State College Brew Expo

[Steve16823]

State College Microbrewery Expo this weekend 7/24. Fifty breweries will be there. Anyone else here going?

www.scbrewexpo.com

[chazwicke]

Impressive list. I can seem to drag myself away from the shore most weekends anymore. Enjoy and let us know how it was.

[Steve16823]

I went. All it all it was a good time but i'd be lying if I didn't say I was a little disappointed.

It was my first "Beer Festival" experience. There were about 50 breweries/importers/distributors there. I tasted lots of good beer, although nothing that jumps out at me as being the best beer i've ever had or anything.

I think the reason I was dissappointed was that there were TOO MANY PEOPLE there. It was in a HUGE ballroom packed with people, and the entire night you were weaving your way through the crowd and standing in line for tastes. I don't mind standing in line, but once you got to the front and selected which beer you wanted, you had to get your sample and MOVE because there were people waiting behind you. No opportunity to talk to the reps from the breweries about the beer you were tasting.

There were two festivals -- an afternoon one from noon to 4pm, and the evening one from 6-10pm. Next year, if I go, I'm going to try the early session. Hopefully it will be less crowded.

There were also several seminars, but I didn't partake in any of them as they were mostly "intro to beer" type stuff. I heard that the seminar on brewing in belgium was good though.

[chazwicke]

Sounds like a lot of the fests. Many times the pourers are volunteers and do not know much about the beer they are serving.

[Steve16823]

Yes, some of the pourer were obviously volunteers as they were wearing "State College Beer Festival" t-shirts and nametags.