San Diego Beer Tour Buses

oooohh... this can turn into a fun game. Beer Bus scavenger hunt.

1) find the person who compares one of the beers to BMC
2) find the person who drinks the tasters like a shot
3) find the person trying to hit on every female
4) find the person with the wedding ring tan line
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.
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Most beer geeks get annoyed by that and feel a sort of disgust that the person isn't appreciative of the high quality beverage they hold in their hand. I think it's funny.

 

It would be interesting to hear if any current BAs got their start in appreciating craft beer from one of these tours.

 

then they dont exist.

 

yeah, that is true. I don't like that type of scene, but hold no grudges. I am perfectly fine just leaving if that is what the tasting room is turning into, or try to isolate myself from it. Not everyone will appreciate every niche hobby as much as the enthusiast.

with that said I understand how people can be annoyed. It can be like laying at the beach peacefully when a caravan of people show up grilling, blaring their music, and yelling. Though they have a right to do what they want and have their own form of fun, it is still imposing on your personal enjoyment.

 

woah so basically just find me and win the scavenger hunt in one fell swoop

 

that would be #5) The guy wearing the Phantom of the Opera mask forcing himself to drink saisons though he doesn't like beer.

 

#6) sitting in the corner eating a sandwich while using phone, tablet and laptop to post on http://reubenadvocate.freeforums.net/

 

Best description of Brett I've ever seen. A+, would read again.

 

The first time I ran into a beer bus tour was at Alesmith a few years ago. It must have been their first stop because the people were fairly tame. The same couldn't be said a couple of hours later when they rolled into Lost Abbey. Needless to say, I quickly finished my beer, paid up, and bolted to Stone ASAP to at least give myself some time before those loud and obnoxious people showed up there.

 

If you don't mind making slightly dickish moves, you can go over near the water cooler and hang out a minute or two. I've found that if you are recognized as a regular (and I suspect you would be), you'll get one of the servers to filter over to you before the line clears.

 

Brew Hop. They're awesome. I did my bachelor party through them (The beer part, anyway), and have done two different trips with them, as they're convenient, very courteous (to customers and the breweries) and fun to do especially if I'm with non-beer geeks.
Edit. I missed SageO's post with the Yelp Link.

 

I've actually done a few of these with friends where we get the tall limo bus, a hype playlist, and choice bottles to share along the way. By the end everyone is dancing to old school hip hop or singing along drunkily to "Ruby Tuesday" as the bus rolls down the freeway. This is really more fun than you might imagine. We should all do a beeradvocate bus some time. The servers would be so confused by our exemplary behavior, haughty demeanor towards other buses and bottomless beer knowledge that their heads would explode.

 

As long as you stay off the stripper pole.

 

You are a bit too Utopian about this. Enough beers, and what usually is an online flame war will turn into a face-to-face flame war. Even the usually-meek types that wouldn't even complain about line cutters will join in.

I'd be in if ECBC were on the itinerary.

 

A similar thread, entitled "Caucasian Males (some with beards!) Scowl at Buses!", was just posted on the Beer, Broz, and Bus forum.

 

You'll notice that the first review on there is mine. I didn't have Summer as a tour guide, but she was awesome on the phone putting things together. I am planning a bachelor party this Sept with a bunch of homebrewers and craft enthusiasts and we'll be using BrewHop again.

I see what everyone's complaints are with brewery tours, but done right in a smaller group, I see them as a great option for out of town beer fans who wants to cover a lot of ground in a single day while having a safe, professional, sober driver.

 

So stay at home. Given the explosive rise in popularity of craft beer...you won't be missed.