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The Great American Beer Festival (GABF), recognized as the most significant professional beer competition and cultural celebration of craft brewing in the United States, has officially announced its 2025 lineup for PAIRED, the festival’s prestigious food-and-beer tasting event. Scheduled to take place on October 9 and 10 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, this year’s PAIRED experience will feature an unprecedented gathering of culinary talent, including multiple James Beard Award winners, Michelin-starred restaurateurs, and nationally acclaimed chefs. The announcement underscores the festival’s evolution from a traditional tasting event into a multidisciplinary gastronomic summit that bridges the gap between independent brewing and world-class culinary arts.
As the flagship event of the Brewers Association, the GABF has long served as a barometer for the health and creativity of the American craft beer industry. PAIRED, however, represents a specialized tier of the festival, offering an intimate environment where the nuances of flavor profiles are explored through collaborative efforts between master brewers and elite chefs. This year’s roster is being hailed by organizers as one of the most sophisticated in the event’s history, reflecting the increasing integration of craft beer into the fine dining landscape.
A Convergence of Colorado’s Culinary Elite
The 2025 PAIRED lineup places a significant spotlight on the burgeoning culinary scene in Colorado, which has seen a surge in national recognition over the past five years. Leading the local contingent is Caroline Glover, the visionary behind Annette and Travelling Mercies in Aurora. Glover’s inclusion marks her PAIRED debut, bringing a resume that includes being named one of Food & Wine’s “Best New Chefs in America” in 2019 and winning the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mountain in 2022. Her recent ventures have continued this trajectory of excellence, with Travelling Mercies earning a place as a James Beard Best New Bar semifinalist for 2025 and being recognized by Esquire as one of the best bars in the country.
Joining Glover are Kelly Whitaker and Mara King, whose hospitality group, IE Hospitality, has become a dominant force in the Mountain West. Whitaker and King have redefined the boundaries of regional dining through concepts like The Wolf’s Tailor and Bruto—both of which earned Michelin stars in 2024—alongside Basta, Hey Kiddo, and Dry Storage. Their work, which recently earned them the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurateur, emphasizes heritage grains and sustainable sourcing, themes that resonate deeply with the craft brewing community’s focus on raw ingredients and local supply chains.
The regional representation extends into the high country and the Western Slope, highlighting the geographical diversity of Colorado’s talent. Matt Vawter, representing Rootstalk and Radicato in Breckenridge, arrives at PAIRED fresh from his 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Mountain. Meanwhile, Josh Niernberg of Bin 707 in Grand Junction brings a perspective from Colorado’s fruit and wine country; Niernberg is a 2025 finalist for the James Beard Award’s Outstanding Chef on a national level, a testament to the rising profile of dining destinations outside of the state’s urban corridor.
Denver’s foundational dining figures also remain a core part of the event. Jen Jasinski, a pioneer who helped put Denver on the national food map with Rioja, Bistro Vendome, and Ultreia, will showcase her signature Mediterranean and Spanish-influenced styles. She is joined by Carrie Baird of Fox & The Hen, a fan favorite known for her appearances on Bravo’s Top Chef and Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay. Other notable Denver participants include Paul Reilly of the Italian-focused Coperta and Linda Hampsten-Fox of the multifaceted culinary hub The Bindery.
National Heavyweights and Bi-Coastal Influence
While the local talent pool is deep, PAIRED maintains its status as a national destination by inviting heavyweights from across the United States. This cross-pollination of styles ensures that the pairings reflect a broad spectrum of American flavors. Among the notable national names is Dan Jacobs of DanDan in Milwaukee. Jacobs, a Top Chef alumnus and James Beard finalist, is known for his innovative approach to Chinese-American cuisine, a style that offers unique challenges and opportunities for beer pairing.
From the nation’s capital, the powerhouse duo of Danny Lee and Scott Drewno will bring the flavors of Anju and Mandu to Denver. As 2025 James Beard finalists for Outstanding Restaurateur, Lee and Drewno have been instrumental in elevating Korean cuisine in Washington, D.C. Their participation highlights the festival’s commitment to diverse flavor profiles. They are joined by fellow D.C. chef Mike Friedman of The Red Hen, whose Michelin Bib Gourmand-recognized cooking focuses on soulful, wood-fired Italian dishes that pair exceptionally well with the malt-forward profiles of many craft ales.
