This year the Great American Beer Festival will be happening online and at thousands of local breweries across the nation!
With roughly 60,000 attendees and 800 breweries from across the country, the Great American Beer Festival is the country’s largest beer festival. This year though, as with most beer festivals in 2020, GABF is going virtual!
I’ve been to two previous Great American Beer Festivals, which take place every September/October in Denver, Colorado. So to say I was skeptical about this virtual festival is an understatement.
At first, I was like, “Ehhhhh, another virtual fest?” I wasn’t very interested at all. So much of the fun of beer festivals is the social aspect: hanging out with old friends and making new friends.
Read This: A Recap of the 2019 Great American Beer Festival
I looked a little deeper at the “schedule” and the “passport” and found that it is actually going to be quite a cool experience!
Navigation
About the (Virtual) 2020 Great American Beer Festival
Normally, the festival is a yearly tradition that runs for a few days in September or October. The festival brings in tens of thousands and beer drinkers to sample over 4,000 beers from 800 American breweries.
Read More: Lessons Learned at My First Great American Beer Festival
Getting tickets to the festival is incredibly hard as well, and a bit pricey ($85). This year, with the virtual GABF, tickets, or “passports” as they’re calling them are a mere $20. In addition to the online content, including access to brewery deals between October 1-18 at 1,000+ breweries from all 50 states.
2020 Great American Beer Festival Schedule
Along with great deals at local breweries from October 1st – 18th with your Passport, there are some virtual events that you can tune in to from your own home. Preferably, with a local craft beer in hand!
Competition Awards Ceremony Presentation (Open to the public): October 16, at 5:00 p.m. MT
Virtual Great American Beer Festival (Exclusive content for GABF passport holders): Friday, October 16: 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. MT and Saturday, October 17: 5:45 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. MT
About the GABF Passport and How it Works
The GABF team decided that they couldn’t imagine a year without GABF (SAME). So in 2020, we’ll all be coming together, but instead of coming out to Denver, we’ll be celebrating virtually and locally the 39th annual Great American Beer Festival.
GABF is bringing the festival nationwide through their “passport” program. Purchase your Passport for $20 and get access to Awards Ceremony Presentation (normally only for media and brewers), Virtual Great American Beer Festival schedule of speakers, and Nationwide deals on beers at your favorite breweries. (Below is a full list of Texas breweries participating in the 2020 GABF)
Breweries in Texas Where You Can Get Deals with Your Great American Beer Festival Passport
Between October 1-18, Great American Beer Festival 2020 passport holders will have exclusive access to beer deals at participating festival breweries nationwide.
Below is a list of Texas breweries offering special discounts or tastings for passport members. Let me know how many you’ve visited!
3 Nations Brewing – Carrollton, Texas: $2 off your first beer, when you visit the 3 Nations taproom.
4th Tap Brewing – Austin, Texas: 10% Discount on Merchandise
Acopon Brewing Company – Dripping Springs, Texas: 20% off pints, $15 regular logo t-shirts (Black or Grey) Offer not available for online orders.
Adelbert’s Brewery LLC – Austin, Texas: Free can of Adelbert’s beer.
Altstadt Brewery – Fredericksburg, Texas: Half off all pints of beer.
Armadillo Ale Works – Denton, Texas: 25% off Armadillo Ale Works beer to-go.
Aurellias Bottle Shop and Brewhouse – El Paso, Texas: Free 5oz sample, 25% off merch.
BAA BAA BREWHOUSE – Brookshire, Texas: Exclusive access to GABF Special Release Beer – purchase on site during Baa Baa drive through or walk up sales.
Back Unturned Brewing Co. – San Antonio, Texas: 50% off flight of tasters.
Bankhead Brewing Company – Rowlett, Texas: 50% off growler fills.
Barking Armadillo Brewing – Georgetown, Texas: BOGO free pints (limit one BOGO deal per day per GABF passport holder) as well as 10% of all merch.
