“Oh dear. Wow. I have not needed to write a rebuttal to anything I’ve read online in many moons. I’m not a contrary person by nature – not by a long shot. I’m a man of peace…but – I cannot believe that we were at the same event!! Are you sure we were at the same place?? THE L.A. Craft Beer Fest at the Echoplex?? Yesterday??

How bad was it?? Let me count the ways…over-sold, too crowded, not nearly enough local beers (where was Angel City?), the venue was much too-small (by a factor of four at least, I’d say) – They needed at least three more beer stations…and until the big electric fans were brought in, the temps inside were almost unbearable (at least it was cool in the men’s restroom! The A/C was obviously working…it just couldn’t keep ub with 500+ hot, breathing humans) – it was claustrophobic, with unbearably long lines for beer, far too few places to sit (at least where it didn’t sound like a monster-truck rally of noise!) and just a nightmare.

A “Wonderland of Beer?” Hardly. IMO that was a torture chamber…the beer just made it bearable! The Stone Black IPA was awesome as always – and the two Craftsman beers from Pasadena were very tasty.

Next time I’ll buy a few bottles and stay at home and watch hockey instead.

Hopefully the organizers learned something. Everybody I talked to was very disappointed. Please…next year a bigger venue able to hold an event like this!”

fantastic run down of various perspectives from the event. I’m still kicking myself that didn’t get a chance to sample the ice cream or burritos.