Sunday, May 19, 2013

On RiverRoots and NABC's wonderful fan base at Madison's annual fest.

The RiverRoots Music and Folk Arts Festival was far less stressful this year. Our friends from the organizing committee couldn't quite manage to displace AB-InBev, but the swill dispensing tent was moved far away, further up the hill, and the absence of mass-market beer in the vicinity of the craft tent had a salutary effect on all of us.

There were two clear choices: Craft and crap. I haven't seen the final numbers, but it's a fair guess that craft dominated sales.

NABC brought 14 kegs and brought back 11 empties, including four cashed Hoptimus kegs. It represents about the same amount of beer vended last year, in spite of an additional brewery on the scene (five of us this year), and the threat of rain throughout the day on Saturday.

RiverRoots is a fine idea. Each year, the working arrangement reflects differing points of view among members of the governing committee, and for 2013, we participated under a scheme radically different from the first seven years. It worked out about the same in the end, because the same friends and fans we've seen from the start know to find NABC's table.

We appreciate it very much, and we hope the tradition continues in 2014.

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