You’d be forgiven if you’re not into beer fests anymore. You’re not alone, as beer fest attendance has been declining for a variety of reasons.
Many beer festivals are impersonal affairs populated by very drunk men and held in hangar-like surroundings, featuring lots of line standing, mediocre food, and inconsistent beer offerings poured by volunteers who know little about their offerings. Not heavy on allure for a large percentage of the population.
None of that describes Firestone Walker’s Invitational Beer Fest, which takes place every year in early June in Paso Robles, Calif., at the fairgrounds. Walking among the trees in wine country, drinking excellent beer while enjoying local food offerings and music (included in the price), it may seem obvious why this festival works as others close, but it’s still worth exploring what exactly makes this festival so great.
“We love California, the weather is always nice, the people are nice,” said Omnipollo brewer Henok Fentie. “It’s a pretty diverse crowd, it’s a nice mix of women, men … beer festivals can be one note sometimes.”
Just over 4,000 attendees with 64 guest breweries makes it a medium-to-smaller-sized event among the behemoths out there, but the list of beers and breweries is something that everyone…
