Got your ticket to the Great American Beer Festival? No? Too bad. It sold out six weeks ago and your only hope now is to find a kindly scalper outside the Colorado Convention Center.

The 29th annual GABF, which began as a tiny tasting of 40 beers among like-minded friends in Boulder, has exploded, both in size and popularity. This year’s version runs Sept. 16-18 and features 2,200 beers from 462 breweries, the largest selection of American beers ever served. In addition, 3,594 beers from 522 breweries will be judged in 79 competition categories. It’s expected to draw 49,000 aficionados during its three-day run.

The GABF is the centerpiece event of the 2-year-old Denver Beer Fest, a 10-day celebration of Colorado and its extensive beer culture, which gets underway Friday. Both events are putting more emphasis on food-and-beer pairings this year. The GABF has a Farm to Table Pavilion, highlighting nine breweries and 12 food pairings, and there will be presentations on foods that match up with beer.

At the same time, the Denver Beer Fest has enlisted a number of high-profile eateries to feature Colorado beers.

“I think it’s part of the evolution,” said Rich Grant, a man who loves beer and is a spokesman for Visit Denver, lead sponsor of the Denver Beer Fest (motto: “Ten Days of All Things Beer”). “As Dorothy Parker said, ‘Beer — It’s not just for breakfast anymore.’

“The crazy thing is that it hasn’t happened before. If you went to Napa Valley and they served you a South American wine, you’d be shocked. But that’s what happens in Denver. This whole thing is based around the Great American Beer Festival. Nothing against that but it’s all about American beer. Ours is about Colorado beer.”

Among the events scheduled between Friday and Sept. 19 (more info above):

• Brew at the Zoo, 7-10 p.m. Friday — A “suds safari” with more than 40 Colorado breweries, and food from local restaurants. Mayor John Hickenlooper, once a beer geek himself, will toast Colorado brewers.

• Tour de Fat, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday — New Belgium’s freewheeling day of beer, bikes and live music at City Park.

• The Great COtenders, 5-8:30 p.m. Saturday, Wyn- koop Brewing Co. — Former GABF gold medal winners from Colorado are featured.

• Oktoberfest, Sept. 17-19, Sept. 24-26, Ballpark neighborhood. Oompah bands, brats, dancing — and beer.

Tickets and a complete list of events during Denver Beer Fest are available at denverbeerfest.com.

Grant is most pleased by the participation this year of many of the city’s high-end eateries. “Over two dozen restaurants are involved,” said Grant. “It’s the names that are important, the biggest names in dining.”

Panzano is doing a five- course beer-tasting menu; Flagstaff House in Boulder is hosting a dinner with beers from Avery Brewing; Duo will hold three “meet the brewer” nights; and, believe it or not, Sweet Action Ice Cream on Broadway is dishing up flavors based on beer. Also participating are Elway’s Downtown, Euclid Hall, Jax, Oceanaire and Restaurant Kevin Taylor.

“That’s one of our main things,” Grant said. “People travel for all sorts of reasons but everybody eats. Food has become a big part of travel. That was the whole point of our beer fest: Take it out of the convention center and back on the streets, where it belongs.”

Hours for the Great American are 5:30-10 p.m. Sept. 16-18. There is also a session for Brewers Association members from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Sept. 18. More information at 303-447-0816.

Beer notes.

Want to rub elbows with the hundreds of brewers in town for the GABF? Head down to Falling Rock Tap House, 1919 Blake St. They’ll all be there eventually. . . . Many happy returns to Ska Brewing in Durango, which turned 15 years old last month. . . . Road trip: The very popular Boulder County Brews Cruise is back for a fifth year, making stops at six breweries on two different excursions on Sept. 15. Tickets ($60) at lefthandbrewing.blogspot.com/p/bcbc-tickets.html.

Quotable.

“I think Denver is finally figuring out that this is a great way to celebrate the city.” Charlie Papazian

Dick Kreck’s e-mail: rakreck@yahoo.com. Send mail to him c/o The Denver Post, 101 W. Colfax Ave., Suite 600, Denver, CO 80202.

Snack with your suds?

Several places around town are offering beer-related nibbles and more. Here is a sample.

Panzano (900 17th St.): Five-course tasting menu including five Colorado-brewed beer pairings, $55 per person, Friday-Sept. 19. Reservations: 303-296-3525, panzano-denver.com

Flagstaff House (1138 Flagstaff Road, Boulder): Four-course Avery Beer Dinner, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., $78 per person. Reservations: 303-442-4640, flagstaffhouse.com

Sweet Action Ice Cream (52 Broadway): Colorado Beer Ice Cream Fest, Friday-Sept. 19. Last year they scooped Double Chocolate Stout, White Chocolate Raspberry Ale, Coffee Yeti Stout and more. Info: 303-282-4645, sweetactionicecream.com

Duo (2413 W. 32nd Ave.): “Meet the Brewer” nights, beer and appetizers. Great Divide (Monday), Ska Brewery (Tuesday), and Oskar Blues (Sept. 15). $15/person. Duo: 303-477-4141, duodenver.com

Dixons Downtown Grill (1610 16th St.): “Ten Days of All Things Beer.” Breakfast, lunch and dinner specials, including beer-battered onion rings, and brat burgers with beer-cheddar sauce. Friday- Sept. 19. Dixons: 303-573-6100, dixonsrestaurant.com.

Visit DenverBeerFest.com for details on all events.