| October 11, 2008 |
The Saturday night session of GABF always used to be the most crowded, most crazy night of the week, at least on the floor of the festival. With sold out crowds for every session, it’s no longer the most crowded, but it still retains the title of the craziest night. After a short break after the afternoon session, where the awards are handed out, the evening session begins right on time, at 5:30 p.m. Many brewery attendees don’t even go to the Saturday night session, because of its reputation, but I usually stay for as long as I can manage the crowds.
Like every other night, a very long line of people queue up for the festival.
I can only imagine how long these folks have been waiting in line.
Outside the brewer’s entrance: Dave Buehler, Markus Stinson and Dick Cantwell from Elysian Brewing.
Altitude and attitude.
Marty and Lisa Jones, from Oskar Blues, with a friend (at left) whose name I didn’t catch.
As I mentioned earlier, there seemed to be many more merchandise booths this year. Here is the “What Would Jesus Brew?” booth.
A smiling Jeremy Cowan, from Shmaltz Brewing.
Award-winning beer writer Lew Bryson with Pete Slosberg.
Now those are some big hats!
A fine message.
Reinforced by a talk given by Lisa Morrison (at left) and a nutritionist on health and beer.
Most of the bigger booths remained crowded all Saturday evening, including the Sierra Nevada booth.
John Harris and Barney Brennan, both from Full Sail Brewing.
The hilarious “Ex-Communicated Mormon Drinking Team” booth.
An expanded BA bookstore was situated in the center of the hall, where people could escape the crowds and peruse a number beer books, and even get a book signed by the numerous authors there.
BA Book Division head Ray Daniels (though he’s leaving to concentrate on his Cicerone program at the end of the month) with, yes again, Lew Bryson. You’re going to see a lot more Lew coming up because we were walking the hall together.
Another intriguing merchandise booth was these nightlights featuring beer bottles. If I could have found the right bottles, I probably would have bought one myself, but alas it was not to be.
A trio of very happy festival goers, though I confess I have no idea what’s going on here.
My agent, Jennie Hatton, and me. Jennie also does PR for several breweries along with Philly Beer Week.
The “You Be the Judge” gives people a chance to see firsthand the process that the judges go through in determining the GABF medal winners.
A pair of timely tap handles.
Apparently there was a prom going on the same night as GABF.
Section G, my neck of the woods, so to speak.
Pat McIlhenney, from Alpine Beer.
Tomme Arthur, from Port/Lost Abbey, Dave Keene, from the Toronado, and me on the floor Saturday night.
Jeff Bagby and his better half.
Eric and Lauren Salazar, both from New Belgium Brewing, sandwiched by Jim Crooks, from Firestone Walker, and Chris Swersey, Competition Manager for GABF judging.
A sextet from San Francisco. From left: Adrienne McMullem, with 21st Amendment, Ben Spencer, from Magnolia, Sean Paxton, the homebrew chef, Ben’s wife, Shaun O’Sullivan, from 21sr Amendment, and Dave McLean, from Magnolia.