The Great American Beer Festival 2009 Beer and Food Pavilion demonstrates that food shows draw big crowds, whether on the Food Channel or in the Great Hall of the Colorado Convention Center surrounded by beer. As part of the Great American Beer School, this educational segment builds a passion for local food, craft beer, and the tricks and tips that merge the two together in zestful cuisine. Expert chefs, brewmasters and authors from across the country feel honored when asked to present demos in this smoke-glassed room in the center of the festival floor. Festival patrons get to taste the delectable creations, paired with select beers. Take a peek into the 2009 Beer and Food Pavilion Photo Gallery to whet your own appetite for “what good is.”

Beer Fox Carolyn Smagalski and Allagash Owner/Brewmaster Rob Tod
Beer and Food Pavilion host Carolyn Smagalski greets Allagash Owner/Brewmaster Rob Tod before his demo with Executive Chef Bruce Paton.

Rob Tod of Allagash Brewing, Portland, Maine and Chef Bruce Paton of San Francisco, California
Rob Tod of Allagash Brewing joins in the cook-fest with Executive Chef Bruce Paton of San Francisco and the Chefs Association of the Pacific Coast

Chef Bruce Paton of the American Culinary Federation
Executive Chef Bruce Paton explains the art of cooking with beer.

Standing Room Only Crowd in the Beer & Food Pavilion
Seats fill rapidly in the Beer & Food Pavilion, where tidbits of tapas and beer are served in each of the demos. Many don’t mind their Standing Room only status and use it to take advantage of photo opportunities of some of the most famous chefs and brewers in the business.

Beer Author Randy Mosher
Beer writer Randy Mosher, author of Radical Brews, Brewers Companion, and Tasting Beer prepares to present never-fail beer and cheese combinations.

Free State Brewmaster Steve Bradt
Brewmaster Steve Bradt of Free State Brewing in Lawrence, Kansas onstage for the first demo of the 2009 Great American Beer Festival.

Executive Chef Rick Martin and Brewmaster Steve Bradt of Free State Brewing in Lawrence, Kansas
Executive Chef Rick Martin and Brewmaster Steve Bradt of Free State Brewing talk amiably onstage at the Beer & Food Pavilion

Rick Martin’s choice of local foods
Executive Chef Rick Martin of Free State Brewing uses local foods to speak volumes about the intensely packed aroma and flavor in foods close to home.

Beer & Food Pavilion Floor Manager Mackenzie Latham
Beer & Food Pavilion Floor Manager Mackenzie Latham has what it takes to run a smooth show – cool under pressure, able to go with the flow, and superb at coordinating all the little details that make for great presentations.

Free State Food Display on the Stage Screens
Free State Demo Food is shown on the high def screens on either side of the stage for all to view. A camera over the workstation allows viewers to see food as it is cut and prepared.

Food sizzles during the Free State Food Demonstration
Onstage, food sizzles as Chef Rick Martin demos the joys of cooking with beer.

Executive Chef Bruce Paton
Executive Chef Bruce Paton of San Francisco’s Cathedral Hill Hotel stands relaxed before his demo .

Sebbie Buhler, Roguester from Rogue Ales
Sebbie Buhler, the face on Rogue Chocolate Stout, prepares to wow the crowd with stuffed figs wrapped in bacon, Tcho Chocolate, and Rogue’s award-winning beer.

Roguester Sebbie Buhler and Chocolatier Jeremy Wanamaker Onstage at the GABF
Chocolate Stout Girl Sebbie Buhler listens intently as Jeremy Wanamaker explains the fine points about Tcho chocolates.

Rogue Demo Table with Beer, tapas and chocolate
Rogue demos beer and food in the best possible combinations.

Soundman from Davis AV
Master of Sound stands on the sidelines, prepared for all the surprises the Beer & Food shows can bring.

Student from Johnson & Wales
Students from the Culinary Arts Program at Johnson & Wales University volunteer to assist Chefs and Brewers in their food demos. This gives students an up-front and personal look into the world of showtime cooking.

Stay tuned for more photo-journalism of the Great American Beer Festival 2009.

Cheers!