Here are details about the 2020 Great American Beer Festival. Usually it’s the biggest beer-related event in the country, with thousands of beers being judged in Boulder, CO. This year things are different.

The GABF website has details:

By now you’ve probably heard the news. Due to the global health pandemic, we won’t be able to gather in person in Denver this fall and celebrate the wonderful world of craft beer together. Well, we couldn’t imagine a year without GABF, so this year, we’re not only going to meet in spirit, but virtually and locally, as we “Brewnite” and bring the 39th annual Great American Beer Festival (GABF) to you through a nationwide “passport” program.

Starting today (Oct. 1), you can buy a $20 passport that offers access to deals at participating GABF breweries. Most involve discounts on flights or growler fills, or merchandise.

In addition, from October 16-17, passport holders will have exclusive access to online content during the Official Virtual Festival. The festival promises “tips and tricks to enhance beer knowledge and enjoyment; lager lore and sudsy stories from craft beer luminaries; profiles of breweries and individuals that are transforming their communities one beer at a time; and flavor fusions through beer and food pairings to tantalize the taste buds.” The virtual program includes the GABF Competition Awards Ceremony, Friday the 16th at 6:00 pm Central time. Other sessions will cover pairings with food and glassware, and programs on increasing diversity in the brewing field. Sessions after the award program will be presented to passport holders through The Brewing Network, and will have scoring sheets and tasting notes available online.

The GABF will involve judging entries from across the country in 90 beer styles, to be awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze medals.