The Naperville Ale Fest is very much a part of this economic momentum that craft beer is helping to provide. Established by Joshua Seago and his partners at Lou Dog Events, the Naperville Ale Fest sought to bring a premium craft beer experience to the Naperville community that would not only compete with the largest festivals in the city of Chicago, but establish itself as part of the new wave in beer festivals overall.

The Naperville Settlement, where Joseph Naper came ashore over 180 years prior, served as a stunning backdrop for a luxurious layout, offering plenty of green space for over 4,000 people. Even at its peak, the lines were short, small gatherings under the trees were plenty, and access to water, food, and shade was ample. Seago's logistical planning was thorough. And where planning proved insufficient (ice for jockey boxes was limited for the first hour on a 90 degree day) Seago's team provided some old-fashioned hustle to catch up (two more pallets of ice arrived within the hour and were distributed by a small army of golf carts). The ice suppliers weren't the only small businesses with a festival boon that day — in all, Seago worked with over 30 local businesses in the area to pull off the event.