Women Enjoying Beer

International National Festival

Oct 15, 2011 Beer, Celebration Worthy, Events, Something To Think About

Which one is it? Thankfully many festivals are both. They’re located in a country of origin AND they recruit judges from other places to provide a varied and therefore widely competent panel.

Judging is such a final word. So striving for a balance of opinions, morals, preferences, knowledge, thoughts, and agendas is really critical to get a equilibrium in any judging situation. We’re still human and we still let our own thoughts come through, however obvious or subtle they may manifest.

The GABF is one example of a well balanced judging of the beers. It is after all a competition. The 2011 GABF estimated that 4000 beers would be judged  by 170+ judges from all over the globe. 400 beers! Whew! Being well acquainted with some of the judges I can share that it’s truly a dedicated and challenging endeavor. It goes way beyond what they think about what is in the glass. Partially because they have to reach consensus all the way around for a beer to advance. So this process also involves diplomacy, articulation and professional decorum.

They also added new judging categories this year:

• Fruit Wheat Beer
• Chocolate Beer
• American-style Brett Ale (interesting – no lagers per Brett?)
• International-style pale Ale

Local festival, international judges. That’s how you host an International National Festival. I say cheers to that!

Tags: beer judging, GABF, international judges, national contests

Great Aspirations Come True

Oct 11, 2011 Beer, Celebration Worthy, Events

“The Great American Beer Festival has come a long was since its humble beginnings in 1982 as an offshoot of the 4th annual National Homebrew and Microbrewery Conference. Nevertheless, if the name is any indication, its aspirations were great, and over 30 years, the events has grown from 800 attendees to 49,000 and from a 5,000 square foot festival hall to one closer to 300,000 square feet.”

- Brewers Association media info, ala GABF

Two GABF goer's that'd agree its a 'great' festival!

Great aspirations can yield poor overblown unplanned failure. Great aspirations need to have some thought behind them. Because great aspirations can also create smashing success.

The GABF is a premium example of thoughtfulness – not that any of the progenitors of the event could have foreseen its success. With sound decision making as part of the process, aspirations can be come realities.

Cheers to the Brewers Association, the brewers, the beer community, sponsors, vendors, workers, volunteer army and attendees – they all make this truly remarkable festival tick tock every year.

Tags: 30th anniversary, aspirations, GABF, Great American Beer Festival, planning, thoughtfulness

A Few Great Aspects of the 2011 GABF

Oct 4, 2011 Events

1. It’s well attended by people all over the USA who are enthusiastic about beer.

2. The 2011 festival celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Great American Beer Festival.

3. The event is very well run by the Brewers Association.

4. There were over 2400 beers presented by 465 breweries (winners here).

5. The Colorado Convention Center, while very loud like most such places, is spacious for this event.

6. There were and always are plentiful staffers from the BA and the CCC, to help facilitate the festival.

7. The weather for revelers was ideal (think standing in line is non rainy weather).

8. Zero Hero helped green up the event - and it’s not the first year they’ve been a part of the big festival picture.

9. We get to plan and look forward to the 31st GABF in 2012.

As the days unfold we’ll share more information about the GABF that was for 2011. It’s worth noting that while we’ll share what has already happened, we’ll also provide insight as to how this all matters going forward.

Cheers to Great American Beer!

Tags: 30th anniversary, Denver, GABF, Great American Beer Festival

The Fest of The Best

Sep 26, 2011 Beer, Celebration Worthy, Events, Women and Beer

Are you planning on attending the Great American Beer Festival , aka ‘the GABF,’ this week?

Help Celebrate Great American Beer!

If you are, be very sure to come by our booth, 125, across from section J at the Denver Convention Center. We’ll be there with a booth full of smiles, enthusiastic women who enjoy beer (although they won’t be partaking while working) and ready to greet you.

The van is loaded with WEB shirts, hats, repurposed grain bags, and other goodies to sell and help spread the word that women do in fact very much enjoy beer. So we’re hitting the road.

Look for a big white cargo van with our signature round logo on the sides. Honk if you like – we’ll wave. Twitter that you saw us or leave a comment on our facebook page on where you saw us.

We’ll be in Salt Lake City tonight – so if you live there be on the watch!

Cheers to one of the most well attended, well run, and lively beer festivals in our fine nation. Looking forward to seeing you soon -

Tags: Brewers Association, Denver CO, GABF, Great American Beer Festival

Advice To A Novice GABF Consumer

Jul 1, 2011 Beer, Events

From one of our great consumer enthusiasts and supporters:

Hi Ginger,

Enjoying summer here, and just about to bottle the stout [she's a homebrewer]. I am having the ladies come over for a bottling party next week…. Which brings me to my GABF question – I see that GABF tickets went on sale, and I want to purchase tickets before they sell out. What nights/days do you suggest I purchase (and also encourage the ladies to purchase as well)?

Come join us at the GABF!!

Hope you are doing well, and enjoying the summer!

My response:

Happy 1st of July!!

Good to hear from you. Have fun bottling. Would love to join you for a bottling in the future.

GABF: Thursday = night the geeks are out, best beer selection since everything is just tapped (no outs).
Friday: Working class is out for the night to start their weekend, mostly well controlled fun crowd.
Saturday: College partiesque. Awards have been given = several beers are out due to that and just the popular ones are out.
If I was a newbie – I’d go Thursday, or maybe Friday. It’s about really enjoying the beer, not getting schnockered anyway.

Tags: GABF, new attendee to the festival

Tasty Trifecta Event last night at Oskar Blues

Sep 16, 2010 Beer, Beer & Food, Celebration Worthy, Education & Training, Events, Good People

Beth and Luke of OBB - such huge help!

