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The Great American Beer Festival (GABF), recognized as the preeminent celebration of the United States craft brewing industry, has officially unveiled the culinary roster for its 2025 PAIRED event. Scheduled to take place on October 9 and 10 in Denver, Colorado, PAIRED serves as an intimate, upscale counterpoint to the expansive festival floor, merging the world of independent craft beer with high-concept gastronomy. This year’s lineup represents a significant escalation in culinary prestige, featuring a dense concentration of James Beard Award winners, Michelin-starred restaurateurs, and television personalities who have shaped the contemporary American dining landscape.
Since its inception, PAIRED has evolved from a niche tasting session into a premier destination for epicureans, designed to challenge the traditional "pub grub" stereotypes associated with beer. By facilitating direct collaborations between world-class chefs and independent brewers, the event highlights the versatility of beer as a sophisticated pairing medium that rivals fine wine. The 2025 roster is being hailed by organizers as the most ambitious to date, reflecting Denver’s burgeoning status as a global culinary capital and the craft beer industry’s ongoing integration into the broader world of fine dining.
A History of Excellence: The Evolution of GABF and PAIRED
The Great American Beer Festival was established in 1982 by the Brewers Association, the non-profit trade group dedicated to promoting and protecting small and independent American craft brewers. In its inaugural year, the festival featured only 24 breweries and 47 beers. Over the subsequent four decades, it has grown into a massive cultural phenomenon, now hosting hundreds of breweries and thousands of unique beer entries for both public tasting and professional judging.
PAIRED was introduced as a specialized pavilion within the broader festival to provide a sensory experience that focuses specifically on the intersection of flavor profiles. Curated by Adam Dulye, the executive chef of the Brewers Association, the program requires chefs to design small plates that harmonize with specific, hand-selected craft beers. This collaborative process often begins months in advance, with brewers and chefs exchanging notes on acidity, carbonation, malt sweetness, and hop bitterness to ensure a perfect marriage of taste and texture.
The Colorado Contingent: Local Leaders and Michelin Recognition
The 2025 PAIRED lineup is anchored by a formidable group of Colorado-based chefs who have recently garnered significant national acclaim. Leading this group is Caroline Glover, the founder of Annette and Travelling Mercies in Aurora. Glover’s trajectory has been marked by consistent excellence; she was named one of Food & Wine’s “Best New Chefs in America” in 2019 and secured the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mountain in 2022. Her latest venture, Travelling Mercies, has further solidified her reputation, earning a spot on Esquire’s “Best Bars in America” for 2024 and a 2025 James Beard semifinalist nod for Best New Bar.
Joining Glover are Kelly Whitaker and Mara King, whose influence on the Colorado dining scene is currently unmatched. Their hospitality group, Id Est, oversees a portfolio of highly regarded establishments including The Wolf’s Tailor, Bruto, and Basta. In 2024, the group’s commitment to sustainability and innovation was rewarded with two Michelin stars, while Whitaker himself received the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurateur. Their participation in PAIRED signifies a commitment to elevating the discourse around regional ingredients and fermentation.
The high-altitude culinary scene is further represented by Matt Vawter of Rootstalk and Radicato in Breckenridge. Vawter, who earned the 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mountain, is known for his technical precision and focus on seasonal Colorado produce. From the Western Slope, Josh Niernberg of Bin 707 in Grand Junction will bring his "Colorado Cuisine" philosophy to the table. Niernberg’s recognition as a 2025 finalist for the national James Beard Award for Outstanding Chef underscores the geographic diversity of the state’s culinary talent.
Denver’s established pioneers and fan favorites are also well-represented. Jen Jasinski, a mainstay of the city’s Larimer Square with her restaurants Rioja, Bistro Vendome, and Ultreia, continues her long-standing partnership with the festival. She is joined by Carrie Baird of Fox & The Hen, who gained national fame as a finalist on Bravo’s Top Chef and a recurring presence on Beat Bobby Flay. Completing the local roster are Paul Reilly of Coperta and Linda Hampsten-Fox of The Bindery, both of whom have been instrumental in defining Denver’s modern European-influenced culinary identity.
