Northern Lights Rare Beer Fest 2015

Try not to make it a goal to try every single beer on the list like i did for my first festival...

 

I find that I can try roughly 40-45 samples at a 3 or 4 hour beer fest and still walk out of the place (not end up puking all over myself or blacking out). That includes pouring out some of the samples after a few sips or splitting a sample with my girlfriend (technically only making it a half sample). I could probably stretch it for 5-10 more, but I would be pretty sloppy. Again, YMMV

 

Nice choice from what I see. I am unlikely to go, just can't swing $100 (even though technically since part of ticket sales goes to charity you could write off part of your ticket). Not sure if it's like when I went to Winterfest a few years ago where they were supposed to do 2oz pours but easily did 4 or more. I would go up to most booths and have them pour our a lot of beer before pouring in their sample. I kept saying "Please only pour 2oz or less or it'll also get poured at the next booth". That way you can try it all, enjoy it and you won't be "that guy" in the corner.

Especially after going to the Eclipse release party 2 years ago saw this dude "Thor" who was dressed as an 80's wrestler full on exuming the contents of his stomach in the corner of the restaurant. Although a 6 hour beer fest with open bar of all the Eclipse you could drink and probably the best bottle share I've seen (got to try a 6 year Firestone Walker vert, full lineup of Cantillon and a huge vertical of Eclipse and unreleased experimental Eclipse). It was awesome, missed last year, had tickets but coudln't go.

 

Any ideas of what to expect at the silent auction?

 

saw this today: twitter.com/Pika_Pe/status/581083815965265920/photo/1

A few of the silent auction items I remember from last year include: cellar pulls, brewery tour type packages, and brewery signage/swag. I feel like there were only 12-18 auction lots last year, but maybe there will be more in its 2nd year.

 

Pretty sure the MN Brewers ball is separate from this event.

I also remember some liquor store gift cards, but I might be confusing that with another auction.

 

Oops, wasn't paying enough attention - the twitter post of the DM bottles isn't for Rare, but rather the MN Brewer's Ball - my bad.

 

Does anyone know how many tickets are left? I heard it didn't sell out.

 

They posted this last Friday on facebook

 

Actual proof that some of them are doing this: Per Steel Toe's FB page -

Blood From the Barrel (Belgian style dark strong ale aged in French oak red wine barrels)
Twice The Tun (English style barley wine) ...
And Collision Course, our new Double IPA

They only listed the first two on the menu you can download on the Northern Lights website.

 

I think Collision course is on tap tomorrow I believe and wooden soul #2 goes on tap in an hour

 

Cheers to everyone for buying tickets for this event, which supports the Pints for Prostates campaign. (www.pintsforprostates.org) My understanding is that less than three dozen tickets remain so waiting to get them at the door is likely not a good option.

The Chop Liver folks do a great job organizing this one and the beer list is pretty impressive. You will enjoy the setting, music, food and silent auction. I found it to be one of the more relaxed and upscale events (beer festival or otherwise) last year.

What beers are on your "must taste" list?

 

Quick question, will they have the program available there or should I print it off?

As for the "must" taste list, I have not been able to decide and probably wont until standing in the line at the door.

 

http://www.rarebeerfest.com/media/18617/nlrbf_program_2015-web.pdf

 

Thoughts on how it went?

I had a great time (from what I remember) and thoroughly enjoyed being able to drink bourbon county coffee still at 9:45. The banh mi sandwiches were good. The fried hops were horrible. My brain is still trying to process the beer bomb sensation.

Congrats to August Schell on winning best brewery! (Even though I may have voted for bent paddle)

 

I had a great time as well. Amazing beers and got to hang out with some awesome people. Agree on how odd it was that coffee was still on that late into the night, though I wasn't complaining with my multiple pours. The sandwiches were good and hops were revolting. The Furious egg was odd, more of a texture issue than taste though.

Goose killed it with the Bourbon County beers, Bent Paddle's Double Shot was ridiculously good, Town Hall's Dessert was a liquid brownie with touch of whiskey, Surly Three was much better than I remember and 17/Black Friday/Rum King were solid.

Surprises of the night - Herkimer with the BA Black Perle and Saison with the sake; and the Wasatch Jalapeno Cream Ale that tasted like a jalapeno popper, which worked for me.

My only complaint of the night was Surly running out of all beer halfway into the evening (Three and Darkness were gone within an hour). Now my wife and I were able to get pours of all three beers, but it wasn't necessary to give us 4-5 ounce pours of '09 Darkness at this kind of event. I feel bad for people I know that weren't able to try anything from Surly as a result. Goose did it right by pouring 1-2 ounces of their beers in people's glasses and made the Bourbon County last much longer into the night. Arguably the biggest name in Minnesota craft beer running out of everything and shutting down the booth at 8:30 was frankly embarrassing.

Well worth the $100, though I will caveat that by saying I don't know if I would have gone if Goose and Surly were not there. Would be nice to see Founders or Bells next year and locally having Dangerous Man / Barley John's.

On a more serious note - does anyone know what happened with the paramedic that came in with the stretcher?

 

I agree with most of the above, pretty ridiculous to run out of beer so fast at an event like this, at least bring a couple of kegs of Abrasive or something as a back up. Also, I wasn't impressed with the food at all.

Loved the Starkeller Peach from Schells (they said they are giving it a few more months, but it sure tasted ready to me!) and the Raspberry Sour from Bemidji. Good on Goose Island for having all 3 big beers last a good portion of the night. Too bad the taste didn't quite match the nose of the Fitgers Duluth sour, total pear bomb on the nose.

I would like to see them get rid of companies like Evil Twin and New Belgium if they are going to just mail it in as far as their lineups go.

 

My thoughts:
1) Starkellar Peach stole the show...amazing
2) Blood from the barrel (steel toe) bottles are out on Wednesday
3) Kudos to Goose Island (had cases and cases of 08 bc and all their beers made it a long time)
4) Surly 3 was out in 45 mins...their whole booth was shut down before the half way mark
5) Surprised that indeed wooden soul #2 kicked so quickly, wanted to try that one
6) food was meh
7) Overall a great time!! Lines were pretty much non existant and kudos to the places that brought enough beer!

On another note had BBPT5 at the end of the night...didn't taste like the bbpt5 I remember...could have been that my palate was wrecked or it was just the end of the keg...not sure but it didn't taste barrel aged