State College Microbrewers
& Importers Expo 2004
State College, PA
July 24,2004
This festival is my favorite
one of the year and I always look forward to it with great anticipation.
We have been to all but the first and it has matured to the point that
it was named one of the Top Ten festivals in the US by USA Today in June.
That certainly surprised the producers of this event, Greg Somers and Michael
Goldfine. They both felt it was a pat on the back that they don't normally
receive. People don't realize that to put on a festival of this caliber,
more than a few hours are put in by a good many persons. They begin planning
even before this year's program is finished! Imagine, loving beer so much,
you do all this to put on a premiere event and then not be able to enjoy
the fruits of your labor because of the responsibility put upon you on
the day of the festival! What a bummer! But Greg and Michael do that!
For the last 3 or 4 years, I have
tried to lessen the impact of that by hosting a tasting on Friday night
at the Penn Stater after all our work is done. I bring lots of beers not
always found in the local markets or I know to be favorites. Family, friends,
brewers who come in early and other guests are known to stop in and partake
of my offerings. Last year, Stephen Beaumont and wife, Christine enjoyed
it with us and gave us some great commentary on some of the beers.
This was the 7th year of the
festival and was the best ever. Everything improved from the beer selections
to the food at the International Buffet. The brewers should be thanked
for most of the improvement in beers. The best local breweries and distributors
are invited, but the brewers have made this a true showcase for their best
as well. The innovations found in the industry today have made the choices
much more interesting. Glasses up for the brewers!!!
Speaking of breweries, check out
the next page for
a list and some of their offerings.
As I have expressed every year,
Michael & Greg look to change the public's idea of a "beer festival".
They hope that the attendees will "Drink less, Drink the Best" and enjoy
the total experience and I believe that some people are finally "getting
it". I had a lot of inquiries about the beers and not just how much alcohol
does it contain. Education plays a big role in this event and several seminars
are offered every year by beer luminaries from around the world. This year,
Paul Arnott, Master Brewer from Unibroue, Larry Bell, Master Brewer from
Kalamazoo Brewing and Chris Troegner, co-owner and Brewmaster of Troegs
Brewing all had interesting topics to discuss. Paul's was "The Art of Brewing
Specialty Belgian Ales" and with 10 years experience at Chimay and four
with Unibroue who would be better to offer these insights? Larry Bell talked
about "Big Beers, Politics and Fun". His sometimes tongue-in-cheek philosophies
raised a few eyebrows here, but it was all in the spirit. Chris spoke on
"Hops: A Delicate Balancing Act", a somewhat technical yet practical look
at the present state of hopping rates in beers. Also, starting this year,
a primer on beers was offered for the beginners. "Beer 101: Intro to Beer
for Beginners" was ably handled by Dale Van Wieren, aficionado and writer
for Mid-Atlantic Brewing News. These 15 minute seminars discussed ingredients,
styles, and a simple overview of the process.
So you see, there is a lot more
to this festival than just tasting beers! Of course, responsible drinking
should be accompanied by some fine foods. The buffet this year had a makeover
from top to bottom. Many new offerings, some with vegetarian leanings,
graced the tables: Texas Style BBQ Beef, Pulled Pork, Mediterranean Salad,
Tex-Mex Slaw, Chilled Sesame Lo Mein Salad, Smashed Potatoes w/ Sour Cream
and Chipotle, Asiago Cheese Tortellino with Summer Vegetables and Pesto,
Caribbean Black Bean Soup w/ Andouille and a large assortment of breads,
desserts and beverages. It was a real hit with everyone. How could you
complain? All the beer you can drink and all the food you can eat for a
mere $32!
The sessions run from 12-4 in
the afternoon and then 6-10 in the evening. The early session is the one
to attend if you want to ask questions of the brewers and distributors.
Attendance is only 1/2 of that of the evening. 2600 beer fans attended
this years event and I'm sure it will grow again next year.
It is always held at the end
of July, so mark your calendars and keep up with the plans for 2005 as
they unfold at their website, www.scbrewexpo.com.
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