FAQ: Tickets

Please visit the About section for more Festival FAQs.

How can I buy tickets in the member presale?

Are you a member of the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) or the Brewers Association (BA)? If so you’re eligible! We’ll notify you via email in advance of the ticket sale with your presale code.

The Saturday afternoon session of the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) is open exclusively to AHA and BA members. You must purchase a membership by Wednesday, July 22, 2020, 5:00 p.m. MT, to be eligible for the member presale.

NOTE: There are more members of the AHA and the BA than there are attendee slots for the Saturday afternoon Member Session. In other words, not every association member will be able to purchase tickets to the Member Session, but all members (as of the cut-off date and time listed here) are invited to participate in the member presale.

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When/how will I get my personal offer code for the member presale?

AHA and BA members who joined prior to Wednesday, July 22, 2020, 5:00 p.m. MT will receive an email containing their personal passcode (a randomized, case-sensitive code). If you did not receive your code, please check your spam folder. If you have previously unsubscribed from GABF emails, you must resubscribe to email from GABF or your code will not be delivered.

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Do you sell a Designated Driver ticket?

Yes, Designated Driver tickets are $30 for the general sessions and only available for purchase during the ticket sale. Free, non-alcoholic sodas will be available and each Designated Driver receives a complimentary gift, available in the Designated Driver Lounge. Designated Drivers are welcome to attend the beer and food seminars, walk around the festival floor, or relax in the Designated Driver Lounge. Designated Driver tickets are not available for PAIRED.  You may purchase a ticket to PAIRED and choose not to drink; there will be non-alcoholic beverages available.

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When can I buy my ticket?

For the 2020 GABF, tickets go on sale during the member presale beginning Tuesday, August 4, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. MT online via AXS.com.

The public ticket sale starts on Wednesday, August 5, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. MT via AXS.com.

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Will mobile ticket sales be enabled?

Yes! You’re welcome to purchase tickets for the member presale and public sale via the AXS app.

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What do I get for the price of my ticket?

Ticket prices for each of the sessions include a festival program, a commemorative tasting cup, unlimited one-ounce samples of more than 4,000 beers, access to educational and experiential talks, and a festival guide to help you navigate the floor.

The Saturday Afternoon Member Session includes all of the previously mentioned benefits, as well as a more intimate atmosphere as tickets are sold during the member presale, and the first opportunity to sample the much-anticipated gold, silver and bronze medal winners of the GABF competition.

You must be 21+ years old with valid ID to attend.

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Are tickets refundable?

GABF tickets are not refundable. If you are unable to attend the festival you can try selling your ticket for face value via AXS Flash Seats, in the classifieds section of the AHA Forum or through the Great American Beer Festival Facebook page. Tickets purchased through AXS may be transferred to another party (once they are released) via Flash Seats.

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What are the Terms and Conditions?

Holder voluntarily assumes all risk and danger incidental to the event for which this ticket is issued, whether occurring prior to, during or after the event. Holder voluntarily agrees the Brewers Association sponsors of the event, and the venue are expressly released by holder from any claims for injuries or death arising from holder’s participation in and the travel to and from this event. The ticket may not be resold or offered for resale in a manner or at a price in violation of any federal, state or local laws or regulations. Holder grants permission to Brewers Association and sponsors of the event to utilize any photographs, motion pictures, videotapes, recordings and any other references or records of the Great American Beer Festival® that may depict, record or refer to holder for any purpose, including commercial, by the Great American Beer Festival, its sponsors, the venue and their licensees. Holder acknowledges that the event may be broadcast or otherwise publicized, and hereby grants permission to utilize holder’s image or likeness in connection with any live or recorded transmission or reproduction of such event in printed photographs or online transmissions.

By purchasing this ticket Holder acknowledges that s/he will receive pertinent and marketing communications from one or more organizations or web properties under the Brewers Association. If you do not want to receive these communications, you can unsubscribe or customize your level of interest through the Brewers Association’s email service at the bottom of any communication based on the email on file. The complete privacy policy can be viewed at GreatAmericanBeerFestival.com.

By using this ticket, Holder (i) consents to allowing event security staff to inspect his or her person and any bags, clothing, or other articles for security purposes, whether by walk-through metal detection, handheld metal detection, bag checks or otherwise and (ii) acknowledges and agrees that Holder may be denied entry to or ejected from the event if Holder is in possession of any item or object that is considered potentially dangerous, hazardous, inappropriate and/or potentially injurious to other patrons, and any prohibited items may be confiscated.