The Evolution of the Beverage Program: Mocktails and Innovation
In a significant departure from previous years, the 2025 PAIRED event will feature a dedicated Mocktail Bar, reflecting a major shift in the beverage industry toward non-alcoholic and zero-proof options. This new addition will be curated by Steve Wildy of Mad Wild Wine. Wildy, a James Beard Award semifinalist and a highly respected sommelier, is tasked with demonstrating that the complexity and sophistication of beverage pairing are not limited to alcohol.
The inclusion of a high-end mocktail program is a data-driven response to current consumer trends. According to industry reports from IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, the non-alcoholic category in the U.S. has seen a compound annual growth rate exceeding 10% in recent years, driven by "sober-curious" consumers and a general focus on health and wellness. By bringing Wildy on board, the Brewers Association is signaling that the craft movement encompasses all forms of artisanal beverage production, regardless of ABV.
The overall curation of PAIRED remains under the guidance of Adam Dulye, the executive chef for the Brewers Association. Dulye has been the architect of the PAIRED concept since its inception, working to move beer away from the "burger and fries" stereotype and into the realm of high gastronomy. His process involves meticulous collaboration between the 25-plus featured chefs and dozens of independent breweries to ensure that every small plate and pour complement one another in terms of acidity, carbonation, and aromatics.
Historical Context and Economic Impact
The Great American Beer Festival was founded in 1982 by Charlie Papazian in Boulder, Colorado. In its inaugural year, the event featured only 24 breweries and 47 beers. Over the ensuing four decades, it has grown into a massive undertaking that now hosts hundreds of breweries and attracts tens of thousands of attendees. The PAIRED subset of the festival was introduced as a way to provide a more curated, educational experience amidst the high-energy atmosphere of the main festival floor.
The economic impact of the GABF on the city of Denver is substantial. According to data from Visit Denver, the festival typically generates more than $35 million in direct economic impact for the city, filling hotels and boosting revenue for local restaurants and bars. The addition of high-profile culinary events like PAIRED further cements Denver’s reputation as a premier destination for "foodie tourism," a sector that has become increasingly vital to the city’s post-pandemic recovery.
Official Perspectives and Industry Implications
The Brewers Association views PAIRED as a vital platform for advocacy. By showcasing craft beer in a fine-dining context, the organization promotes the versatility of the medium. "PAIRED is where culinary innovation and brewing creativity meet," stated Ann Obenchain, vice president of marketing and communications for the Brewers Association. "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 integration of Michelin-starred talent and James Beard winners into a beer-centric event also reflects a broader shift in the hospitality industry. As wine prices continue to rise and consumer interest in local, artisanal products grows, high-end restaurants are increasingly looking to craft beer to provide diverse and accessible pairing options. The collaborative nature of PAIRED allows chefs to experiment with beer styles—such as sour ales, barrel-aged stouts, and herb-infused pilsners—that offer flavor bridges not always found in traditional wine portfolios.
Logistics and Accessibility
For those seeking to attend, the PAIRED experience requires a specific ticket, which includes unlimited tastings of the chef-prepared small plates and their corresponding craft beverage pairings. Recognizing the demand for a comprehensive festival experience, the Brewers Association also offers a "PAIRED + GABF" ticket, which provides the intimate tasting experience along with access to the main festival hall, where over 2,000 different beers are typically available for sampling.
The 2025 Great American Beer Festival and the PAIRED experience come at a time when the craft brewing industry is navigating a maturing market. Events that emphasize quality, education, and unique experiences are increasingly seen as the path forward for maintaining consumer engagement. By uniting the nation’s top culinary voices with its most innovative brewers, the GABF continues to set the standard for how beverage festivals can evolve to meet the tastes of a more discerning public.
As October approaches, the culinary world will turn its eyes to Denver. The 2025 PAIRED lineup is not just a list of chefs; it is a statement of intent from the Brewers Association that craft beer remains at the forefront of the American culinary conversation. With the addition of non-alcoholic innovation and a heavy concentration of award-winning talent, the event is poised to offer a glimpse into the future of flavor.
