What would you like to see at a BeerAdvocate Virtual Fest?

Blog Discussion in 'BeerAdvocate Talk' started by Todd, Jun 23, 2020.

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  1. LoriS17

    LoriS17 Devotee (340) Apr 4, 2013 Arizona
    Trader

    The Untappd festival went pretty well, from my perspective. I would want to see a future virtual event include:

    *Ability to purchase the beers to have shipped to me so I can enjoy the same thing everyone else is drinking - hopefully with a vendor who can ship to most states.
    *Ticket includes beer, maybe a tasting glass, and other merch (priced accordingly!)
    *Planned "after party" events in smaller groups so people can chat. The larger group is fun, but not possible to actually talk to anyone.
     
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  2. GimmeAGuinness

    GimmeAGuinness Pundit (806) Sep 1, 2005 Massachusetts
    Society

    I was thinking something along that line, too. Might be tricky to get everyone having the same bunch of beer, but it's a cool idea.
     
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  3. nc41

    nc41 Initiate (0) Sep 25, 2008 North Carolina
    Trader

    I have some lady friends who use zoom for virtual wine parties, they split the screen so everyone can see each other and away they go. But they're a group of maybe 8, how you expand that number I haven’t a clue. I’m trying to do that now with my friends in PA and Cali.
     
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  4. WSKY54

    WSKY54 Initiate (0) Jun 22, 2019 Rhode Island

    That was going to be my suggestion too. Not much point for me if I have to remember what was said and THEN go searching for the beers. I'm getting old and forgetful!
     
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  5. Jbuitron

    Jbuitron Aspirant (281) Sep 11, 2015 Illinois

    I would love to participate in a virtual festival and think it would be cool to have different levels of interaction/participation. Perhaps a box of beers for different sessions. Maybe even have a regional session for people who live in certain states and get some breweries to allow those with tickets to buy special beers brewed just for the virtual festival.
     
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  6. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,254) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    Staff Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

  7. DCBrad

    DCBrad Initiate (0) Apr 28, 2012 Maryland

    and if any the brewers were to participate and contribute commentary/insights while tasting their beer, that would make it even better.
     
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  8. sulldaddy

    sulldaddy Grand Pooh-Bah (5,080) Apr 6, 2003 Connecticut
    Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Some sort of box beer tasting is essential, but what is in the box is more critical.
    When I do go to a fest, I usually pass on beers that Ive had frequently or that I can buy in a store. Even good ones.

    The Fest for me is about exposure to new beers and even better new breweries. Maybe focus on places that dont distribute, or at least beers that arent distributed.

    Schwag like a tasting glass or a shirt can also be fun add on to the package and experience.

    Having a Zoom guided tasting panel of brewers would also be a nice feature, to learn more about what the beer experience is envisioned from the brewer.

    what about some instant polling as is available on Zoom to have a best of fest drinkers choice award as voted by attendees?

    good luck, looking forward to what you come up with!
     
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  9. RedEcho

    RedEcho Devotee (382) Oct 23, 2012 Massachusetts

    I go to beer festivals for two reasons:
    • To try breweries that do not regularly ship to my part of the country
    • To try one offs from local breweries
    Basically, if I feel there is a reasonable chance that I'll encounter a distribution rep passing out free samples of the latest & greatest at my local package store then I don't want to spend $30/40/50+ just to have a couple bottles show up at my doorstep.
     
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  10. thebeers

    thebeers Grand Pooh-Bah (5,393) Sep 10, 2014 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I’d participate in a live Zoom Webinar-style fest that has a few back-to-back panels on interesting topics — mainly just because it’s BA and it would be fun to see how it goes.

    In all honesty, I wouldn’t watch a pre-recorded YouTube video unless it was something wicked controversial or crazy high production value.

    I wouldn’t pay for the webinar, but would participate if it were free to BA supporters, free overall or included with the purchase of a beer box.

    I would pay for a box of beer, of course. Hopefully not all NEIPAs! I still haven’t tried the Utopias WWS, so maybe you can get Sam/DFH to sponsor and include one of those to start? Maybe even do a first canning of it for the fest? Just thinking out loud.

    FWIW, I just signed up for another virtual beer fest and one thing I like is that the box they’re shipping in has four color art inside making it a backdrop for beer photos, and also includes a high-quality fest glass. Reminds me of Loot Crate. What I didn’t like is that their sign up/payment system sucked.
     
