Going to a Beer event, have a question...

Deduct 5 points for every person wearing a pretzel necklace.

 

I think it's a combination of all of those, I go to The Great Taste of the Midwest every year with my brother, and there is a reason for it even though tickets are a pain in the ass to get, it is awesome, lots of good beer to drink, it is outside in a beautiful park, and the people there are there for the same reason you are to drink lots of beer and have a good time

 

Personally, its mostly about having lots of clean close bathroom facilities..

<-- peanut bladder

 

Add 25 points for every meat and cheese necklace.

 

I personally love the pretzel necklaces but to each their own I guess! LOL

 

Quality of the breweries in attendance. Added points for how far away they come from. Minus points for sending the local rep and not people from the actual brewery.

Quality of the beer that each brewery pours

Layout of the event. Organization, layout, food, bathrooms, lines.

Appropriate size of the venue given the number of attendees.

 

I like it when:

a) There are breweries in attendace outside of the distribution network where the event is held (if appropriate)
b) The breweries there that are from within the distribution network of where the event is held...should have at least one or two beers available that aren't typically on the shelf/on regular rotation at the brewery (if they don't distribute)

For instance, last summer we went to the Epic Beer Festival, and it was a waste of time and money for me. There were breweries from all over the world, but there were none that I didn't recognize from off the shelf, and they all pretty much had their standard offerings. It would be a good festival for someone just getting into craft beer who doesn't want to go to the liquor store/bar and pay for a full serving of all these beers, but that's about the only positive thing I have to say about that festival. The shirts were cool, I guess.

 

The Beer List.

 

Lemme guess: Funk Fest?