I have read some unkind and what I consider to be inaccurate statements about the ABR from certain posts. First off this is America and we have the freedom to say what we want no matter what. With that said:

I consider any beer fest in Minnesota to be a victory for brewing!! The ABR has many brewers from Minnesota and surrounding states etc. A professional brewer has to brew for his market or go broke, it is as simple as that. If he is brewing in small town USA, he will have to brew lighter beers than a brewer in a more established market. A "smaller" beer does not make it bad!! If it is infected or has nasty flaws then it can be called "bad" or "crappy". I did not find beers at the ABR to be bad, infected or crappy. I did find "lighter" beers this year but they were well made and highly drinkable. All craft beers can't be "over the top"! If all craft beers were "over the top" we'd never get any new craft beer drinkers because they have to start somewhere. I consider the ABR a place for me to find well made beers for my taste which is very diverse. I also want there to be "lighter beers that will ignite interest and passion for beer in the non-craft beer drinker attending the ABR for the first time. Anyone that thinks all the professional brewers at the ABR aren't capable of brewing "over the top" beers or don't want to bring them is highly mistaken. The beers that were brought to the ABR were examples of what their markets allow but they were not crap. People need to visit these brewpubs when they have their specialty or seasonals on tap before they criticize them. Remember, brewing is supposed to be a money making proposition not everybody drinks Imperial Stout, Double O'fest and Imperial IPA etc. Before we criticize the professional brewers, we better brew the amount they brew and for the market they have to brew for. It takes more than a few beer drinkers to keep a pub open.

In the future, it would be more constructive for people to contact the MN Craft Brewers Guild and suggest that each brewer bring an over the top specialty beer plus their regular beers. Give them constructive feedback on how to make things better not destructive criticism.

Remember, a few people and the beer they like do not make a beer festival successful.

----- Original Message -----

From: Wayne Theuer

Sent: Monday, October 10, 2005 5:32 PM

Nothing is easy to do in this state let alone putting on a beer festival in downtown MPLS. I don't know how Dave Berg and all the other people involved do it but they probably deserve purple hearts. Even the weather cooperated this year. As far as the long porta-potty lines, in previous years it was so hot that there little use for them! There will always be something that isn't quite perfect but friends can still get together and share some great beer no matter what!! It seems the Minnesota craft brewing scene is alive and well in spite of puritanical beliefs and outdated liquor laws.

Hats off to Dave Berg, The MN Craft Brewers Guild, all the brewers that brought their beers and everyone else behind the scene that makes the ABR possible. Next year it will be bigger and better than ever!!

Thanks again, to all who were involved!!!

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!!!