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  11. ORF

    ORF Initiate (0) Oct 10, 2009 California

    I hate to be a party pooper, but my whole idea of a great beer fest is being able to sample as many new beers as you brewers can come up with, and to talk to each of you about your idea for it, and give you my opinion
     
    duceswild likes this.
  12. CTHomer

    CTHomer Grand Pooh-Bah (3,048) May 23, 2014 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    The one thing I would have liked more of at the recent virtual festival was a more in depth discussion about each of the beers. Why were each of the hops/malt varieties chosen? How did they each help define the finished product? With the brewers right there, I would have liked more of an opportunity to learn and enhance my tasting skills and general beer knowledge.

    The only other suggestion I would have is to include well known beers/breweries that have limited reach - New Glarus and Surly come to mind. That would give the many BAs who are not traders their only opportunity to sample some of these.
     
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  13. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,254) Aug 23, 1996 Finland
    Staff Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    As someone who's hosted over 70 beer fests and attended countless others, I'm well aware of what makes a great beer fest and that it's different for each attendee. But that was then. We're dealing with the now, which currently doesn't allow us to host beer fests IRL.
     
  14. FBarber

    FBarber Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,161) Mar 5, 2016 Illinois
    Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    That would be awesome!
    All of this sounds awesome - I like the color art backdrops for beer photos!
     
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  15. NYR-Zuuuuc

    NYR-Zuuuuc Maven (1,307) Jan 1, 2013 Connecticut

    Access to beers you can't normally get. So maybe different "regional" box options. So maybe us East Coasters can get a box of West Coast stuff and vice versa. (Hint:Russian River).
     
  16. FBarber

    FBarber Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,161) Mar 5, 2016 Illinois
    Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    @Todd, one other thing I thought of - I'd love to see a BA virtual fest feature a beer or few from Black/minority/LGBTQ+ owned breweries. A place like 18th St. Brewery out of Hammond, IN comes to mind. Drew Fox would be a cool guy to have as a panelist and their beer is excellent.
     
    #36 FBarber, Jun 23, 2020
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2020
  17. beersampler6

    beersampler6 Pooh-Bah (2,200) Apr 4, 2018 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    That's a great idea, and would really encourage camaraderie and discussion within each chat room/forum/thread, I think.
     
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  18. beersampler6

    beersampler6 Pooh-Bah (2,200) Apr 4, 2018 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Totally agree. Was just at 18th Street Brewery to try out their new offerings.
     
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  19. socon67

    socon67 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,611) Jun 18, 2010 New York
    Pooh-Bah Society

    @Todd - If there was a "beer box" event with offerings that are hard to get normally (or even if the brewery did a limited run specifically for the virtual event), it would generate interest. I know I'd be interested in it and would have my local friends go in with me for such a purchase. If we are talking rares out of my distribution area; just tell me where to Venmo\PayPal....
     
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  20. snaotheus

    snaotheus Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,910) Oct 6, 2008 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    My review of the Untappd virtual tasting experience:

    • I was glad that the tasting included styles I wouldn't normally go out of my way to get in addition to my favorites.
    • I loved having the brewer or founder talk us through the tasting (definitely preferable over other brewery employee or other industry rep)
    • I loved hearing the brewer answer questions.
    • I thought the chat function was so busy it was useless. I understand that it was used to gather questions, but I just closed that pane and ignored it. I would probably prefer to have conversations in smaller side channels, if I was going to do it at all.
    • I think the 5-6 beers in a session was reasonable (I shared with my wife).
    • I think the bits with the two jokesters in between beers were a bit hokey, but the time between beers is probably necessary.
      • Might have been nice to give a heads up like "tasting resumes in 10 minutes" or whatever, so if I wanted to ignore the jokesters and be back for the next brewer, I could do so
    • I was glad that I could go back and watch the recording after the fact, since I had schedule conflicts that made me miss part of one of the sessions.

    What I would like to see:
    • More options for sessions, maybe themed options based on locality, style, "best of" or something like that. A la carte, so I can opt in to the NE and the "beautiful classics" sessions, and opt out of the PNW and the "cinnamon syrup" session (although realistically, what are the chances of me opting out of any interesting beer experience that I can reasonably and responsibly enjoy)
    There's probably more, but that's what comes to mind.
     
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