This ticket cannot be replaced if lost, stolen or destroyed and is valid only for the date and event for which it is issued. This ticket is not redeemable for cash. It is unlawful to reproduce this ticket in any form. Unlawful resale is grounds for seizure and cancellation without compensation. There is no re-entry into the facility.

Holder agrees admission to the event is restricted to individuals age 21 years or older. Proof of age is required for admission. No outside beverages allowed. Purchase tickets only from authorized outlets.

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How fast do tickets sell out?

For the past few years, GABF tickets have sold out before the festival, and increasingly quickly. In 2017, tickets sold out in 4 hours, 15 minutes. Please plan accordingly.

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What is the ticket limit?

For the General Sessions, there is a limit of eight tickets per session per ticket buyer. Individuals with greater than eight tickets per session per ticket buyer will have their overage canceled and refunded.

For the Member Session, the ticket limit four tickets per member number. American Homebrewers Association and Brewers Association members will receive a passcode via email to purchase tickets for this session.

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How are tickets delivered?

Tickets can be delivered via AXS Flash Seats or for a fee paper tickets can be mailed.

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When will the member tickets be delivered?

All tickets will be released on or before August 31, 2020. Any delay is for fraud checking and to reduce scalping.

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Why is there a delivery delay for tickets?

A ticket delivery delay has been instituted as an additional anti-scalping measure.

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Where is Will Call?

Tickets held at Will Call must be picked up by the person whose name is on the order. The ticket holder must present a photo ID.

Will Call opens the day of the first session and is located in the lower lobby of the Colorado Convention Center.

2020 Will Call Hours
Thursday 3:00 – 9:00 pm
Friday 3:00 – 9:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 am – 9:00 pm

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When will I receive the Collector’s ticket I purchased?

The Collector’s ticket is a physical item and will be mailed to you from AXS after the Great American Beer Festival.

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How do attendees with disabilities enter the festival?

Attendees with disabilities should enter the Convention Center at Welton Street entrance and will have access to an elevator to the festival hall.

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Do PAIRED® + GABF ticket holders have a unique entrance?

PAIRED + GABF ticket holders can enter at 14th Street by the Blue Bear and proceed forward, down the ramp towards the Bellco Theatre.

PAIRED + GABF tickets clearly indicate on the ticket “GA & PAIRED”. (GA = General Admission)

Once inside, proceed to PAIRED where your PAIRED + GABF ticket will be scanned (again) for entrance into the pavilion—keep your app open!

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Can a nonmember attend the Saturday Afternoon Session?

Yes, tickets are transferable. A nonmember can attend the Saturday Afternoon Session if the tickets were purchased by a member.

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What are you doing to prevent ticket scalping?

Unfortunately, the secondary market for popular tickets persists, despite many efforts to thwart it. From hot sporting events and headliner concerts to your favorite beer festival—sell-out events are subject to ticket brokers finding ways to buy and re-sell tickets. Some ticket brokers even make speculative sales before they have tickets in hand—sometimes well before tickets go on sale!

There are measures in place to decrease access for scalpers, including the ticket limits that we set for GABF ticket purchases and AXS’ anti-bot and other security measures in their selling system. (AXS reviews all purchases to enforce our GABF ticket limits.) Again, though, while this decreases access, it unfortunately does not prevent a secondary market. To ensure you have a valid ticket, purchase tickets from authorized outlets only.

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I just joined the AHA or BA online. When will I be able to purchase my tickets?

You must purchase a membership in the American Homebrewers Association or Brewers Association by July 23, 12:00 p.m. MT, to be eligible for the member presale. Anyone who joins after Wednesday, July 22, 2020, 5:00 p.m. MT is not eligible to purchase as a member.

The member presale begins at 10:00 am MT on Tuesday, August 4, 2020.

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How do volunteer ticket vouchers work?

Questions about volunteer ticket vouchers may be directed to volunteer@brewersassociation.org.

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What are the dates for future festivals?

  • 2021: Stay tuned!
  • 2022: October 6-8
  • 2023: September 21-23

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Ticket information is subject to change.