Yes, it's fall (or it feels like it here) and that means freshly sharpened pencils, the end of the peaches, the appearance of the apples and -- beer festivals right and left, including the Big Daddy, the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, now just a month-and-change away. (Tickets are still available.)

Charlie Papazian has a nice list of guidelines for enjoying festivals without going nuts. To his list I would add this:
1. pack a supply of throat lozenges (festivals are noisy; you're gonna be shouting)
2. carry some earplugs (see above)

See you in Denver!