More than 1,300 beer industry professionals gathered to discuss brewing and the business of beer and celebrate the 7% growth rate in 2004 which made craft brewing the fastest growing segment of the beverage alcohol industry. There had been doubt expressed in some quarters that a successful conference could be held on the East Coast, but by the time the April 14-16 conference had concluded, Brewers Association officials were already talked about a return to Philadelphia, "around 2010 or 2012," according to Flying Fish president and founder Gene Muller, a member of the eight-brewery local panel which helped put the event together.

Other members of the panel were Stoudt's Brewing's Carol & Ed Stout, Dogfish Head's Sam Calagione, Independence Brew Pub's Tim Roberts, Iron Hill's Mark Edelson, Nodding Head's Curt Decker (replacing brewer Brandon Greenwood following his resignation to go to The Lion), Victory's Bill Covaleski and Yard's Tom Kehoe.

The committee, justifiably, expressed satisfaction with its efforts. Covaleski told the Beer Yard that "I think things went very well. Better yet, I was told that by a lot of the out-of-towners. I also think it was a plus that we had a decent involvement from Europe, with brewers from Sweden and the UK showing up." Laughing, he added, "Of course, the guys from Colorado tried to take credit for the good weather, telling us that they brought it with them."

The 2006 Craft Brewers Conference will be held in Seattle, April 11-14.