The problem with nearly all the big festivals around town is they sell out an exclusive beer concession to one vendor normally one the mega brands.

It's not always the selling out factor that causes local/micro/craft breweries to be absent from these festivals.

Often times, they have to commit to the entire length of the festival. There are some inherent issues with that. They need large quantities of fresh beer that would deplete their stock to their distribution list. Also, they would need more than they would actually sell because they would have to be there for the length of the festival. Finally, what happens if there is inclement weather. Then they have a large amount of beer that they can't sell because of this problem.

I know that this is something that has often been brought up around the New Orleans Jazzfest. Who wouldn't want to enjoy an Abita Amber or Purple Haze while listening to Cowboy Mouth in the blazing sun of the New Orleans Fairgrounds. Well, Abita just doesn't have the capacity to brew that much fresh beer for the festival, so they opt not to have a presence there.

It is about a distributor that has the capacity and the equipment to service an event. That is why you will always have your larger beers. The second factor is money. Craft beers want everything for free, promotors don't work that way, they are more interested in a profit.

Say what you want, that is the truth. It is a business.

Until very recently I worked for the company (Charm City Hospitality) that runs the beverage concession at Artscape. I've sold beer at three out of the last five Artscapes (or thereabouts). I didn't work over the last weekend, so I can't comment on the selection there, but I do recall having at least one Fordham selection in past years.

And, in at least partial defense of the company, large national vendors are often much easier to work with than smaller ones. Prices are often better on the wholesale end, of course (and people will only pay so much for a beer on the consumer end - if wholesale prices are too high there's no point in trying to sell a $10 beer). Also, major chains will usually provide services like keg-wrangling and daily resupply that sometimes escape the little guys.

For example, the same company sells at Merriweather Post Pavilion, which in years past had Yuengling, Fordham, and other local and semi-local beers. Now all the beers come from Annheuser-Busch and InBev (now the same thing, of course). It's just easier that way.

You could've gotten a very cold and tasty Wolaver's Organic ale in the "Organic Food Court" on Charles Street. I had one on Sunday and it hit the spot

I am anxious to see what they have at the German Festival in Timonium this weekend.

A response to Jeff: To say "craft beers want everything for free" is a downright insult. By and large, they'd just appreciate a level playing field. The other commenters have valid points about the ability of a big beer distributor to pull up with big truckloads of inventory, but then add the fact that a festival like Artscape expects the concession to PAY for the privilege of selling beer. A-B and other major brewers have a general policy of not sharing the spotlight/stage with competitors and usually demand "all or nothing" contracts, which can scare festival committee folks not used to dealing with alcohol into thinking they'll go bust without a popular mega-seller available.

If you really want to feel wrath, listen to craft brewers who are invited to local festivals--sometimes even "beer festivals"--and are expected to DONATE all the beer supplied ("after all, it's free publicity") while the musicians performing are paid. As more than one brewer has told me, "I'm in business to SELL beer, not give it away!"

I think Jeff is confused, or better yet wrong. Craft brewers don't want anything for free. It is event organizer who want things for free. The events that get stagged with one source of beer does nothing but rob the attendees more choices. Its unfourtunate that local breweries are not offered at more events in the area. So much for local pride.

Trust me, if the "Local Breweries" wanted to be at the festivals, they could be, all they have to do is poney up th cash.

I don't feel bad for them, if they want in so bad, put your money where your mouth is.

Again it is not about "Local Pride" it is about money. Don't fault the big brewers, fault the organizers that are more interested in making money than making the consumers happy.

I have to agree totally. My wife and I were there on Sunday, each of us looking forward to certain things . . . beer being one of them for more, especially given the 100° temps. After passing the first tent and seeing the selection, I thought "well, maybe the next one will have a better selection". This went on for about two more stops until it dawned on me that this was it.

I don't really mind paying 5 or 6 bucks for a draft, but not if it's Coors or Killian's. I was really hoping to get my hands on a Ressurection or other craft beer, maybe something from Fordham or Clipper City.

All I can say is "booooooooooo" to Artscape for the poor choice. One more reason to consider skipping it next year.

While I did not attend Artscape I'm glad I didn't. If you want to buy art wouldn't you want to buy good art. The same is true with beer. And I'm sure most of us don't mind paying for quality.

Sounds like some folks need to get their facts right.
Clipper City and DeGroens had to bid on getting their beer at Artscape evey year and they won for a while much to my happiness as I worked for Hugh Sisson 3 years in a row...then City Hall got greedy and the big beer distributors bid them out.
I feel that a Baltimore based festival should have only Bmore beer. I remember many times people coming to the booth asking for Bud and I said drink this...its better and its local...never had a disapointed customer.
Shame on OMalley Shame on City Hall