Your Beerfest Strategy?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by 19etz55, Feb 23, 2013.

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  1. EddieGold

    EddieGold Initiate (0) Nov 22, 2012 North Carolina

    get drunk.
     
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  2. barleywinefiend

    barleywinefiend Initiate (0) Nov 22, 2007 Washington
    Deactivated

    Word. The Toronado Bwine Festival of 2008 and the fallout afterwards taught me much....experienced I am....

    Never pass out drunk on a shitter in a Haight-Ashbury vendors bathroom with a slice of pizza in your mouth...just sayin'
     
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  3. deleted_user_373835

    deleted_user_373835 Initiate (0) Sep 24, 2009

    I look for "new" stuff I haven't had before. Don't need to "taste" anything that I have had many times even if it is excellent. I look for either a new beer from a well known favorite brewer or I look for a brewery that I have never had before. After that I look for a cool T-Shirt to buy.
     
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  4. vthippie

    vthippie Initiate (0) Dec 18, 2012 Vermont

    First I knock out any wants, one-offs and collabs from my favorite breweries, then I move on to new (or new to me) breweries. Also keep an eye out for any events within the event. At the last VT Brewfest they had a chocolate pairing where we got to sample 4-5 beers and got free chocolate (Heady Topper with dark chocolate covered almonds is amazing). Having a partner that you can split tasters with does allow you to cover a lot more ground.
     
  5. ipas-for-life

    ipas-for-life Initiate (0) Feb 28, 2012 Virginia

    The majority of big beer fests in my area aren't worth going to. It's the same old off the shelf beers that you can find any day. You might get some interesting stuff from the local breweries but that's it. When I do go I try to get there as early as possible. By the time I have tried the majority of stuff I want the lines start getting huge and I head home.
     
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  6. keithmurray

    keithmurray Pooh-Bah (2,943) Oct 7, 2009 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah Society

    1. Get food in me before hand
    2. Get water in me. Lots of water.
    3. Go to the brewery that is located at the farthest location from the festival's entrance. This way, I don't get crowded by a bunch of assholes, at least during my first 6 or 7 beers. Once I develop a buzz, only then can I deal with the assholes
    5. When I feel myself getting too drunk, get more food and water in my system
    4. Wander until I taste something that pleases my palate. Then I keep going back for said beer until I feel like trying something new.
    5. Mainly, just go to enjoy the company of my friends, drink beer and check out some good looking chicks. I was surprised when I went to TAP NY last year, there were a decent amount of hotties walking around and pouring beer samples.
     
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  7. PaulB

    PaulB Initiate (0) Sep 3, 2002 Massachusetts

    Get drunk fast, throw up first.
     
  8. keithmurray

    keithmurray Pooh-Bah (2,943) Oct 7, 2009 Connecticut
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I never understood when a brewery gets an invite to a festival, why do they only bring beers that you can buy at any store. I can see bringing a couple of the flagship beers, but at least bring a limited release or seasonal beer with you.
     
    19etz55 likes this.
  9. NickMunford

    NickMunford Pooh-Bah (2,094) Oct 2, 2006 Wyoming
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Eat plenty before and during the fest. Drink water between tasters. As far as deciding what beers to drink, I usually go to stations with short to no lines. If there's something I "have" to try, I might wait in a longer line, but that's pretty rare. I mostly try and sample new beers that I haven't tried before. If I find any I really like, I'll usually go back for another 1 or 2 samples of it.
     
  10. 19etz55

    19etz55 Savant (1,212) Aug 12, 2007 New Jersey
    Trader

    Sounds like a GREAT plan!!!
     
  11. 19etz55

    19etz55 Savant (1,212) Aug 12, 2007 New Jersey
    Trader

    I can relate.
     