Bear King Brewing Company – Marble Falls, Texas: Discount on merchandise discount on pints discount on to-go beer. (pictured above)
- Passport Holder Exclusive: SWIGGY2020
Bitter Sisters Brewing Company – Addison, Texas: Exclusive access to GABF special release beer. 20% off beer to go. One time use only.
Blue Owl Brewing – Austin, Texas: 20% discount on merchandise 30% discount on growler fills.
- Passport Holder Exclusive: GABF20 for a discount on merchandise and SOURGABF for a discount on growler fills.
Blue Star Brewing Co – San Antonio, Texas: 10% discount on merchandise.
Brotherwell Brewing – Waco, Texas: 25% off beer flights or 25% off pint flights to-go.
Cowtown Brewing Company – Fort Worth, Texas: All Passport holders receive their Happy Hour pricing throughout the entire event, October 1 – 18. That means, $2 off all appetizers and $2 off all pours, excluding special releases.
Denton County Brewing Company – Denton, Texas: GABF Special Release Beer.
Dirty Job Brewing – Mansfield, Texas: Discounted merchandise, discounted flights, free chips and salsa with your beer.
Dos Sirenos Brewing – San Antonio, Texas: $10.00 flight of four beers of your choice. Limit one per customer.
Family Business Beer Company – Dripping Springs, Texas: 10% off entire bar tab (beer only).
Freetail Brewing Co – San Antonio, Texas: 25% merch; schwag bag (cup, koozie, etc.); free flight or pint; additional perks during Awards Ceremony (free chips & queso, bomber discount, raffle prizes).
Galveston Bay Beer Company – Dickinson, Texas: $2 off growler fills.
Hold Out Brewing – Austin, Texas: Hold Out Brewing will be releasing the first beer in a new Artist Series called “Hard In The Paint.” Passport holders will have access to a limited, special edition print designed by Lauren Dickens, the first artist in their series. Prints will be available with the purchase of a 4-pack, and will be around while supplies last.
Hop And Sting Brewing Company – Grapevine, Texas: $6 six packs of Monarch American Lager $6 six packs of 2014 GABF Gold and 2015 GABF Silver winner, Sir William’s English Brown Ale.
Horny Toad Brewing Co. – Rowena, Texas: One free pint of beer.
Independence Brewing Co – Austin, Texas: Discounts on merch and BOGO crowlers. (pictured above)
Jester King Brewery & Kitchen – Austin, Texas: 15% discount on online orders for curbside pick-up. Special access to reserved seating October 1st through 4th, book through private link on the hidden page. Beer specials and releases to be announced via their hidden page.
- Passport Holder Exclusive: Hidden page at: https://jesterkingbrewery.com/gabf-2020 Password: GABF2020 PROMO CODE for 15% off online orders is GABF2020
Künstler Brewing – San Antonio, Texas: Free half pint of exclusive 2020 GABF special release beer. Buy one one full pour, get one half off, limit to two per passport holder. Keep the 1/2 pour Kuenstler glass (1 per passport holder.) 15% off crowlers togo. 15% merch; Additional perks during Awards Ceremony.
Last Stand Brewing Company – Austin, Texas: Unspecified discount on beer.
Lazy Beach Brewing – Corpus Christi, Texas: 1/2 off crowlers and growler fills via curbside pickup.
- Passport Holder Exclusive: GABF
Longtab Brewing Company LLC – San Antonio, Texas: 10% off all beer purchases and 10% off all apparel and swag.
Manhattan Project Beer Company – Dallas, Texas: Discount on flights! Discount on merch!
New Magnolia Brewing Co. – Houston, Texas: Free 6oz sample. Exclusive access and 20% off GABF special release beers. Discounts on select merchandise. Passport Holder Exclusive: NMBC*GABF
Oak Highlands Brewery – Dallas, Texas: Half price on your first glass of beer
Old 290 Brewery – Johnson City, Texas: Free flight of four beers, plus 25% off an appetizer.
