Pittsburgh Craft Beer Week 2014

Embarassing.

Let this be a lesson to organizers of events from here on out. Why on earth would I pay $65 for an event like this instead of saving the money to get a dozen pints of beer (as opposed to "samples") or just going to Ho1K, or Boardman, to load up on cool stuff? It's the same reason I am not going to drop even more coin on the Big Pour (and be rushed through it nonetheless).

Greed seems to be running rampant through Pittsburgh with stuff like this, as well as the restaurant scene, with obnoxiously priced events that are not worth the money they are asking. Someone needs to take some notes from how Alex Hall used to do it in NYC and Brooklyn.

 

Where did you see that?

 

Email from GM at Piper's Pub

 

It's really sad to see one of the marquee events of PCBW cancelled... but I have to echo that the admission was too high.

Last year, I wrangled up about 12 of my friends and we had an absolute blast at Firkins... but it was significantly cheaper and we didn't know what to expect.

This year we all agreed that $70 (service fees) a person was too much given how crowded last year was, how quickly they ran out of food and how many other great events are occuring at the same time (for far less of a cost.)

I hope next year they organize the marquee events with a reasonable entry fee and with no other other events interfering.

 

Wow, maybe my faith in the Pittsburgh beer scene has been restored. On one hand this is a good thing from a consumer standpoint. As others have already stated prices for things like this are getting out of hand. On the other hand this sucks from and organizer/event standpoint. I also went last year and had a great time. There were some issues (crowded, ran out of food, really loud) but to have something like this happen is a bit embarrassing. This was a good event, and I hope they can rework it so that it still happens. I guess I will be spending a lot more time at Piper's now assuming they already received most of the firkins for this event.

 

I'm quite miserable that it was canceled. I was really looking forward to it but I could use the money I would have spent. The fiancee and I will be heading to Pipers to drown our sorrows. If you see a mid-20s big blonde guy with a very tall, dark brunette whose WAYYY out of his league on Saturday afternoon at Pipers, say hi.

 

I came across the ultimate rarity tonight. A Caliente bartender who understood all of my beer orders.

 

I've been meaning to go there. I only live like 2-3 miles away. I know the beer selection is pretty stellar but how is the food?

 

I hope everyone is having a great PCBW so far!
I was lucky enough to make it to the Sour and the Funk, which was really well executed. Nice setting, felt intimate…It never took longer than a few seconds for a fill. GREAT selection of sours to try.
I’ve managed to stop at Caliente a few times for some pours of rare beers, sat and talked with fellow beer geeks.
With Firkins getting cancelled, I think I’m going to spend Saturday at Blue Dust’s Oyster festival.
Hop Farm and myself finished up labeling and waxing and Margot is ready for tomorrow night:

Also, it was cool to randomly stumble on this surprise today:
http://beerservedrare.wordpress.com/category/beery-news/

(The start time is 6:30 and the bottle limit is actually 3)

 

I really want to go to Voodoo event, but I think it's going to be straight chaos. It also doesn't hurt that i still have all of the barrel room releases in my cellar.

 

Food is really good. Great pizza. They have groupons usually so check there first. Its a little expensive but getting a groupon and going for the happy hour it can be a pretty nice evening for not a ton of money. I end up there a few times a month usually.

 

They tapped some Voodoo barrel room beers last September and there were probably only 30 people there. I'm pretty sure the Pappy BBVD lasted most of the afternoon if not longer.

 

Any word on if/when they will do another? Their BA Black Magick has absurd reviews.

 

I may go for the KBS tapping just to finally try that one. I just google mapped it and it's 2.7 miles from my house so I have no excuse.

 

VooDoo's next release will be in Oct/Nov this year.

 

Pipers pub has kbs on tap right now I think 12oz pours and probably way less than caliente would have it.

 

Thank you sir. Gotta get up there for one.

 

I guess Urban Tap has KBS tonight... but you have to have a password to order it... order a Founders beer and they give you the password.

 

Pipers Pub has KBS on tap. went after work today and had 12 oz pours for $5.25 during happy hour. Even now it is $6.25 and the whole time i was there, it wasn't even close to crowded.