Where should BeerAdvocate host a fest?

Kansas City... 1) Food 2) Centrally located 3) Google Fiber 4) Best beards in the U.S.

 

Took a while to get a St. Louis mention.

 

So I came here thinking I would suggest Kansas City just to be a homer. But I was pleasantly surprised to see it mentioned a few times already, so I'm going to make an actual pitch:

• Good location for anyone who would be traveling from either coast or border
  
• Undergoing a bit of a food/beverage renaissance that would definitely embrace the festival (Boulevard recently put on a wildly popular music/art/beer/food festival that had national attendance from brewing heavyweights like Allagash, Russian River, Firestone Walker, and many more)
• Big and interesting enough to make it worth visiting
• Small and friendly enough to roll out the red carpet for a national-level festival
• Midwestern friendliness

But I'd be equally excited about St. Louis or Minneapolis, which are both similarly-sized (to KC) in the Midwest. I have no doubt that the hometown brewers in KC, STL and Minny would be excellent hosts.

 

Has to St. Louis as a big middle finger to Budweiser.

 

http://thepourfool.com/2014/07/19/americas-top-ten-emerging-beer-towns/

Here's the list lets take a vote from these options.

 

Chicago. Centrally located and has a good transportation system.

I can't believe someone recommended Detoilet. Must be a homer pick.

 

Obvious choice beer town usa grand rapids michigan

 

I love detroit! It's just misunderstood, that's all.

 

NYC obviously.

 

Las Vegas is an obvious choice
More hotel rooms than you can shake a stick at
Easy transportation
Reasonable rates
And nobody there will even lift an eyebrow at a hoard of drunks rambling around

 

As much as everyone wants this to be within driving distance of their hometown, there's really two obvious choices; Denver or Chicago.

- Centrally located
- Well serviced airports
- Beer cities
- Big enough and interesting enough to keep people entertained

 

If you're looking for cities with a thriving beer scene, convention space and major airports: Atlanta & Chicago. I can't help but feeling, however, that a major beer fest in a state with somewhat restrictive laws, more limited distribution and only an emerging beer scene would go a long way to getting laws in that state changed and expanding the interest in craft beer. In that case, maybe somewhere like Nashville. The question is: Will this fest be about promoting beer or will it be a party thrown for those already in the know.

 

DULUTH, MN

 

Somewhere in the Midwest, Chicago, Michigan or Indianapolis. All are centrally located, a lot of airports, good beer scenes.

 

West Coast!

 

Any bias aside (or I would say Columbus, OH), I think Chicago or St. Louis would make a lot of sense. Big beer scenes and a somewhat central location for everyone.

 

I can't argue with any of the suggestions, thus far. I would just pick a place where you don't freeze your balls off or sweat yourself into a coma. Every city has a road that leads to an airport, so I am up for wherever..whenever. To make it interesting...I'd go where the craft scene is lacking and needs a jump start. It would be cool to incubate a new craft mecca.

 

Chicago-Milwaukee. Tampa, Austin, Seattle, PDX, Philly, and Charlotte would be good nominees as well.

 

Portland, OR or San Diego. Both have great beer scenes and are great places to visit.

 

Los Angeles (preferably) or San Diego (ok I guess...).