Where should BeerAdvocate host a fest?

This is a tough one...To answer in a totally unbiased way. Madison is a *great* city. Location is close to Milwaukee, Fox Valley area, Chicago and borders MN, IA, IL, MI. The twin cities are relatively close too. Madison has several, potential, venues to make a successful, additional, beer fest. That being said, the (28th in 2014) annual Great Taste of the Midwest is already well-established, but interest level in and around the area is high enough to (probably) support another large Brew fest. Throw in the scenery, reputation of the city, costs, things to do after the fest, music scene, etc., and it could be a very good choice.

Chicago might be a solid choice too, but it is a big city. Yes, pretty easy to get to from many places, but it might just be too big. It's more expensive too. I'm thinking that a smaller city (but not too small) may offer more personality, cost less, and provide more of a relaxed setting that makes for enjoying the scenery and charm of the smaller city and beer event. (But still big enough to handle the masses of beer fans.) Case in point...Maybe give Rockford, IL a chance. 3rd largest city in IL, flanks the Rock River, and easy access from Chicago, Madison, Milwaukee and Dubuque. Plus, it might be easy to get Cheap Trick to play the event.

Leading into possible choice #3. Dubuque, IA. This city lies at the junction of 3 states. (IA, IL and WI). And also provides okay travel from MN too.) Located on the Mississippi River, hilly, and scenery is decent. Throw in some riverboat gambling too for after hours. Could be kinda cool. In IA, Des Moines is a thought too.

Other thoughts...Milwaukee or Minneapolis/St. Paul. There are several, very well-established, and solid breweries relatively close to all of these possibilities.

 

Would be at the top of my list if I lived closer. Was just there last week. First time to Minneapolis Town Hall.

 

Sweet home Chicago...

 

Bend, Oregon

 

OK gentlemen, the answer is obvious...CLEVELAND!

The Heart of it All!
Great Lakes Brewing! We can block off West 25th (their neighborhood) and have a huge street party with multiple breweries and the venerable West Side Market for food.
Cleveland would roll out the red carpet--see our coup of getting the Republican National Convention.
And how about a trip to THE Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame or a quick drive to the Football Hall of Fame?

Awesome breweries:
Hoppin' Frog
Great Lakes
Brew Kettle
Fat Heads
Willoughby Brewing
Bottlehouse
Buckeye Brewing
Nano Brew
Market Garden

Cheap hotels. Casinos. Pro sports. Public transportation.
But most of all welcoming Clevelanders who have embraced the craft beer movement.
Let's do this!

 

I'm not so sure it would be best to situate the festival somewhere surrounded by great breweries The focus should be on the breweries participating in the festival, not those that happen to be in the area. So suggestions based on that should be discarded.Ease of transportation to the festival and lodging should be a primary concern along with local laws concerning alcohol. Cost of participation by far flung breweries should also be a concern. I really don't see a better choice than Las Vegas.

 

Indiana, or Chi town because It only takes me a little over an hour to get there. Chicago is a prime spot, just bring your bullet proof vests

 

The beer community would support the event as they have for other occasions. The more established breweries would gladly throw their weight behind a national beer event. To have it in Chi-town or Vegas would group it with all the other conventions that chose those cities, dwarfing the impact of the event itself. To have a city behind an event is really the issue and Cleveland has shown that it can muster that type of energy and enthusiasm that creates a unique atmosphere.

 

Anywhere BUT Vermont!!

 

south carolina so everyone can invade westbrook to buy the hyped BA mexican cake that may or may not be released soon

 

Detroit.

 

Another vote for Rochester.

-History! Genesee Cream Ale, anyone?
-Newcomers! Three Heads came out of seemingly nowhere to produce some brews that scored very well with the Bros. And they're just one of a plethora of smaller, local breweries.
-Regional! Go into the Finger Lakes region, and you start seeing a ton of other breweries cropping up in absolutely gorgeous areas.
-Regional, Part 2! Ithaca? Ommegang? Southern Tier? Yeah, those guys make some pretty okay beer.
-Selection! Visitors from out of state will be surprised at the sheer number of breweries available here. And while we do have stores dedicated to suds, you can also buy plenty of craft beer in grocery stores, and even get growler fills at gas stations.
-Location, Location, Location! ~60-90 minutes from Buffalo and Syracuse. Toronto and Cleveland are within four hours. In NYC? Hop on a train from Penn Station for about $50 and enjoy the view, or drive it in about 6-7 hours. Same goes for Boston; I can hit JP from my house in six hours flat.

 

St Louis
Charlotte
Asheville
Madison
Minneapolis
Quad Cities (Davenport, Rock Island, Bettendorf, Moline)
Memphis
Las Vegas

 

Asheville..

While flights wouldn't be cheap, its in the heart of the southern craft explosion. Plenty of venues, and breweries, large and small to assist and sponser it.

Great weather, and plenty to do outside of the event.

 

I think St. Louis or Milwaukee would be good choices

 

Somewhere in the Pacific NW .
It's an unfair question, everybody wants it close to them.

 

As long as BA continues to do fests in Boston, I think something in the midwest makes sense. We have enjoyed many years of festivals in Boston via beer advocate, and these are not getting old. I hope to continue to participate in the Boston show. I won't be participating outside of our market, but I think Madison would be a cool place.

 

My back yard! =)

 

Go West from Boston and setup in the great beer triangle in one of these 3 locations----Chicago, St Louis, Milwaukee/Madison.

 

San Fran /SD/ or Chicago