Peticolas Brewing Co – Dallas, Texas: 20% discount on a mixed 6-pack of GABF entries. Call to place order and provide your GABF passport ID.
Pinthouse Pizza (all locations) – Austin, Texas: $2.00 discount on sampler flight of 2020 GABF competition entry beers available on 10/16 & 10/17.
Rahr and Sons Brewing Company – Fort Worth, Texas: 25% off at Rahr Beer to Go. No discounts on packages or bundles.
Real Ale Brewing Co – Blanco, Texas: 10% off Real Ale GABF 2020 entries for the month of October and a FREE sticker pack with all curbside Beer to Go orders for the weekend of the virtual festival (October 16th/17th) (Pictured above)
- Passport Holder Exclusive: GABF2020
Roadmap Brewing Co – San Antonio, Texas: 15% Off Beer To-Go.
Rough Diamond Brewery – Spring Branch, Texas: Unspecified discounted flight of tasters.
San Gabriel River Brewery Inc – Liberty Hill, Texas: Provided their Taproom is allowed to be open, they will give the GABF Passport holder 50% off any taster set(four 5 oz glasses). If they are still shutdown due to COVID-19, they will give GABF Passport holder 50% off any 6-pack or 22oz bottle purchase.
Save The World Brewing Co – Marble Falls, Texas: Buy a 6 pack, and get a free bottle koozie.
Steam Theory Brewing Co – Dallas, Texas: 30% off all hats, one free 5 oz sample and 15% off 16 oz house beers.
Tall City Brewing Co – Midland, Texas: $2 off any GABF pint or flight from taproom. Get 15% off any online merchandise purchase with Coupon Code. ONE TIME USE ONLY VALID 10/1 – 10/18.
- Passport Holder Exclusive: TCBCGABF
Texas Ale Project – Dallas, Texas: Beer garden is open & now serving food! Exclusive Access to GABF Special Release draft beers & growler fills for Passport holders while supplies last + 15% OFF beer to go and Merchandise ** max one case of beer ** Shirts, hats, wall tackers and more.
Texas Beer Company – Taylor, Texas: Discount on merchandise, free curbside pickup.
Texas Cannon Brewing Company – Blanco, Texas: Commemorative pint glass to the first 100 Passport visitors. 15% discount on beer and merchandise
Texas Leaguer Brewing Company – Missouri City, Texas: Buy three beers, get a glass for free!
True Anomaly Brewing – Houston, Texas: Purchase 2-pack of crowlers to-go; get one crowler to-go for free
Tupps Brewery – McKinney, Texas: 10% off merch & draft beer to go (crowlers & growlers)
Turning Point Beer, LLC – Bedford, Texas: Discounted Flight Special GABF Release Beer
Union Bear Brewing Co – Plano, Texas: Passport holders will receive one free beer tasting flight per visit.
Vacancy Brewing – Austin, Texas: Complimentary pre-opening tour and 20% off all merch with code. Open for beer Fall 2020. See brewery website for tour times and availability.
- Passport Holder Exclusive: Use code GABF2020 to receive 20% off merch or gift cards purchased through webpage. In person purchases can be made during pre-opening tours. Pre-opening tour times will be posted at vacancybrewing.com
Vista Brewing – Driftwood, Texas: Free 4oz sample of any draft beer of your choice. 50% off a pint or beer flight. Exclusive access to GABF Limited Release Beer for and purchase. 10% discount on Vista branded merchandise. One time use only. Deals to be used only by the passport holder. (Pictured above)
Weathered Souls Brewing Co. – San Antonio, Texas: Exclusive access to GABF special release beer.
Westlake Brewing Company – Dallas, Texas: Free 4oz sample & 10% off merchandise.
White Rock Alehouse & Brewery – Dallas, Texas: $1 off “already affordable flights” for GABF passport holders!Passport Holder Exclusive: Open Mon-Thu 3-10pm, Fri/Sat/Sun 11am-10pm. A full service brewpub with plenty of outdoor space with safe distancing for your visit!