What makes a great beer fest?

[hscott]

We're organizing the first Beer Festival - called Search for the Perfect Pint - in Port Moody, BC. It will be a small event - probably about 300 people next April. We'll have it one evening from about 7:00 - 10:00. We hope to attract 10 microbreweries from our region. Tell me if I'm wrong, but the target audience will primarily be men aged 35+ who appreciate a good beer. We want beer connoisseurs - so envision an upscale event.

For all of you beerfest goers out there - what do we need to make the perfect beer tasting event? what's the right music, entertainment, food?
thanks!

[newportstorm]

If you are aiming for 35+ y.o. beer lovers, their focus will be on the beer, the camraderie, etc. so I don't think music or entertainment is all that necessary. I've been to fests that have had music (live & recorded) so loud, you might as well be in a packed bar. If you want entertainment, try to get some brewery reps to give a presentation about the topic of their choice. Some background music is OK, but I go to fests to drink beer and chat with brewers and friends. I go to concerts to hear music.

As far as food goes, I appreciate fests that try to match beer and food, but sometimes a good greasy burger to help soak up that alcohol you'll be consuming hits the spot. A recent Belgian Fest in Boston had a booth with artisinal cheeses that was a hit. Lots of options here.

Some other things I appreciate about a good fest:
-No smoking - hard to taste new beers when you can't see or smell it
-Limit intake - insist that the breweries take tickets/tokens for each sample given. Limits your liability from the "all you can drink" lovin' yahoos - they're inevitable
-Plenty of bathrooms - nothing worse than getting a sudden urge only to have 30 people in front of you
-Rinse water/drinking water - allows people to rinse their glass and palate between beers and stay hydrated. Sell bottles, encourage fest goers to bring their own water, whatever...just have it.
-Have a schedule that every fest goer knows - e.g. last call is 20 minutes before the end of the night. If you pour until the last possible minute, getting the crowd out so you can clean up just became harder
-If you utilize volunteers, be sure they are knowledgable
-If your venue allows glass for the event - cool. If not, shell out for acrylic - don't go with cheap, stinky plastic that'll affect a beer's flavor
-A coat check/rack is cool, but theft can be a problem
-A simple fest guide with space (blank page/lined page) for note taking is nice
-Have non-alcoholic drinks on hand - not everyone that attends likes to drink all evening and some beer lovers bring a DD to get them home safely
-If you can get some of the breweries to donate glassware/tee-shirts/etc., you can have door prizes
-Promote, promote, promote - I've been to smaller fests that get little turn out hence little profit hence little resources to fund next year's event

I'm sure there are a lot of other details to consider. Best of luck!

[hscott]

Thank you so much! This event is being put together by a volunteer committee - so your experience will keep us all on track - in particular your comments on music and food - two huge issues so far!

[threecb]

newport, that's a great wish list. It sounds like a Utopian Fest!

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by threecb
newport, that's a great wish list. It sounds like a Utopian Fest!

Except for the door prizes and some killer food (real BBQ) that's exactly what the last few Beer Advocate fests have been like. Awesome times! No fest is perfect it's first time around. The key is to learn and change - and stay profitable enough to promote and run the fest again next year.

Cheers!

[chazwicke]

Newport covered it well. The only thing I would add is maybe a map in the programme showing where each brewery is stationed and possibly a listing of beers that they will have. (I know this often changes) The GBBF has a map that helps to locate certain breweries and I have found that helpful. Several other fests that I have been to prominately have the brewers names displayed above the brewers tables high enough to be seen above heads. I have seen Hop Union and other beer related vendors having booths as well. I like the idea of a few good local restraunts purveying some food. As Newport mentioned, I have seen cheese and I would recommend an olive bar as well. (Another nice feature of GBBF). Some festivals such as FABfest in Miami bill themselves as food and beverage festivals. I too do not mind the tokens for beer method. Or limit the session time. Several fests that I have attended have several different sessions with breaks between them. And welcome to the board by the way.

[hscott]

This is all great stuff - I can't thank you enough! Never would of thought of cheese and olives. We had a few local restaurants in mind and can definitely do the overhead signage. Wicked idea!

[b3s]

good beers crafted within style, a decent amount of space for milling about, little or no music so people can talk and discuss beer, lack of echos/reverb so that crowd noise is not overwhelming, lots of rinse buckets and freely available water to drink, ready access to public transportation, and a lot of beer lovers ;)

[staronstage]

And one more thing, in order to have a really wonderful fest, you'll need me there! :)

I would like to 2nd the idea of having a "beer class" of some sort to help those less knowledgeable than others. I really found that sort of help very benefitial in my early beer drinking years. (as in three years ago)

[hscott]

Excellent - thanks to both of you - we were toying with the idea of a lesson - the tasting will be in a venue that has a theatre attached - and would love to take advantage of it - Just have to get them to waive the no food and drink rule.

Lots of water - would never have thought of that - rinse buckets - maps to the breweries - Thanks!

[hscott]

BTW SanFrancisco Bay - just shoot straight up the coast - for a taste of the Northwest Brews (Southwest Coast to us Cdns)

[staronstage]

Oh believe me ... the Northwest Brews are some of my favorites. From San Francisco to Portland to Seatlle, they are all great towns with plenty of "beer" exploring to be had.

[chazwicke]

I've been to Breweries in Vancouvre and Victoria. Some good brews up there.

[hscott]

Ok, you're all getting me pumped to create the best small beer fest ever! I'll post when it is in case you happen to be in the area. Some of the breweries in our local area include Granville Island Brewers, Mission Springs, Okanagan Springs, Gulf Island Brewing, Haggar's Brewing Co., Old Yale and Whistler Brewing Co. - Anyone you'd recommend?

[NJ Tom]

Tables and chairs so you can sit down now and again

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by NJ Tom
Tables and chairs so you can sit down now and again

Yes. At the least - a few tall cocktail tables so people can put their beer down and lean on 'em.

Cheers!