What were your Top 5 EBF Experiences?

Good Morning from Tree House
Last Buffalo in the Park from Funky Buddha
Madagascar from 4 Hands
Veritas 015 from The Lost Abbey
Dark Apparation - Almond Bourbon Barrel from Jackie O's (tasted just like a randalled BCBS with almond toffee a group of friends did a few weeks back, just a lot less sweet)


Honorable mention to Blue Gene from Revolution

And of course those waffles.

 

Here's my two cents (in no particular order).

All Green Everything, Other Half

Bo & Luke, Against the Grain

Experimentalis (with Peaches), OEC Brewing

Dark Apparation, Jackie O's (these guys were super cool)

Gilded Lily, Carton Brewing (literally blew my mind, white truffle??)

CBS, Founders

 

All Green Everything - Other Half (far and away, #1 for the fest)
So Long, And Thanks For All The Hops - Franklin's
Buddy System - Finback
Haters Gonna H8 - Beau's All Natural
Mexican Standoff - Due South

Serious props for Jackie O's, as well.

Great lineup all around.

 

Founders - CBS
NERAX Jack's Abby BA Framinghammer w/ Maple Syrup
Firestone Walker - Maltose Falcons
Green Man - Snozzberry
Jackie O's - Cucumber Ginger Berliner

Though I didn't have it at the fest, Tree House's Good Morning still tops everything else for me.

 

I totally forgot to mention one I see mentioned a few times here..

Jackie O's - Cucumber Ginger Berliner

That was a fantastic beer, overloaded with cucumber goodness.

 

OEC Everything was spectacular
Funky Buddha French Toast
Tree House Good Morning
Green Man Snozzberry

 

I got lucky was working that section and one of the greenman's staff remembered me from my visit in January and alerted me and said it was a must try . IMHO it was the highlight of the fest but tons of others were incredible also . The cucumber ginger berliner was worth visiting twice. KMF grad cru was great , and most of the sours were worth the short wait time. Veritas 015 was a nice surprise . All in all not a single bad beer in the bunch and the people at Sat early session were well behaved and everyone seemed to have a great time. Section B rocked it , so a shout out to everyone I worked with.
As a bonus I was given a FAF patch for my jacket from Jackie O's ( was told it stood for fresh as f%#k.

 

Did anyone have the double IPA from Franklins? I thought that was one of the best IPAs of the day.
My other favs were..
ANTEAD
Veritas 15
OEC III
SN had a dbl IPA that was fantastic
Green Muenster grilled cheese from Roxys

 

I VERY rarely have this opinion about beer or life in general, but I didn't think the whiskey helped that beer...I thought it would but after trying it I found that I liked the regular coffee better. I was surprised I felt that way and still sorta am actually, still really good though

 

Veritas 15 was my favorite of the fest. Holy shit was that good. I'm having trouble thinking of 4 more that could comprise my top 5 so instead i'll list the few that surprised me the most...didn't have high expectations for any of these ones and ended up really liking them:

- Jali Apricot Jalapeño wild ale from Hidden Cove, easily my favorite pepper beer I've ever had. Really impressed.
- Paris Red wine barrel aged "Imperial Saison" with brett from Brewery Vivant. Just grabbed this cause there was no line and my wife was waiting for waffles and I loved it, went back and got more actually.
- Map of the Sun from Rare Barrel, had heard good things but really liked it a lot.

and lastly...Cosmic Mother Funk. Not that Sam Adams has never produced a good beer but at these fests they typically don't stand out to say the least. grabbed this one because I've been wanting to try it for a while and im glad I did!

 

Funky Buddha
Rare Barrel
Surly
Lost Abbey
Kane

Honorable mention NERAX, the JA and Nightshift was delicious

 

From what I remember...

1. Treehouse - Good Morning
2. Jackie O's - Cucumber Ginger Berliner Weisse (Surprise of the night!)
3. Founders - CBS
4. The Bruery - Tart of Darkness w/Cherries and Vanilla
5. Rare Barrel - Map of the Sun

 

1) Last Buffalo in the Park
2) Map of the Sun
3) Good Morning
4) Veritas 015
5) Tart of Darkness with Cherries and Vanilla

 

Kane Sunday Brunch--MVP for me. Didn't bother waiting for Tree House, as I live close, so I can't comment on that one versus any other maple syrup/cinnamon/whatever dark ale, but Sunday Brunch surprised and pleased me by blowing CBS and Hunah, my other two "most-excited-to-try" beers, completely out of the water. Already cooking up a trip to Jersey...

Additionally...
Bruery Tart of Darkness with Cherry and Vanilla
Rare Barrel Apropos of Nothing
Green Man Snozzberry
Lost Abbey Veritas 015

With an honorable mention going to Foolproof's Woodford Reserve La Ferme Urbaine--a lovely and surprisingly understated sour served by some of the nicest guys that I spoke to all night.

 

Absolutely agree with this. Regular Coffee last year was great, and this was a great variant. Not to mention, mint beers are normally tough to pull off. Think they used it perfectly here.

Other highlights for me:
Other Half - All Green Everything (couldnt believe they had no line)
Rare Barrel - all four beers
Funky Buddha - Key Lime Berliner
Dark Horse - Zaftig pale stout

 

Was at session 3 and had a great time despite missing Hunaphus but did try CBS and Good Morning and was blown away by them both most definitely. Best part of my night was while waiting in line for Tree House I had my friend go grab Darkness from Surly since no one was in line for them. He came back saying how he said something along the lines of "figured we were waiting and no one was trying your beers, I'm surprised because they are great." He came back and we were enjoying when one of the Surly reps came over and said thanks for the kind words, have a shirt on us! Pretty cool and nice of those guys!

My top 5 may be a bit different but hey taste is subjective.
1. French Toast by Funky Buddha - like liquid French toast duh but totally got the syrup and buttery bread flavors
2. Irish Coffee by Carton - had to go back to get more just minty and delicious who knew it was 12%!
3. Abrasive by Surly - didn't even think it was an imperial IPA, could crush it all day
4. Da un Beso a la Botello by Cigar City - a kiss to the bottle was a kiss to my belly suble chocolate and rum barrel goodness
5. Key Lime Berliner by Funky Buddha - tart yet refreshing and even had a hint of graham cracker - crazy good

 

1. Founder's CBS
2. Kane A Night To End All Dawns
3. Carton Irish Coffee
4. Funky Buddha MBCP/French Toast
5. Firestone Walker Maltose Falcons

Honorable Mentions: Other Half All Green/Diamonds were insane! Dark Horse Bourum Plead the Fifth, Jackie O's Almond Dark Apparition, Revolution Mineshaft Gap, Bruery Black Tuesday, Grimm Double Negative (also awesome people working their booth), and Trophy's Heavyweight Champ.

 

Last Buffalo In The Park
Veritas 15
Madagascar
Da Un Beso La Botella
All Green Everything

edit:
Map of the Sun probably should be in that top 5, but I don't know what to kick out!

 

Surly's an awesome brewery. Very surprised that they weren't getting more traffic at session 3...I went back a couple of times and had a great chat with one of the reps.

 

I forgot to mention...Short's wins for best booth appearance, hands down...