Great American Beer Festival moves outdoors to Denver

The 2026 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) underwent a significant transformation, moving from the Colorado Convention Center to an outdoor setting at Denver’s Levitt Pavilion in Ruby Hill Park. Organized by the Brewers Association, the move aimed to align the event with Colorado’s outdoor culture and provide a fresh experience for attendees.

The competition featured 7,267 beer and cider entries evaluated by 225 judges. While the festival celebrated national winners, breweries from Central Oregon saw notable success, earning 14 medals across six establishments. Bend’s UPP Liquids was a standout performer, securing four medals—including three golds—and winning both the 251–500 Barrels Brewery and Brewer of the Year categories.

Other regional winners included Sunriver Brewing with three medals, while Bend Brewing, Deschutes Brewery, and Worthy Brewing each earned two medals. 10 Barrel Brewing also secured a gold medal in the German-Style Koelsch category.