It happened in a field in eastern Ontario. Very eastern. So eastern, exit 27 to Vankleek Hill had a sign for one of the Montreal airports. The field is actually the fairgrounds. They've been there for a while, celebrating their 167th anniversary.

What was so great about it? Buses. Buses to get people safely there and safely home. One seemed to come or go every five minutes. And really well divided use of space. Each big tent featured just a couple of beers. Food was separate from the bandstand. The specialty beers zone was separate from the presentation sessions area. All with very clear way-signage. All of which was designed and printed with the Bavarian styling made for the event. All with a massive team of volunteers and staff and security and cops all making sure everyone had good clean fun.

The tone of the whole event was intelligent. There was meat on a bun but it was small batch dry sausage or it was pulled pork with slaw or schnitzel... schnitzed right before your eyes then slathered with potato salad spread. There were people having a bit too much but staff were watching out for them. There were people sharing small bits of this and that, talking about what they tasted, what else they had tasted recently, what else they planned to make soon at their own breweries. And there were just people. Thousands crowded into a small fairground in a small village.