An eBay shopper from Somerville bought the world’s most expensive bottle of beer for more than $500,000. And now the bottle is on its way to the city, bringing with it a story steeped in history.

Part of drinking responsibly at an AleFest is to be informed about the vast selection of beers. With more than 300 beers to choose from, you can't possibly try them all, so having a game plan will go a long way to maximize your enjoyment. If you're really serious about getting full appreciation of every beer you taste, start with the less aggressive flavors first, then progress into the more complex and strong ales later. Otherwise, your taste buds will get nuked early on.

GABF visitors enjoy one-ounce beer samples from the fest’s breweries. These breweries are arranged on the festival floor by regions of the country, giving beer lovers a walking tour of the nation’s beer-blessed landscape. Many of the booths are staffed by the brewers themselves. Over 41,000 beer enthusiasts from Colorado, the US and around the world attended last year’s GABF. The GABF will cover 188,000 square feet of the Colorado Convention Center.