Thanks to the entire Oskar Blues Crew for a fantastic event venue and help last night. Chelly and were able to offer a unique women’s only Beer & Cheese & Dessert tasting event at their taproom. Beth, Luke, Burc, Melissa, Dale and everyone else who makes the place tick – pints up!

Thanks equally to the fantastic group of women beer enthusiasts that came out – judging by the conversation and laughter level, I’d say it was a success! They had the choice of 6 different beers from both Oskar Blues as well as tasty Left Hand Beers. One the food side, Chelly selected delicious cheeses from a favorite cheese monger and sweets from Living the Sweet Life - both in Denver.

Chelly (l) providing helpful information for the event

We lead them through  a simple how to taste exercises to warm them up and get them started – then off they went!

The evening closed with Beth, the taproom manager, leading a tour of the brewery – newly expanded and looking fabulous for our great guests.

Cheers of course goes to Left Hand brewing and their crew for pitching in three uber yummy beers for the event as well.

Hats off to Ingrid, our intrepid and dedicated volunteer assistant for the night – well done!

And my own personal thanks to the incredible Chelly for her partnership. She has excellent judgment.

Now – on to more GABF events….Cheers!

Tags: beer and cheese and dessert, Denver Gourmet, GABF, Left Hand Brewing, Oskar Blues Brewing, tasting, Tasty Trifecta

Update Today

Sep 12, 2010 Celebration Worthy, Events

Good Weekend All –

And be sure to put the October WEB event on your – and your males friends’ – calendars. It’s the Come As A Woman event! If you’re a woman, you’re set. If you’re a man, dress as a woman and come enjoy the event too. No more whining – “what about us guys??!!” from the men – here’s their shot! Reservations can be made here until 10/12 – thanks.

See you soon!

Cheers -

Ginger

Tags: Come As A Woman event 10/14, GABF, logo gear, September 9th WEB event

Two Signature Events During the 2010 Great American Beer Festival

Aug 28, 2010 Beer & Food, Education & Training, Events

Wanted to share 2 really fun events coming up in Colorado in September. If you feel compelled to share them, that’s always appreciated.

The first event is Wednesday September 15th in Longmont Colorado at Oskar Blues Brewing. Myself and the incredible Chelly Vitry, of Denver Gourmet Tours, are putting together a superb Women’s event with Oskar Blues Brewery – The Tasty Trifecta! Beautiful Beer, Sumptuous Sweets and Creamy Cheese beer and food tasting event. They are graciously hosting the event and providing their tasty beers – we’ll be pairing them with cheeses and desserts. If you’ve never tried it, here’s your opportunity!

Full details and ticket availability can all be found here, on this link.

The second event is the Gastravaganza! Beautiful Beer & Street Food event – held at the gracious host Breckenridge Brewery (who’s beer will also be featured). The Gastravaganza (great word, eh?!) is a oh-so-tasty 6 course beer and food pairing.

We’ve got 6 high quality breweries involved: Wynkoop, Avery, Lefthand, Breckenridge, Odell, Ska and Del Norte happily participating. The food is an equal match of terrific high quality choices: Steuben’s, Cupcake Truck, Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs, Pinche Taco, Deluxe Burger, and the Gastro Cart.

Women & men welcome and encouraged. If you love beer, this is a great chance to come out and savor a lovely evening with friends (grab several!). If you love food, it’s a fantastic chance to wrap your lips around some of Denver’s finest street food. If you love both, well, it’s nirvana! (plentiful parking for cars and bikes too)

Full details and tickets can be found here on the site.

We’d love to see you join us – and you can buy tickets now! Plan on one or both and get out and enjoy the remarkable opportunities Central Colorado has to offer.

Thanks for your time, attention and and spread.

Cheers!

Ginger & Chelly

Tags: Avery, beer and cheese, beer and sweets, Breckenridge, Del Norte, Denver CO, GABF, Gastravaganza, Lefthand, Longmont CO, Odell, Oskar Blues Brewery, Ska, street food and beer, Tasty Trifecta, Women and Beer, Wynkoop

Gastravaganza in Denver – Delicious Beer & Tasty Street Food Event

Aug 16, 2010 Beer, Beer & Food, Celebration Worthy, Events

Wow! Who’s up for a Gastravaganza in Denver Colorado September 18th, 7- 9 pm?!

Gastravanganza!

Details and tickets available here – on Chelly’s site.

Chelly’s Denver Gourmet Tours and Women Enjoying Beer is collaborating and partnering with terrific breweries and street food vendors to offer a totally unique and tasty adventure.

Our terrific Featured Beers will come from Avery Brewing, Wynkoop Brewing, Breckenridge Brewery, Left Hand Brewing, Del Norte Brewing and Odell Brewing.

Fabulous tasty Street Food will be from Steuben’s, Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs, Gastro Cart, Brava Pizza, and Cake Crumbs Cupcake Truck.

We’ve room for up to 300 – so sign up today. It’s happening the same week as Denver Beer Week and Great American Beer Festival (a don’t miss beer event).

Cheers – see you there!

Tags: Avery Brewing, beer and food adventure, Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs, Brava Pizza, Breckenridge Brewing, Cake Crumbs, Del Norte Brewing, Denver Beer Week, Denver Gourmet Tours, GABF, Gastravaganza, Gastro Cart, Left Hand Brewing, Odell brewing, Steuben's, Wynkoop Brewing

GABF: Worth Examining

Sep 29, 2009 Celebration Worthy, Events

Had the distinct pleasure of being filmed at the GABF this past week. A HUGE shout out of thanks to Jake, Nikki, Justin and the entire crew. It was a ball and a great place to spread the gospel of beer to women.

Take a look and listen here.

Good reading as well – per the winners list. I would venture a strong opinion that most every brewery who was there won. As did the festival goers.

Cheers!

Tags: Examiner.com, GABF, winners list