![]() ![]() I see an older gentleman teaching gun safety before asking who wants to shoot first. After ten minutes of driving, I get out of the car in the middle of an open field. I assume they are kidding, but I figure I’ll ride along and check it out. “We are going to go shoot and blow shit up,” one of them mentions. Photography by Michelle DeLuca we drive over to the Compound, I see a crowd of the brewers file into a white van with a case of PBRs. The Compound is not only the home for Voodoo’s new non-clean fermentation project, but it’s also the location for the festival, and, more immediately, where we need to be for the weekend’s kick-off event. “Then we can drive the barrels over to the Compound to ferment,” he continues. “We’re going to transfer the wort while the barrels are on the truck,” Curt says. As the wort begins to boil, a truck backs up into the brewhouse, with two large oak barrels in the back. It’s 8 am on a Friday as I walk into Voodoo’s brewery to see the gentlemen of Casa Agria Ales along with Curt finishing their mash while talking through the process for the brew day. They not only had to make good vibes Beer Fest an event that could attract hundreds of attendees on their first try, but they had to create something worth traveling an hour north of Pittsburgh to Meadville, Pennsylvania. With all this in mind, it was an uphill battle from the start for Voodoo. After the labor of brewing, managing can and bottle releases, dealing with us neckbeards, all while balancing a life at home, a festival has to offer something special to get your favorite brewer in the door. Lastly, you need an experience, both for the attendees and the brewers. Part two is the location, preferably a city that has enough attractions to make the trip worth it. You need great beer from renowned brewers to gain the attention of those looking for a few new ticks on Untappd–they’re the kind of people willing to spend $60+ for a day of drinking. ![]()
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