purchase a maximum of four additional brewery representative credentials valid for all sessions, based on availability. The cost is $185 per additional pass for Brewers Association members. Additionally purchased credentials do not include access to the Brewers Gathering.
Competition-only breweries (i.e. those only participating in the competition) may purchase a maximum of four brewery representative credentials valid for all sessions, based on availability. The cost is $325 per additional credential. These badges do not include access to the Brewers Gathering.
Credentials are good for all four sessions of the festival. Each badge has the brewery’s name on it and should be used by brewery representatives only. Each credential is good for one person to enter the festival per session.
All credentials are the property of the Brewers Association and may be revoked at any time.
All brewery representatives are ID’d and wristbanded each day. Please plan accordingly and allow time to get wristbanded and ID’d onsite before entering the hall. Ages 21+ only.
As part of our mission to educate the consumer about the quality and diversity of beer, the expectation is that breweries will have at least one brewery representative present in their booth at all times during the public sessions. The GABF will continue to staff booths with volunteers who are educated about beer styles and the brewing process to assist brewery representatives.
Festival Load In/Load Out
Load in: 9:00am – 4:00pm on Thursday for all in-line (non-endcap/sponsor) breweries.
Load Out: Saturday 4:30pm – 11:30pm | Sunday 8:00am – 10:30am see below for details.
Bringing smaller items? If you are bringing smaller items like banners, small boxes, promotional materials, etc. with you to the festival (anything you can hand carry in one trip) can be carried in through the Brewers Registration entrance and avoid the car/truck lines.
Dock Access Map and Instructions – For Breweries Bringing Lots of Stuff, structures, etc. – Coming Soon
Your Load In Region is shaded area on the attached map, and the loading dock is marked with a red arrow. Load in through the correct loading dock (Map Here)
For those of you familiar with the convention center, the right side of this map is the Champa Street side, the left side is Welton Street, top is Speer Blvd, and bottom is 14th Street.
- Islands 1 – 7 (Red Section) – Use the Welton Street Docks (Hall A Door Load-In)
- Islands 8 – 15 (Green Section) – Use the Champa Street Docks (Hall F Door Load-In)
- Islands 16 – 21 / 26 – 28 (Purple – All Meet the Brewer & some Standard Festival Booths) – Use the Champa Street Docks (Hall D Door Load-In)
- Islands 22 – 25 (Yellow section) – Use the Welton Street Docks (Hall C Door Load-In)
Each loading dock will have a dock shack/guard at the entrance. Check in with them and let them know you are dropping of for the GABF and they’ll put you in the queue to load in. Plan ahead and don’t show up at the last minute as load in on Thursday can get backed up and you may have to experience a wait to access the convention center.
Load Out – READ – Saturday night is your BEST option (No Joke – the longer you wait – Sunday morning at 10am, for instance – the more sluggish, chaotic and painful load out will be – you’ve been warned)
Dock Access: Trucks/Cars must check in at the Dock Shack no later than 11:15 p.m. (same dock you used to load in – as above)
All cars/trucks must be off the docks by 11:45 pm on Saturday night / 11:45 am on Sunday Morning.
Prep before you get to the dock: Collect all of your booth materials at your booth space before bringing your car to the dock. Cars/Trucks will not be allowed to sit at the dock while you pack up your booth materials at your booth – have this done before you bring your vehicle.
- Load out Hours: 4:30pm – 11:45 pm Saturday Night | 8:00am – 11:45 am Sunday (at 11:45 AM on Sunday – any materials left in the hall will be disposed of)
- Load out starts immediately after the festival ends on Saturday night – DO NOT LEAVE IMPORTANT ITEMS IN YOUR BOOTH SPACE ON SATURDAY NIGHT – volunteers tear the festival down quickly after it ends, and items left in booths have a tendency to disappear or get lost.
- The earlier you load out, the less mayhem you are bound to run into – Saturday night is best and it gets exponentially more nightmarish after 8am on Sunday)