5 must-taste breweries at GABF

Despite the addition of spirits this year, beer is still the star of the show at the Great American Beer Festival.

If you go: As Axios' resident beer expert, I'm here with advice on the can't-miss breweries pouring on the festival floor.

My thought bubble: Between the distillers and canned cocktails, plenty of good beers are pouring this year. Here are my top picks:

• California's Russian River remains the festival's North Star with a collection of IPAs and sour beers that shine brighter than the rest of the crowd. Definitely sip DDH Pliny the Elder.
• If you go to one Colorado brewery, make it WeldWerks. Their inventive beers — including a Gyro Gose this year — always draw the longest lines. Don't miss this stout: Single Barrel Dubai Chocolate Bar Medianoche.
• Make extra time for Meanwhile Brewing out of Austin, Texas. Their lagers are best-in-class, so start with the award-winning pilsner and helles.
• Oregon's Fort George won gold for its pale ale City of Dreams. Then sip Etymology 2024, a boozy blend of barleywines.
• I visited BlackStack in the Twin Cities not long ago and enjoyed their IPAs. Start with Local 755 and move to their Double IPA.

The bottom line: It's easy to get overwhelmed with all the choices, so make a plan before you go and stick to it.