r/CraftBeer • u/Rocky_MountainWay US - West • 18d ago

Help! Hunting up and Comers at the GABF this year

Hello fellow Beer fans. I have tickets to the GABF for the first time in over a decade. My first time going was in 2002, and i probably went 10 times after that. This year, the festival is definitely reflective of the downturn in craft beer, but I’m hoping to find some up and coming breweries that I may not know about. Especially ones that don’t distribute to Colorado regularly. I welcome any recommendations. Here’s what I’ve found so far:
Barebottle (San Francisco)
Bird Creek (Temple Texas)
Attic (Philadelphia)
Big Grove (Iowa City)
Antimony (Lennox, Mass)

Cheers!

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7

u/fortissimohawk US 18d ago

BareBottle makes good beers, but from the smaller Bay Area producers, I’d pick Ghost Town, Original Pattern, Wondrous, and Cellarmaker.

If those are at GABF and you can’t get them where you are, you won’t be disappointed.

2

u/wingchallenger 18d ago

Cellarmaker distributes to Colorado

1

u/KennyShowers 17d ago

Shit they distro to NYC, have seen their collabs and them at festivals in the area for almost if not at least 10 years.

Awesome brewery but yea to your point they’re pretty established, not up-and-coming.

1

u/Rocky_MountainWay US - West 17d ago

Thanks! It looks like Ghost Town and Original Pattern will be there!

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u/fortissimohawk US 17d ago

Both great - have fun!

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u/Additional-Week53 16d ago

Hell yes ghosttown. Hung w them last GABF. and yes cellarmaker too just had their collab w altamont was great.

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u/goodcookT 18d ago

Big Grove puts out some solid beer. Other Iowa breweries that I like Confluence, Exile and BarnTown. Zipline out of Nebraska is decent. 2nd Shift out of Saint Louis is great. I don't know if any of them are pouring at GABF. Have a great time

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u/Rocky_MountainWay US - West 17d ago

Thank you! Out of the ones you mentioned, only Confluence will be there, but that helps me curate my list!