Need more proof that the western New York beer scene is quickly gaining notice and accolades? (You shouldn't.)

One of the best beer festivals in the world will bring some of the biggest names and sexiest breweries to western New York this fall. Further proof that western New York is buzzing with incredible beer, a knowledgeable and thirsty base of beer nerds, and destinations that will draw visitors to this area.

The Shelton Brothers-produced The Festival is coming to Buffalo. This year's edition of the two-day festival will take place on Oct. 4 and 5 at a yet-to-be determined location. Two locations are being considered and ticket information should be released soon.

(You have to have some serious gumption and clout to capitalize "The" in the name of your event, but that's exactly what the Shelton Brothers have.)

Previous editions of The Festival have taken place in Los Angeles, Denver and Louisville.

Buffalo beer magnate Mike Shatzel, the owner of Thin Man Brewery and many of the best beer destinations in Erie County, including Moor Pat, Cole's and Allen Burger Venture, worked to convince the Sheltons that the event should be brought to western New York.

"This is potentially the best beer fest in the country," said Shatzel, who has gone to every iteration of the festival except one. "Jean Van Roy (of Cantillon) will be in town. You'll get breweries who have never even poured in this area. I would think places like Bottle Logic (from California), The Veil, Trillium. All these big-time, well-thought-out breweries. Just look at who poured last year."

(Shatzel pauses here.)

"I think this is gigantic news for Buffalo, just for western New York in general. You're bringing the top names from around the world here. You're going to have British breweries, Danish, Norwegian, Australian. A lot of breweries that people haven't heard about but will soon know and love."

Shelton Brothers was one of the early catalysts in the craft beer movement. The nascent importer, which launched in the early 1990s, was responsible for introducing American beer drinkers to idiosyncratic and legendary breweries such as Cantillon, De La Senne, De Ranke, Blaugies, Thiriez, Drie Fonteinen, Fantôme and a whole host of others.

If Shelton imports your brewery, there is a perceived seal of approval. You can almost universally guarantee that the beer is world-class if it is in Shelton's portfolio. And the same goes for The Festival. If a brewery is lucky enough to pour there, you can easily be assured that it will be one of the best.

And Shelton has helped many become familiar with my all-time favorite brewery, Toronto's Bellwoods. Shelton (through its distribution partner Remarkable Liquids) is the reason you can find Bellwoods beers such as its delectable Jelly King dry-hopped (and sometimes fruited) quick sours on draft at Rochester's best establishments.

Shatzel has developed a good relationship with the Sheltons through his Buffalo beer empire and the burgeoning success of Thin Man (which will soon move into an expanded production facility on Chandler Street in Buffalo).

"Every year, I kind of make it a joke to Dan (Shelton) and Christian (Gregory), saying, 'Buffalo is always an option for you,'" Shatzel said. "I never really took it seriously, but Christian reached out a couple of weeks ago and said Buffalo is a serious contender. I think financially, it makes sense. Hotels are a little cheaper. It's not far from Toronto and that international airport and it's a quick, easy flight from New York."

WCLEVELAND@Gannett.com