Well, I survived another Chico Brew Fest! 
What a hoot! Not considered a "big" one (only about 40 breweries) but its one I try hard not to miss. IT has a neat 'college town' feel to the entire setup. And Chico California really is a great place to visit. Its about a 2.5 hour drive for me to get there, but its worth it.
Each stand had about 2-5 different beers you could try, and the local restaurants have snack booths so you can get your fill on food and keep drinking. When you get to try a beer, it was a decent 6-8 oz pour, not like other brewfests where I have gone to where you are lucky to get 3oz. And if you like the beer, you just go back for more! No limit on the number of pours you can have.
It was in a larger hall with a HUGE outdoor area with more beers and bands. The weather was great, so it was easy to just grab a brew and food and sit outside and watch the bands & co-eds do their things.
I was able to hit almost all forty stands, and I am guessing I did try at least one at each stand. I even got a call into Smokieroan! Kinda incoherent, but the call was made!
It was really one of the best Fest's I have been to in a while. You got a pint glass, all the brews you can drink, all the food you can eat and lots of good live bands. All for $40! And it all was a chairty event for the local Soropitomists group. It actually has a big following, as when the tickets go on sale (a few weeks before the event, it sells out in about TWO HOURS!). And all that for $40? And its for a good cause? Though to pass up.
BTW: after the fest, I even cought a band play in a local bar. The guy is called Mike Comfort, and was REALLY GREAT! Check him out. mikecomfort.com
Good times, and I look forward to next year!
