Buckbean Brewing has recently announced a competition, asking bloggers to write a post about why they deserve to be flown to Reno to attend something called CANFEST. Once all the posts are up, they’ll pick a winner.
Yes, it’s a brazen attempt to generate blog buzz about the event and their all-can line up of beers, and here I am writing about them, so bravo. Well played, Buckbean.
Instead of gushing about why I deserve to go to CANFEST, I’d like to explain why I should be spared the trip.
First off it’s called CANFEST. Short of MOLEFEST and ORAL SURGERY FEST, it has to be one of the least inspiring “Fest” names ever.
Sure it’s a cool idea. It’s a celebration of good beer in cans, something that I wholly support and I see as big part of the craft beer’s future. There will be 50+ breweries there from around the world and I’d love to taste what they’ve put in cans. But “CANFEST”? Really?
Secondly it’s in Reno. Now, I’ll be honest and say I’ve never been to Reno, but it’s been the butt of many “second-rate” jokes. There’s a reason Reno 911 happens in Reno. It’s almost a symbol of settling for less.
This is probably totally unfair, and as a guy from New Jersey I should be more sensitive to regional stereotypes. Where I live it’s all bears, mountains, crystal clear reservoirs and reasonably flat-haired women. But when you say Jersey, people think Snooki, Tony Soprano and the refineries by the airport. So maybe I’m being unfair to The Biggest Little City in the World, it actually looks like a pretty cool place on their tourism website. Hmm.
So CANFEST is an awesome idea with a lackluster name and Reno suffers from an image problem. Maybe I should just get over myself and look at the facts:
- I’m a proponent of craft beer in cans, and CANFEST promotes and celebrates this.
- Reno appears to be as cultured as any other small city in America and boasts a ton of fun things to do there. It’s probably a cool place to visit.
Holy crap, I think I just talked myself into it! I want to go to CANFEST!!
Alright then, changing gears. If this comes down to some kind of vote thing on Facebook (I only skimmed the details), please vote for me. Think of how mind opening it’ll be for me to embrace CANFEST, name and all, and experience the wonders of Reno first hand. I’m sure I’ll be a better man, a better blogger, a better father and a better friend for it. It’s a life altering opportunity, and it’s all in your hands.
No pressure. 🙂
Beer & Whiskey Brothers 
Oh sure! You knew that they only allow one blog post per site to qualify for Canfest, so you HOGGED it! You didn’t as me for input of anything, you just HOGGED all the Blog space for Canfest and now I can’t go! Well thanks alot little brother! Reminds me of when I got a big tin of bubble gum and you took over half of it while I was at school! Man what a nerve! Well I hope you win and have to go to Reno! Would serve you right!
Let’s just remember which brother got his set of free samples from Buckbean – I’m due!
Yeah, see! You weren’t even worthy of free samples, you think they’re gonna fly you out to CANFEST? You should have let me do the post, they like me much better than you! I could be going to Canfest but NOOOOOOooooooo! You gotta go and HOG all the canfest posting space. Well I hope you catch some sort of disease in Reno!
Real sweet. You’re still mad about the bubblegum. Was it Big League Chew?
No it was before Big League Chew was around it was a big metal can of gumballs and they were in a paint can type thing, so I thought they were secure, but you pried it open with your teeth! Well you’ll need those strong teeth for Reno! Where they don’t cook their meat! At least that the word on the street…