Central Waters Anniversary

Everything that needs to be said has already been said, but I'll say it again.

Always a great time. Beer lines were way shorter this year to the point there were no lines most of the night, which was great. More room was fantastic.

The beer line kind of sucked but hey, we were getting pours while loitering out there, so really, it was just a matter of the geography of where we were drinking. Really, I think people were upset more because the solution just seemed soooooo obvious & the problem soooo foreseeable.

But whatever. Great beer, great people, always a highlight of my beer-drinking year. Will be back in '15. Love Central Waters.

 

Im not trying to be argumentative, I just am not sure about this statement. surely someone foisting a fistful of $20/$10/$5/$1 (since the biggest the ATM would give me were $20 bills) on the person working the table and them having to count all of that cant be THAT much faster than me handing them a credit card and them punching in a price and me signing?

 

In lieu of cash, they could use a Square reader and a cell phone. Fees are minimal

 

Thats simple. You had at least a few days notice to hit an ATM in advance... Help out CW by having cash and ID(s) in hand when you get to the table. I was there alone because a friend wasn't able to get off work and saw numerous people struggling with such simple tasks that were holding the line up.

Yeah a better method for looking up names would be great. Credit card is gonna cost cw 3% or so, do you wanna pay the extra?

Line cutting was my biggest issue. Somehow the two people in front of me turned into a group of 10, but hey I was just there for beer and a good time so I didn't make a problem of it there.

I think it was awesome. Thanks Central Waters for a great time!

 

I did have my cash and IDs in hand when I got up there, if we are talking about speeding up the process, not the cost to CW which is a different issue, it still seemed like it took approximately as long as it would have taken to swipe a card and sign

 

Take 1 trip thru an airport check-in and you quickly realize how few people can handle even the simplest of tasks.

"What, I need ID to get on the plane"?

 

In reading all of these replies, thought I might offer my $.02 CW did a great job putting on this event. There were a few sticky points to the event, but hey, that's the chance we ALL take in going to these things. Mother nature was the biggest one to blame for the happenings at CW. It was cold, agreed, but we all knew it was going to be cold. It's northern WI in Jan. Dress warm, if you didn't = your fault. Some of use stood outside all night long(7 hours) at other releases that were in the cold and managed just fine. Stand in line at CW for an hour in the cold for 16? Sign me up. I wish all events were just a 1 hour wait in the cold. Maybe less of the folks who want 80 degrees and sunny for beer releases would show up = win for me, more beer. The group I went with enjoyed the party for some time, drank some beers and socialized with some familiar faces. Hey, let’s face it, isn't that what this is about? Getting together to share a few beers, tell a few stories and gain some laughs? All the complaints about the lines, the weather, blah, blah, blah, come on guys. Really? Breweries don't have to do this. They could have easily mass distributed this beer and you might, might have gotten a bottle. You purchased a ticket to go buy this beer, in WI in Jan, that was your decision. You knew that you needed CASH for the event. Read all the rules before pressing buy ticket. If you didn't want to agree to those terms, stay home. Don't blame a brewery for the cold or the long lines of other beer enthusiasts. Sack up, grab a beer and enjoy the fact that you were there. There were some other folks that would have loved to have gone to this event but couldn't make it. Hey if you didn't like it, go to Miller or Bud, I'm sure there's no waiting at their releases...


We all need to just be thankful that we were able to attend, drink beer and celebrate a great thing. If any of you complainers think you can do a better job, open a brewery and let’s see what the forums have to say about you.


I think CW did a fantastic job in putting this event on. If someone from CW happens to read this, keep up the good work. I'm sure the good constructive feedback offered by some others in this post will help you in the future. I had a blast as well as many others. Keep up the good work.


Cheers

 

As someone who was part of the group with TastyD, I echo you're sentiments. This event was a blast. Minimal line at taps and even with a long line to buy 16, it took little effort to go back and buy a couple beers and drink in line.

After the clusterf**k that was the 15th anniversary party, CW did a great job implementing necessary changes.

It was also great hanging with Elkhunter and Marcat and a few other guys I got to meet. You guys were great and generous as always.

 

Yep...every time I go through an airport I see at least 1 person in line getting close to the scanners with either their shoes still on or no ID. But, I do think schooled travelers forget that there are A LOT of people who are still going through an airport for the 1st time ever (or it's been a long time).

That's the approach I've started to take at these releases. After attending enough, you just come to realize that the brewery probably tried their best to be organized, that some people in line didn't care how long it took, volunteers got pulled into some other area, etc. The good things should (and did) compensate for the rougher part of the experience.

 

also I would like to suggest that next year everyone Sharpies their BA name on their forehead so I know to whom I am speaking--spent most of the time with the MKE crew in the beer dork area, but I know I interacted with others from this prestigious website as well during the course of the day

 

What about that early morning graveyard of cars that existed Saturday morning on HWY 10 between Oshkosh and Amherst. Over that stretch there had to be twenty or more of them abandoned with police tape on them from the night before.

 

This was our first release party and we couldn't have had a better time. The GF and I got there around 2 and left with our beers at 4, made it back to the party on the shuttle by 5:15 and commenced drinking amazing BA beers for 3 or 4 hours. We had an awesome time hanging out in the brewery and going through the whole beer release experience (treacherous roads, extreme cold, long line.) Exodus and Rye Barrel Stout were the highlights for me, only had a small sip of 16 on tap so hopefully it blows me away when I crack one tomorrow after work. If we were going to be in WI at this time next year I would definitely go back again, hopefully they get a few more volunteers and some more reservation lists!

 

If it means not having to wait an hour and a half to get the beers I reserved, then yes.

 

Was he wearing a dumb looking hat?

 

Anyone know just how many tickets to buy 16 were sold?

 

Couldn't bare it anymore, I was with @TastyDelicousness @Lkoro @saemick at the Central Waters Party on Saturday and I can't say enough about how much fun I had with them and the overall experience in upper Wisc as this was my first time partaking in the festivities at CW Anniversary Party. To who person who commented and stated this event needed to be more like DLD...your cute! Anyway, To the people crying saying it was cold and I was standing outside the tent and it was freezing, boo f'ing hoo! Man up please. It's January in northern Wisconsin. News flash to those folk who don't have a map....Dress accordingly! Here's a scene from a great movie that best describes the situation:

Harry: My hands are freezing.
Lloyd: Here, take my extra pair of gloves...
Harry: You've had extra pair of gloves this whole time?...
Lloyd: Yea!....We're in the Rockies!

We arrived at the party, got the wrist bands and headed straight to the back where they were pouring all the goodies. Tried the BA Cherry Stout, Exodus and of course the 16...Wow! All amazing beers and only waited a few mins to nab each. The Bluegrass band was great. I got to relax over the weekend, take a 4 hour trip up north with my fellow brothers, drink great brews at a great Brewery, meet great new people (Minnesota Charles, you know who you are...awesome beard brotha. Your cool people!) Overall it was great, and damn straight I'm going to do it again. Central Waters, your beers were tasty, your staff was polite, you guys did a great job! Thank you, and keep up the good work...see you next year.

 

ouch

only saw one car on my way Amherst back to GB on 10 but that was around 8:30 PM on saturday

 

More fun and pictures!

http://www.abvchicago.com/?p=132

 

Only disappointment was having exodus kick while I was in the 16 line. Jesus is that beer fantastic.

 

I feel ya, it was my own fault but I really wanted to try Cherry and missed it. I underestimated how fast that one would kick.