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The Brewers Association has officially announced the culinary roster for the 2025 iteration of PAIRED, the premier food-and-beer pairing event held in conjunction with the Great American Beer Festival (GABF). Scheduled to take place on October 9 and 10 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, this year’s lineup represents a significant escalation in the event’s gastronomic prestige. The roster features a dense concentration of James Beard Award winners, Michelin-starred restaurateurs, and television personalities, signaling a maturation of the relationship between high-end culinary arts and the independent craft brewing industry.
The PAIRED experience, often described as the "festival within the festival," offers an intimate alternative to the expansive general session floor of the GABF. It provides attendees with access to small-batch, often exclusive beers that are meticulously matched with small plates designed by some of the nation’s most influential chefs. The 2025 lineup is headlined by a mix of local Colorado legends and national heavyweights, reflecting Denver’s status as a global hub for both brewing and dining.
Colorado Culinary Leadership and Regional Dominance
The 2025 PAIRED lineup is heavily anchored by Colorado-based talent, showcasing the state’s rapid ascent in the national culinary rankings. Leading the local contingent is Caroline Glover, the founder of Annette and Travelling Mercies in Aurora. Glover, who 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, will be making her PAIRED debut. Her inclusion is a notable highlight for the festival, as her establishments have recently garnered national acclaim, including Travelling Mercies being named a 2025 James Beard semifinalist for Best New Bar.
Joining Glover are Kelly Whitaker and Mara King, whose hospitality group, Id Est Hospitality, has become a dominant force in the Rocky Mountain region. Whitaker and King oversee a portfolio that includes The Wolf’s Tailor and Bruto—both of which earned Michelin stars in 2024—as well as Basta, Hey Kiddo, and Dry Storage. Their 2024 James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurateur underscores the level of expertise being brought to the pairing tables this year. Their approach, which often focuses on heritage grains and sustainable sourcing, is expected to offer a complex counterpoint to the diverse beer styles presented at the event.
The high-altitude culinary scene is further represented by Matt Vawter of Rootstalk and Radicato in Breckenridge. Vawter, the 2024 James Beard Award winner for Best Chef Mountain, brings a mountain-foraged sensibility to the event. Similarly, Josh Niernberg of Bin 707 in Grand Junction, a 2025 finalist for the national James Beard Outstanding Chef award, represents the Western Slope’s growing influence.
Denver’s established dining pioneers also remain a core part of the event. Jennifer Jasinski, whose restaurants Rioja, Bistro Vendome, and Ultreia have defined Larimer Square for decades, returns to showcase her signature Mediterranean and Spanish-influenced styles. She is joined by Carrie Baird of Fox & The Hen, a chef widely recognized for her appearances on Top Chef and Beat Bobby Flay, as well as Paul Reilly of Coperta and Linda Hampsten-Fox of The Bindery.
National Heavyweights and Coastal Influence
While Colorado talent provides the foundation, PAIRED 2025 draws significantly from major culinary markets across the United States. Dan Jacobs, the Milwaukee-based chef behind DanDan and a recent Top Chef finalist, will bring his unique perspective on Chinese-American cuisine to the pairing experience. Jacobs, who is also a James Beard finalist, represents the strong culinary tradition of the Upper Midwest.
From the nation’s capital, the duo of Danny Lee and Scott Drewno will represent Anju and Mandu. As 2025 James Beard finalists for Outstanding Restaurateur, Lee and Drewno are known for their modern interpretations of Korean cuisine, a flavor profile that offers intricate opportunities for pairing with acidic, funky, or hop-forward craft beers. They are joined by fellow Washington, D.C. chef Mike Friedman of The Red Hen, whose Italian-influenced cooking has earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand and consistent critical praise.
The full lineup includes over 25 chefs, each tasked with collaborating with specific breweries to create a cohesive sensory experience. This collaborative process is curated by Adam Dulye, the executive chef of the Brewers Association and a globally recognized authority on beer and food pairing.
Innovation in Beverage: The Inclusion of Zero-Proof Pairings
In a notable departure from tradition, the 2025 PAIRED event will feature its first-ever dedicated Mocktail Bar. This addition reflects broader shifts in the beverage industry, where the demand for high-quality, non-alcoholic (NA) options has surged. According to industry data from NielsenIQ, the non-alcoholic craft beverage sector has seen double-digit growth annually over the last three years, driven by "sober-curious" consumers and a general focus on wellness.
The Mocktail Bar will be led by Steve Wildy of Mad Wild Wine. Wildy, a James Beard Award semifinalist and a highly respected sommelier, is tasked with proving that the principles of complex beverage pairing—acidity, body, tannin, and aromatics—apply just as effectively to zero-proof concoctions. His participation signifies the Brewers Association’s recognition that the craft experience is defined by flavor and intentionality rather than alcohol content alone.
Historical Context and the Evolution of GABF
The Great American Beer Festival has come a long way since its inception in 1982. Founded by Charlie Papazian in Boulder, Colorado, the first festival featured only 24 breweries and 47 beers, with roughly 800 attendees. Over the ensuing four decades, the event has grown into the world’s largest ticketed beer competition and festival.
The PAIRED component was introduced as a response to the growing sophistication of the American palate. As craft beer evolved from a niche hobby into a multi-billion-dollar industry, the demand for elevated educational experiences grew. Today, the GABF serves as the primary fundraising and promotional event for the Brewers Association, a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit trade association that represents more than 5,000 small and independent U.S. breweries.
The 2025 festival occurs during a pivotal time for the industry. While the craft sector has faced headwinds due to changing consumer habits and supply chain pressures, events like PAIRED highlight the industry’s resilience and its ability to integrate with the broader luxury hospitality sector.
Economic Impact and Industry Implications
The economic significance of the Great American Beer Festival for the city of Denver and the state of Colorado is substantial. Historically, the festival attracts over 60,000 attendees to the Colorado Convention Center, contributing an estimated $30 million to the local economy through hotel stays, dining, and transportation.
For the culinary industry, PAIRED serves as a high-visibility platform. For chefs like Caroline Glover or Josh Niernberg, the event offers exposure to a national audience of affluent "foodies" and industry influencers. For the breweries involved, the event is an opportunity to showcase their technical brewing skills in a context that emphasizes beer as a sophisticated culinary ingredient rather than a mere commodity.
The inclusion of Michelin-starred chefs and James Beard winners also serves a strategic purpose for the Brewers Association. By aligning craft beer with the highest echelons of American dining, the association continues to push back against the "blue-collar" stereotype of beer, positioning it as a peer to fine wine in the gastronomic world.
Logistics and Attendance Information
The PAIRED event is a ticketed experience separate from, or an add-on to, the general GABF sessions. A PAIRED ticket grants the attendee unlimited tastings of the chef-prepared small plates and their specifically matched beers. These pairings are not available elsewhere on the festival floor, making the PAIRED pavilion a destination for connoisseurs seeking rare pours and innovative dishes.
Tickets for the October 9 and 10 sessions are currently available through the official Great American Beer Festival website. Options include a standalone PAIRED ticket or a PAIRED + GABF bundle, which allows for entry into the main festival hall where over 2,000 different beers are typically available for sampling.
As the craft beverage landscape continues to diversify, the 2025 PAIRED lineup stands as a testament to the creative synergy between the kitchen and the brewhouse. By bringing together the nation’s top culinary voices and its most innovative brewers, the Great American Beer Festival reinforces Denver’s role as the epicenter of the American craft movement.