National Heavyweights and Bi-Coastal Influence
While Colorado talent provides the foundation, PAIRED 2025 draws significant power from across the United States. This national reach ensures that attendees are exposed to a variety of regional styles and innovative techniques. Among the most anticipated participants is Dan Jacobs, the Milwaukee-based chef behind DanDan. Jacobs, a 2024 Top Chef finalist and a consistent James Beard Award contender, is celebrated for his modern interpretations of Chinese-American cuisine, a style that offers unique opportunities for beer pairing.
The nation’s capital is also heavily represented by a trio of powerhouse chefs. Danny Lee and Scott Drewno, the duo behind the acclaimed D.C. establishments Anju and Mandu, bring their expertise in Korean flavors to the festival. Lee and Drewno were named 2025 James Beard finalists for Outstanding Restaurateur, highlighting their impact on the mid-Atlantic dining scene. They are joined by Mike Friedman of The Red Hen, whose Michelin Bib Gourmand-recognized Italian cooking has made his restaurant a staple of the D.C. culinary landscape. The inclusion of these East Coast leaders illustrates the national importance of GABF as a platform for culinary exchange.
The Rise of the Mocktail: Expanding the Beverage Horizon
In a notable shift for 2025, PAIRED will feature its first-ever curated Mocktail Bar, reflecting broader trends within the beverage industry. As consumer interest in non-alcoholic options continues to surge—a movement often referred to as the "sober curious" trend—the Brewers Association has moved to integrate sophisticated zero-proof offerings into its flagship event.
The Mocktail Bar will be led by Steve Wildy of Mad Wild Wine. Wildy is a highly respected sommelier and a James Beard Award semifinalist known for his creative approach to beverage programs. His involvement signals that the non-alcoholic component of PAIRED will be treated with the same level of rigor and complexity as the beer pairings. This addition addresses a growing market segment; according to industry data from IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, the non-alcoholic and low-alcohol category has seen consistent year-over-year growth, with more consumers seeking premium, flavor-forward alternatives to traditional spirits and beer.
Industry Impact and the Role of the Brewers Association
The Great American Beer Festival and the PAIRED experience serve as vital economic and marketing engines for the craft brewing sector. The Brewers Association, which organizes the event, represents more than 5,000 small and independent breweries across the country. Events like PAIRED are essential for maintaining the cultural relevance of craft beer in a competitive market where spirits and canned cocktails have gained significant market share.
Ann Obenchain, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the Brewers Association, emphasized the collaborative spirit of the event. “PAIRED is where culinary innovation and brewing creativity meet,” Obenchain stated. “This year’s chefs represent the very best of Colorado and beyond, and together they’ll create one-of-a-kind pairings you can only find at the Great American Beer Festival.”
The meticulous curation by Adam Dulye ensures that the event remains a "chef-first" experience. By bringing together over 25 culinary leaders, the festival transforms Denver into a laboratory for flavor experimentation. The success of PAIRED has historically influenced trends in taprooms across the country, encouraging brewers to consider food as an integral part of the brewery experience rather than an afterthought.
Logistics and Accessibility for Attendees
The PAIRED event is designed as an exclusive, ticketed experience held within the Colorado Convention Center. Each ticket grants attendees unlimited access to small plates and their corresponding craft beer pairings. Crucially, a PAIRED ticket also includes admission to the general GABF festival floor, allowing guests to explore the thousands of beers available in the main hall after their intimate tasting session.
Tickets for the event are traditionally in high demand, often selling out shortly after they are released to the public. The Brewers Association encourages prospective attendees to purchase tickets through the official Great American Beer Festival website to ensure validity.
As Denver prepares to host the 2025 edition of this iconic festival, the announcement of the PAIRED lineup underscores the deepening relationship between the brewing and culinary worlds. By showcasing a diverse array of talent—from Michelin-starred veterans to the next generation of non-alcoholic beverage experts—the Great American Beer Festival continues to set the standard for what a modern beverage celebration can achieve. The upcoming October event promises to be a landmark occasion for the industry, further cementing the role of independent craft beer as a cornerstone of American gastronomic culture.
