DEL MAR -- "Joe Six Pack" got the chance to sample more than 300 beers, from 117 breweries in 20 different countries Friday, as the San Diego International Beer Festival got under way at the San Diego County Fair.

"It's a craft beer lover's dream," said Brian Stein of Fallbrook, about the festival, held at the fairgrounds' Chevy Del Mar Arena. "Great weather and all of this wonderful beer in one shot --- it doesn't get much better than this."

More from the 2009 San Diego County Fair

Event organizer Chad Stevens said the fair is a great venue for expanding the beer audience. He said his intention is to demonstrate that beer brewed in San Diego County is among the best anywhere.

"I've got brewers from all over the world walking around here that are astonished at what we've got," Stevens said. "We've got beers here that you can't find anywhere else in the world."

The festival will continue from noon until 7 p.m. Saturday.

In addition to a ring-side seat for the California Strong Man Competition, visitors are treated to unlimited beer tastings by a dizzying array of both small and large-sized breweries, including a contingent from North County.

Chad Heath, Southern California sales manager for the Stone Brewing Co. in Escondido, said that within a short period of time the festival has turned into the premier event in San Diego County for the craft beer industry.

Stone is the 18th-largest craft beer brewer in North America, Health said.

"We wanted to give the beer society something really unique," he said. "We brought out some of the best beers from our archives just for this event."

When asked what he looks for in a good beer, Jeff Bagby, head brewer at Pizza Port Brewery in Carlsbad, said he is impressed by beer with a good clean flavor that's made locally and tastes fresh.

Jim Crute of Lightning Brewery in Poway has been making beer for the past 25 years. He described the festival "as yet another way that we can connect with folks that really want to have good craft beer."

Crute, a self-described "scientist brewer," said that he has an artistic goal for his beer and uses precise methodology to get it.

For more information on the festival and participating brewers, go to sdfair.com/beer.