OnTap Magazine

ontapmag.co.za | Summer 2024 | 29 A s the American craft beer landscape continues to evolve and change, so too must the festivals and events associated with it. Nowhere is this more evident than at the latest iteration of the Great American Beer Festival (GABF), the largest public tasting event in America. Organised by the Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade association for small and independent American craft brewers, the 42nd GABF took place from October 10th - 12th in Denver, Colorado and drew approximately 40,000 people who eagerly descended on the state capital to sample the 2,500 beverages from 600+ breweries, cideries, distillers and other beverage producers. But this year's Festival brought a fresh and exciting new vibe. In previous years, breweries were organized by geographic region and the presence of ‘beyond beer’ beverages was rarely seen. This year the Festival underwent a complete make- over with themed experiential sections designed to offer immersive experiences, specialised beverages, and engaging entertainment. Highlights included Prost! , a traditional German-style Biergarten featuring a popular stein-holding contest and traditional Bavarian music; Score! a sports- lovers haven which combined the thrill of sports with the joy of craft brewing; Fright , an immersive Halloween-themed experience; Blast Off , an ‘out-of-this- world flavour blast’ showcasing the Beer & Beyond experience; Meet the Brewer , an interactive space where festival-goers could connect directly with their favourite brewers; and Chill , a backyard gathering space with music, lawn games and exclusive brews. The result? A refreshing burst of creativity and energy aimed at attracting a diverse crowd seeking more than just beer tasting. From wild costumes and pretzel necklaces to karaoke, a silent disco, and new activities like Lucha Libre wrestling, there were endless Instagram-worthy moments and beverages to suit every taste. Yet beer remained the star of the show. The GABF competition took place in the lead-up to the Festival, with results announced on Saturday and providing a good barometer of American craft beer trends. In total, 8,836 beers and 233 cider entries were judged across 102 beer categories and five new cider categories, all evaluated by 285 beer experts. The competition was made possible thanks to more than 250 volunteers who facilitated the multi-step judging process over seven days in three phases. In total, 326 medals were awarded to 273 breweries. The top five most- entered style category winners included: TRENDS IPA DOMINATES There are two trends within craft beer styles that are growing the fastest right now: • IPA in its many iterations continues to lead the American craft brewing landscape, now accounting for 46% of the $29 billion craft beer industry, up from 30% in 2017. Hop forward beers like American IPA, juicy/hazy IPA, and Imperial IPA saw the strongest market share gains in 2023. • Lighter styles, like American lager, wheat ale, and pilsner are also gaining traction, showing growth at both ends of the ABV spectrum. Overall, growth is coming from both high and low ABV styles while mid-range ABV beers face more challenges. There was amyriad of IPAs at the Festival but a good rule of thumb was to focus on award-winning breweries that produce world-class examples of the style such as Breakside Brewery, Reuben’s Brews or Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. While most certainly not an IPA, Allagash White, the classic Belgian Witbier, won gold again and is available in many export markets. HOW HIGH CAN YOU GO…. Topping the bill for extreme offerings Juicy/Hazy IPA (349 entries) West Coast IPA (292 entries) American-style IPA (217 entries) Dortmunder or German-style Oktoberfest (210 entries) German Style Marzen (195 entries)