  12. ColdOne

    ColdOne Savant (1,142) Jan 19, 2013 New York
    Trader

    There's no science, because first and foremost it's about hanging with my friends and having a killer time. So I go with the flow. However, given the option I like to:

    1. Hit casks, barrel aged brews or anything that seems out of the ordinary, especially from breweries I respect.
    2. Along the way, I'm happy to hit beers I've already had here and there. This takes the sting away from tastes that are less than impressive.
    3. Get the buzz of the room and find the new brews that people are talking about.
    4. Return for second tastes of stuff I've loved.
    5. If Schmaltz is around, head there for a kick in the nuts before I leave.
    6. Drink the night away at the lodge. Laugh, cry, piss, repeat.
     
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  13. aasher

    aasher Grand Pooh-Bah (4,471) Jan 27, 2010 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    Drink your rinse water!
     
  14. Brewsephus

    Brewsephus Initiate (0) Jan 15, 2012 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Don't wreck your palate. Start off with light lagers, blondes, hefes, wits, then go esb, mild, pale, hit up some browns, porters, stouts, then IPAs, then finish with sour. It's important to pace your palate, or you will not be able to taste the beers at the end of the fest. No coffee the day of, big greasy burger beforehand.
     
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  15. NWer

    NWer Pooh-Bah (2,145) Mar 10, 2009 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Society

    So much for my "serious" answer I had planned.
    /end
     
  16. Genuine

    Genuine Maven (1,313) May 7, 2009 Connecticut

    Usually before I Have anything to eat, I'll go towards more hop forward IPA's, belgians and the like. After I have something, I usually crave stouts, barleywines, etc. Depends on what brewery is there for me....an example would be if Sierra Nevada is there, I've had most of their offerings and like them all very much. If they have a new beer available that I haven't had, I'll go for that. Otherwise, I like to try new beers only. After I have tried the things I haven't, I'll go for the "go-to's".
     
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  17. RyanBeer13

    RyanBeer13 Initiate (0) Jan 24, 2011 Virginia

    I try as much as possible
     
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  18. cerp66

    cerp66 Initiate (0) Sep 20, 2007 South Carolina

    Find the group of girls that are drinking the most, and go out with them afterwards.
     
  19. Kopfschuss

    Kopfschuss Initiate (0) Aug 19, 2009 Oregon

    Haha! Don't lie, you're going to do some brawling this year at the WA brewer's festival right?

    Real response, have a good time and try not to injure my foot on a large cable like I did a couple years back at the Portland Waterfront Beer Festival. Damn that hurt :slight_frown: Over-thinking the festival makes for a hurried and less enjoyable time to me. I take it as it comes, avoiding huge line-ups for sure.
     
  20. GRG1313

    GRG1313 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,850) Jan 15, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    This is a great thread. Lots of good comments (both serious and witty). Love it.

    I can tell you seriously that my first time to GABF I went alone. THAT was a huge mistake! I was overwhelmed by the size of the place and the quantity of beers available. I hated it. I didn't know where to turn first; had no idea about 3/4 of the breweries in the place so I had no idea if I was passing the greatest or worst brewery on earth. I tasted a bit; waited in lines a bit and just got discouraged while my feet continued to hurt.

    I learned my lesson. I now go to most beer events/festivals/parties with friends and family so that we can share up to 4 or 5 different beers at the same time. Sometimes we all go to one brewery and get 4 or 5 of the different choices. I drink my rinse water and, perhaps most importantly, I wear really good and comfortable shoes! I also make sure to get some food about 1/2 through the event. And, like others, I try what I really want first, if possible, but I won't pass up a good beer with no line. I also attend knowing that it is unlikely that I'll get the newest DFH since I won't wait in the line and that Allagash will probably run out of my first choice as well. Lost Abbey always brings great stuff that runs out quickly and is only available at designated times, like a few other places. Just a few examples but you get my point - you can't get too frustrated if you don't get "the beer of the day." Sometimes....shit just happens and you miss it.

    But, if you hit some of the places with no lines and that everyone else is avoiding, I'll bet you that you're going to find at least one sleeper!

    Best advice: Don't plan on drinking it all or getting a taste of everything - ain't going to happen!
     
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