2023 GABF judging sessions will take place over three 3-day blocks of time called “Phases”:
| PHASE I | September 7 – 9, Louisville, CO |
| PHASE II | September 10 – 12, Louisville, CO |
| PHASE III | September 19 – 21, Denver, CO (Colorado Convention Center) |
| Great American Beer Festival® | September 21 – 23, Denver, CO (Colorado Convention Center) |
| GABF Awards Ceremony | September 23 |
All judging sessions and lunch will be held at the Brewers Association warehouse at 587 S Taylor Ave, Louisville, CO. Recommended Lodging is the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham – 902 West Dillon Rd, Louisville, CO 80027 (303-664-0100).
Wednesday, September 6, 2023
Most Phase I judges will arrive on this day
Thursday, September 7, 2023
| 8:15 am – 8:30 am | Judge Check In – 587 S Taylor Ave, Louisville, CO: Judges receive judge badge, travel stipend, judge gift, and judge packet |
| 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 – 4:30 pm | Judging Session 2 |
| 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Judge Evening Happy Hour @ Upslope’s “Marshall to Maui” Benefit Upslope Flatirons – 1898 Flatiron Court, Boulder, CO A couple of beers and food provided GABF is donating all judge admission for the event fees to the cause) *Bus transportation provided from La Quinta – Bus leaves La Quinta at 4:30 & 5:05pm. Last bus leaves Upslope to return to La Quinta at 7:30pm |
Friday, September 8, 2023
| 8:15 am – 8:30 am | Judges arrive at 587 S Taylor Ave, Louisville, CO with their judge packets |
| 8:45 am – 12:00 pm | Judging Session 3 |
| 11:30 – 1:00 pm | Judge and Competition Staff Lunch |
| 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm | Judging Session 4 |
| 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm | Competition Social – “Take a walk down Memory Lane” In a spirit of GABF nostalgia dress from your favorite era. Old school Competition shirts are welcome. Judges can show off their oldest Brewery swag. We’ll host a Memory Board so please bring pictures, ticket stubs, stories and etc to share. If you have a picture you would like to share but it is not printed, you can send via email to either lilbeusan@nullaol.com or Kris@nullbrewersassociation.org please be sure to send before September 6th so we have allotted time to get these printed on your behalf. |
Saturday, September 9, 2023
| 8:15 am – 8:30 am | Judges arrive at 587 S Taylor Ave, Louisville, CO with their judge packets |
| 8:45 am – 12:00 pm | Judging Session 5 |
| 11:30 – 1:00 pm | Judge and Competition Staff Lunch |
| 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm | Judging Session 6 |
| Saturday evening | Dinner on your own; many Phase I judges depart |
All judging sessions and lunch will be held at the Brewers Association warehouse at 587 S Taylor Ave, Louisville, CO. Recommended Lodging is the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham – 902 West Dillon Rd, Louisville, CO 80027 (303-664-0100).
Sunday, September 10, 2023
| 8:15 am – 8:30 am | Judge Check In – 587 S Taylor Ave, Louisville, CO: Judges receive judge badge, travel stipend, judge gift, and judge packet |
| 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 7 |
| 11:30 – 1:00 pm | Judge and Competition Staff Lunch |
| 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm | Judging Session 8 |
| 6:45pm – 8:45pm | Judge Evening Happy Hour – Beirstadt LagerHaus 2875 Blake St., Denver, CO A couple of beers & apps provided *Buses leave La Quinta @ 6:15pm / Departs brewery for La Quinta @ 8:45pm |
Monday, September 11, 2023
| 8:15 am – 8:30 am | Judges arrive at 587 S Taylor Ave, Louisville, CO with their judge packets |
| 8:45 am – 12:00 pm | Judging Session 9 |
| 11:30 – 1:00 pm | Judge and Competition Staff Lunch |
| 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm | Judging Session 10 |
| 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm | Competition Social – “Spirit of Aloha” Bring out your tropical outfits. We’ll join for a Luau at our social hour on day 2 phase 2. So lay out you Leis, trim that grass skirt and pick out your pineapple. Did you know everyone needs a Hawaiian shirt in their life? Also, who knows how to Hula? |
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
| 8:15 am – 8:30 am | Judges arrive at 587 S Taylor Ave, Louisville, CO with their judge packets |
| 8:45 am – 12:00 pm | Judging Session 11 |
| 11:30 – 1:00 pm | Judge and Competition Staff Lunch |
| 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm | Judging Session 12 |
| Wednesday evening | Dinner on your own; many Phase II judges depart |
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Remaining Phase II judges depart
All judging sessions, breakfast, lunch and Judge Orientation will be held at the Colorado Convention Center.
To make hotel reservations at, you may visit the event Hotel & Travel page here
Sunday, September 17, 2023
Many overseas judges will arrive on this day
Monday, September 18, 2023
All remaining Phase III judges will arrive on this day
| 3:30 pm – 4:59 p.m. | Judge Check In – Colorado Convention Center: Judges will receive judge badge, travel stipend, judge gift, and judge packet |
| 4:59 pm – 6:20 pm | Judge Orientation – Colorado Convention Center: Welcome, brief tour of Judge packet, what to expect for the week |
| 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm | Judge Reception – Denver Beer Company 1695 Platte St, Denver, CO 80202 |
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
| 8:00 am – 9:15 am | Judge Breakfast – Colorado Convention Center (Cafe above Four Seasons Ballroom) |
| 9:15 am | Judges gather in judging rooms – Colorado Convention Center Four Seasons Ballroom |
| 9:30 am – 12:00 pm | Judging Session 13 |
| 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm | Judge and Competition Staff Lunch – Colorado Convention Center |
| 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm | Judging Session 14 |
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
| 7:00 am – 8:15 am | Colorado Convention Center (Cafe above Four Seasons Ballroom) |
| 8:30 am | Judges gather in judging rooms – Colorado Convention Center Four Seasons Ballroom |
| 8:45 am – 12:00 pm | Judging Session 15 |
| 11:30 am – 1:00 pm | Judge and Competition Staff Lunch – Colorado Convention Center |
| 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm | Judging Session 16 |
| 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm | GABF Brewers Gathering – Bellco Lobby |
Thursday, September 21, 2022
| 7:00 am – 8:15 am | Colorado Convention Center (Cafe above Four Seasons Ballroom) |
| 8:30 am | Judges gather in judging rooms – Colorado Convention Center Four Seasons Ballroom |
| 8:45 am – 12:00 pm | Judging Session 17 |
| 11:30 am – 1:00 pm | Judge and Competition Staff Lunch – Colorado Convention Center |
| 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm | Judging Session 18 |
| 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm | Great American Beer Festival – Session 1 |
2023 Great American Beer Festival® will be held at the Colorado Convention Center (“CCC”), 700 14th St. Denver, CO 80202.
| Thursday, September 21 | 5:30 pm – 10:00pm: GABF Thursday Evening Session |
| Friday, September 22 | 5:30 pm – 10:00pm: GABF Friday Evening Session |
| Saturday, September 23 | 10:00 am – Awards Ceremony |
| Saturday, September 23 | 12:00 pm – 4:00pm: GABF Members-Only Session |
| Saturday, September 23 | 5:30 pm – 10:00pm: GABF Saturday Evening Session |
Locations and times are subject to change – this page is a work in progress.