By: Syed Shabbir CINCINNATI - The record setting crowd at Saturday's fourth annual Cincy Beerfest is being called a sure-sign of the growing popularity of specialty beers.
More than 6,000 guests gathered at the Duke Energy Center in search of a better tasting beer. The turnout was more than double last year's event, which Cincy Beerfest Manager Craig Johnson says is a sign of the industry growing.
"It's really been an explosion of craft beer in general nationwide and now in Cincinnati." Johnson said.
Brian Heinz attended the event with some friends and says the large turnout does not reflect a growing demand for specialty beers.
"Probably 80 percent or more of the people here came just to have fun night out. I don't see a lot of them in it for the purchasing."
Longtime bar manager Dan Listermann disagrees.
"They're here to find out what different kinds of beers are," Listermann said. They'll probably go out to various specialty stores and stores that have good beer and say 'I had that. I want to try that."
Some beer drinkers say the problem with specialty beer is the price. They say in this economy, it is hard to find an excuse to pay the premium.