The Festival US second edition is coming to Portland ME June 21-22.

Discussion in 'New England' started by LostTraveler, Jan 23, 2013.

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  1. Auror

    Auror Pooh-Bah (1,641) Jan 1, 2010 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    Yeah I went to the Sunday session, which was both an hour longer and by all accounts less busy. My decision to go last year was one of the best I've ever made, so I can only assume it will be busier and with tap lists not as good this year, but that will still be worth going to.
     
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  2. duchessedubourg

    duchessedubourg Savant (1,157) Nov 2, 2007 Vermont

    I was planning to go last year, but balked when the initial price was $100 for only a 3-hour session (including food.) Not conducive to chatting up the brewers as promoted. Bought an Ommegang ticket instead. Then they dropped it to $65 and arranged for food trucks to be available, and lengthened the sessions. By then I had already spent my money, but will be happy to attend this time. Not having to pay for a hotel room will help substantially - and Portland is a nicer hosting-town for beer activities than Worcester, anyway IMO.
     
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  3. AutumnBeerLove

    AutumnBeerLove Initiate (0) Oct 16, 2010 Vermont

    Worchester
     
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  4. AutumnBeerLove

    AutumnBeerLove Initiate (0) Oct 16, 2010 Vermont

    I was going as fast as possible!
     
  5. pjl44

    pjl44 Initiate (0) Oct 3, 2008 Massachusetts
    Deactivated

    And the line was only long for the first hour or two. No line for the second half of the fest, when I certainly had more than my fill of Cantillon.
     
  6. benbking

    benbking Initiate (0) Dec 11, 2009 Rhode Island

    My friend raises the point that the second edition will not be like the first. He's probably right. Doesn't mean it won't be worth going. Plenty of time to plan. Still it could end up being too steep, given a hotel and probably some cab fare/amtrak costs. I remain hopeful to be able to attend.
     
  7. brikelly

    brikelly Pundit (781) Apr 11, 2010 Massachusetts

    The first was so great. I camped at the cantillon table for an entire hour.

    Best day of drinking. Ever. Will go again. Even if it's only 75% as good as the first it will be worth it.
     
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  8. ToasterChef

    ToasterChef Initiate (0) Mar 26, 2008 Maine

    Doesn't Maine law limit beer festivals to using a ticket per drink system, i.e. no unlimited pours? From the stories above, it sounds like you could have as many samples as you wanted last year. If festival goers are limited to 12-15 beers, it will be really hard to prioritize, based upon last year's selection.

    I haven't been to Craft Beer comes to Boothbay, but I heard that they went with unlimited pours during their festivals. They may have been able to skirt the law, but with a high profile event like The Festival, I expect the organizers of this one will follow the law.
     
  9. ElGallo

    ElGallo Pooh-Bah (2,233) Sep 26, 2009 New Hampshire
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Gee, thanks Debbie Downer :slight_frown:
     
  10. Auror

    Auror Pooh-Bah (1,641) Jan 1, 2010 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    Such an asinine law. I mean, conceivably they could inculde 50 tickets with your entry right? I haven't read the law so I'm just speculating.
     
  11. LostTraveler

    LostTraveler Initiate (0) Oct 28, 2011 Maine

    FWIW Boothbay did not have a tix per drink rule.
     
  12. ToasterChef

    ToasterChef Initiate (0) Mar 26, 2008 Maine

    I was just thinking aloud. I really hope there isn't some sort of ticket limit.
     
  13. beerinmaine

    beerinmaine Initiate (0) Jun 20, 2009 Maine

    I've been twice. No tickets. I can't imagine they were doing anything illegal with every darn brewer in the state there, and the sheriff parked right in front.

    How about Sebago Lake and Mount Desert fests? Tickets?
     
  14. ToasterChef

    ToasterChef Initiate (0) Mar 26, 2008 Maine

    Maybe drink tickets are just a Portland thing?
     
  15. Brez07

    Brez07 Initiate (0) Sep 29, 2009 Maine

    Lets just hope it's a Maine Brewfest thing...
     
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  16. jakeaustin

    jakeaustin Initiate (0) Dec 23, 2007 Maine

    Sebago fest uses tickets and they were surprisngly strict about them the year I went.
     
  17. UncleJimbo

    UncleJimbo Grand Pooh-Bah (3,697) Sep 11, 2002 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Interesting. The buzz after the first Festival was that they wanted to move it closer to Boston, but it looks like they went with farther from Boston instead.

    I look forward to seeing the brewery list for the 2nd fest.
     
  18. LostTraveler

    LostTraveler Initiate (0) Oct 28, 2011 Maine

    I really hop that there is some epic collaboration done in Portland that week.... like Cantillion and Allagash.
     
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  19. ElGallo

    ElGallo Pooh-Bah (2,233) Sep 26, 2009 New Hampshire
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Considering how many breweries and beers are involved, tickets make no sense. I'm sure Shelton Brothers vetted all state laws & regs for beer festivals before committing to Portland.
     
  20. Lukaduke

    Lukaduke Initiate (0) May 22, 2012 Maine

    Not sure the logistics behind the ticket drink rule... but having the glasses sized to a sample portion (like the 4oz glass with a 2oz line that they had last year) may skirt the "ticket" rule. I know when local distributors have wine/beer tastings they are not ticketed events but the law limits the amount of oz's per pour. Hopefully that is the case... Im pretty sure all ticket related festivals in portland are geared around full glass pours.
     
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