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The Great American Beer Festival (GABF), the most significant annual gathering for the United States craft brewing industry, has officially announced the roster of culinary professionals for its 2025 PAIRED event. Scheduled to take place on October 9 and 10 in Denver, Colorado, PAIRED serves as a specialized, intimate counterpoint to the expansive festival floor, focusing on the sophisticated intersection of independent craft beer and high-end gastronomy. This year’s lineup represents a significant escalation in the event’s prestige, featuring a dense concentration of James Beard Award winners, Michelin-starred restaurateurs, and television-recognized culinary figures, signaling the Brewers Association’s continued commitment to elevating the status of craft beer within the broader American culinary landscape.
A Convergence of High Gastronomy and Craft Brewing
The PAIRED experience is curated by the Brewers Association, a not-for-profit trade organization representing small and independent American brewers. Unlike the main festival hall, which emphasizes the sheer diversity and volume of American brewing styles, PAIRED is designed as a focused laboratory for flavor. This year, the event will feature over 25 chefs who are tasked with designing small plates specifically to complement unique beers that are often not available on the general festival floor.
The 2025 roster is headlined by a formidable group of Colorado-based culinary leaders who have recently garnered national acclaim. Caroline Glover, the founder of Annette and Travelling Mercies in Aurora, makes her PAIRED debut this year. Glover’s inclusion is a notable highlight; she was named one of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs in 2019 and secured the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mountain in 2022. Her recent ventures have continued to attract critical attention, with Travelling Mercies being named a semifinalist for the James Beard Best New Bar in 2025 and earning a spot on Esquire’s list of the Best Bars in America for 2024.
Joining Glover are Kelly Whitaker and Mara King, whose hospitality group, ID EST, has become a dominant force in the Mountain West dining scene. Their portfolio includes The Wolf’s Tailor and Bruto—both of which earned Michelin stars in 2024—as well as Basta, Hey Kiddo, and Dry Storage. Whitaker’s recent James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurateur underscores the level of expertise being brought to the PAIRED tables. The presence of these Michelin-recognized professionals reflects a broader trend of integrating world-class hospitality standards into the craft beer environment.
Strengthening Regional and National Culinary Ties
The geographic diversity of the 2025 lineup extends beyond the Denver metropolitan area, showcasing the culinary depth of the entire Mountain West region. Matt Vawter, representing Rootstalk and Radicato in Breckenridge, will participate following his 2024 James Beard Award win for Best Chef: Mountain. Similarly, Josh Niernberg of Bin 707 in Grand Junction, a 2025 finalist for the national Outstanding Chef award, will bring his Western Slope perspective to the festival.
The inclusion of long-standing Denver icons further solidifies the event’s local roots. Jen Jasinski, a pioneer in the Denver dining scene and a James Beard Award winner herself, will represent her celebrated establishments Rioja, Bistro Vendome, and Ultreia. Carrie Baird, widely known for her appearances on Top Chef and Beat Bobby Flay, will represent Fox & The Hen. These veterans are joined by Paul Reilly of Coperta and Linda Hampsten-Fox of The Bindery, ensuring that the festival remains a comprehensive showcase of the host city’s culinary evolution.
On a national level, PAIRED continues to draw talent from major American food hubs. Dan Jacobs of Milwaukee’s DanDan, a recent Top Chef finalist and James Beard nominee, will bring Midwestern sensibilities to the pairing menu. From Washington, D.C., the festival welcomes Danny Lee and Scott Drewno of Anju and Mandu—2025 James Beard finalists for Outstanding Restaurateur—alongside Mike Friedman of The Red Hen, which has consistently earned Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition. This national reach demonstrates the festival’s role as a premiere destination for chefs who view craft beer as a serious partner for complex cuisine.
The Evolution of the Beverage Program: Non-Alcoholic Innovation
In a notable departure from tradition, the 2025 PAIRED event will introduce a dedicated Mocktail Bar. This addition reflects a significant shift in consumer behavior and the beverage industry at large. According to data from the Brewers Association and various market research firms, the non-alcoholic and "zero-proof" sector has seen double-digit growth over the last three years, driven by a "sober-curious" movement and a demand for sophisticated adult beverages that do not contain alcohol.
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 pairing—balancing acidity, fat, salt, and sweetness—are just as applicable to non-alcoholic concoctions as they are to traditional ales and lagers. This strategic inclusion ensures that the GABF remains relevant to a diversifying audience while maintaining its high standards for flavor and craftsmanship.
Strategic Significance and Economic Impact
The Great American Beer Festival, founded in 1982 with just 24 breweries and 47 beers, has grown into a massive economic engine for the city of Denver. While the PAIRED event represents the "white tablecloth" side of the festival, it contributes to the overall prestige that draws tens of thousands of visitors to Colorado every October.
The Brewers Association, through its marketing and communications vice president Ann Obenchain, emphasized that PAIRED is the nexus of "culinary innovation and brewing creativity." This collaboration is not merely about hospitality; it is a vital marketing tool for independent breweries. In an increasingly crowded market where over 9,000 craft breweries compete for shelf space and tap handles, demonstrating the versatility of beer in a fine-dining context helps elevate the category against wine and spirits.
The logistics of the event are managed by Adam Dulye, the executive chef for the Brewers Association. Dulye’s role involves coordinating with both the chefs and the brewers to ensure that the flavor profiles of the small plates and the 50+ beers featured in the PAIRED pavilion are perfectly synchronized. This level of curation is unique among American food and wine festivals, as it requires a deep technical understanding of both fermentation science and culinary technique.
Chronology and Event Structure
The 2025 Great American Beer Festival will follow a structured timeline that begins long before the doors open in October.
- Summer 2025: Selection of participating breweries and the finalization of the chef roster.
- August 2025: Public ticket sales and the announcement of specific pairing themes.
- September 2025: Coordination between chefs and brewers to finalize recipes based on the specific flavor profiles of the selected beers.
- October 9-10, 2025: The PAIRED event runs concurrently with the evening sessions of the GABF at the Colorado Convention Center.
Attendees who purchase a PAIRED ticket receive a distinct experience from the general admission crowd. The ticket includes unlimited tastings of the chef-prepared small plates and the exclusive beers paired with them, all within a dedicated space designed for conversation and discovery. Furthermore, PAIRED tickets provide access to the main festival floor, allowing guests to explore the thousands of beers available in the primary hall.
Broader Implications for the Craft Beer Industry
The 2025 PAIRED lineup is a reflection of the maturing craft beer industry. By aligning with Michelin-starred chefs and James Beard winners, the Brewers Association is positioning craft beer as a premium product capable of standing alongside the world’s finest wines. This "premiumization" is essential for the long-term health of independent breweries, as it justifies higher price points and encourages consumers to view beer as a beverage for special occasions and gourmet meals.
Moreover, the emphasis on local Colorado talent highlights Denver’s status as the unofficial capital of American craft beer. The synergy between the city’s booming food scene and its established brewing culture creates a unique ecosystem that benefits tourism and the local economy.
As the GABF approaches its 2025 iteration, the PAIRED event stands as a testament to the creativity of the American hospitality industry. It remains a critical venue for education, where brewers can learn from the culinary world and chefs can explore the vast, untapped potential of malt and hops. For the adventurous palate, the October event promises a rare opportunity to witness the cutting edge of American flavor.
