BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Organizers for the

have proclaimed their inaugural event a success, and they promise a return in October 2014.

"We did exactly what we wanted to do," said Todd Coder,

behind the music, wine and beer festival in Birmingham's Southside. The Oct. 12 event drew slightly more than 2,000 people, he said, and built a strong foundation for next year.

"Going into it, we all knew the first year was going to be an investment," said Coder, the festival's executive producer. "We didn't hold back on talent or on production. We feel very strongly about the positive feedback we've gotten, in so many different areas."

Although the attendance figure was smaller than the

, he said folks at the daylong event found a

, a diverse and adventurous

, and a high-quality

in the tasting tent.

"When you have a vision for an event like that, sometimes there's a disconnect," Coder said. "But almost completely, from top to bottom, everything worked. There was great talent on two stages and the site layout showed thought and attention to detail. We really liked the way everything flowed. And the patrons we targeted were there; those were the groups we were going after. We could tell that people were having fun."

, a privately funded festival, hasn't revealed its budget for 2013. Coder said organizers are unlikely to discuss financial details.

They've already started to plan the next Cask & Drum, though, on an expanded site at 27th Street and Second Avenue South, near the Pepper Place market. A few new components are in the works, as well, but Coder said it's too early to talk about them.

"One thing I took away is that I wish we had put this thing together a couple of years ago," he said. "We're full speed ahead for 2014."