With hundreds of breweries setting up shop at the Great American Beer Festival [2], the intimidation factor is high, and you'd be crazy not to prepare yourself. Read our survival guide [3] to get mentally primed. But, even more important: Ready your liver with a test run at tomorrow's Great COntenders event at Wynkoop Brewing Company [4].

For just $25 (in advance—buy tickets online [5]) or $30 (at the door), you can sample 52 beers from 22 Colorado breweries. And you know they'll be good: Every beer is either a previous medal winner at GABF or the World Beer Cup or have been entered into judging this year. Sample old favorites—Avery Brewing [6]'s IPA, New Belgium [7]'s Mothership Wit—alongside tastes from brand-new breweries like Caution Brewing Company [8] and Renegade Brewing Company [9].

Couldn't get a ticket to the GABF? Well, this is a pretty good alternative—and advance ticket buyers will be entered to win a pair of tickets to one session of the sold-out extravaganza.

Photo courtesy of Wynkoop Brewing Company