President Obama may reach for a cold Bud Light (known to some as a "lawn-mower beer"); others will head to Denver next month for the 28th Great American Beer Festival.

"It's a beer lover's dream," said Garrett Carrero, president of Maui Brewing Co. "It's massive ... it's beautifully organized chaos; it's the premier (brewing) event in the country."

The beer festival, which is also a kind of microbrew Olympics, has more beers on tap than anywhere else in the world, according to the Guinness Book of Records.

Whatever your taste, odds are you'll find it here; there are 1,900 beers to sample, including those of local brewers Kona Brewing Co. and Maui Brewing Co.

"There is just a huge variety to tantalize the masses," Carrero said. "The format is 'pick a style, pick an aisle and GO.' "

On the festival floor, Carrero and his team will pour five of their microbrews: Smoked Rye-PA, Bikini Blonde Lager, Big Swell IPA, CoCoNut Porter and Milk of Amnesia.

Kona Brewing Co. will offer up Castaway IPA, Pipeline Porter, Oceanic Organic, Wailua Wheat and Coco Loco.

All beers are served in 1-ounce portions, supplemented with platters of food.

"Today's microbrews are more akin to wine, and, just like wine, consumers look for a style of beer rather than a brand such as Coors or Budweiser," Carrero said. "Just as wine drinkers will sample merlots or chardonnays, beer drinkers look for a great representation of IPAs (India pale ales) or porters. They want to sample and appreciate the differences."

With more than 70 beer categories at the festival, there's plenty to keep beer buffs busy.

SAVVY CONSUMERS

Microbrewing took off in the 1980s, but in the last decade, consumers have become much more educated as to what constitutes good beer ... looking well beyond the yellow fizzy stuff. It's also about sustainable practices and supporting your local economy, Carrero said.

Festival organizers say Denver and the Great American Beer Festival are a perfect fit. The Mile-High City is home to one of the world's largest breweries (Coors) and to one of the nation's largest microbreweries (Wynkoop Brewing Co.). Colorado also has about 80 brewpubs and 18 microbreweries serving more than 100 beers made and sold only in Colorado.

Even though Hawai'i falls behind states like Colorado and California for microbrews, Carrero says he's excited at the opportunities to develop the industry in the Islands, and works hard to promote craft beers by offering events such as the recent cheese-and-beer pairing at the Maui Brewing Co. brewpub in Kahana.

"Our audience is looking for complexity, innovation and boldness of flavor. This can't be found in large domestics," he said. "Our fans seek quality over quantity and a beverage to enjoy."

A WIDER AUDIENCE

Kona Brewing Co. vice president of brewery operations Rich Tucciarone, who also will be in Denver, said the festival is a great opportunity to expose thousands of beer lovers there to beers brewed in Kona. "We'd also like to win some medals!" he added.

Kona Brewing's Black Sand Porter, Hula Hefeweizen and Black Sand Porter (barrel aged) will be entered into competition.

One beer not at the festival is Duff Beer — Homer Simpson's drink of choice. The beer that famously makes Homer's days "fly by" (and is apparently brewed in Belgium) doesn't qualify as an American brewed original. D'oh! The omission, however, won't deter America's second-most-famous family from opening the festival, which coincides with their 20th anniversary.

Marge Simpson will be there, but Bart and Lisa won't be allowed in, since they're underage.

Meanwhile, Carrero said, he's looking forward to sampling some Mainland microbrews such as Old Chub (Oskar Blues), Milk Stout (Left Hand) and, to finish off the day, Hog Heaven (by Avery).

"I'll probably be drinking these at the bar at The Falling Rock Tap House (on nearby Blake Street)," he said.

Though President Obama probably won't be dropping by the festival, Carrero has a message for him, anyway: "I'd say to him that next time he's looking for a beer, I'd be happy to send him a selection from Maui Brewing Co., brewed right here in his home state."