Kate the Great Day!

first kate day for my friend and i. got in line around 8:15, was in and drinking right before noon. glad i brought a parka.

 

Completely agree with your take on this year's Kate. It was definitely good, but I remember a lot more chocolate background notes to balance out the port oak notes. I think the ABV was higher last year and the malt bill really stood out. This year's was definitely good, but last year's fresh was the best Kate I've had. I know the couple people who I talked to at my table agreed as well. Still an awesome beer and a hell of a time.

 

Uh, it was the same guy who showed up at midnight last year. Same individual who got called out during the toast to huge cheers. Him showing up early doesn't ruin anything. It only adds to the spectical.

 

I got in line at 8am and we just missed getting a table and ended up downstairs. The Kate was definitely more boozy and drier than I remember but still very tasty. I was in the gift shop and a guy had 17 tickets for bottles. I just don't see how anyone gets that lucky or he bought a bunch of tickets. I've got to believe what is written elsewhere here that this was not a fair contest.

 

For those that waited 4-6hrs, was it worth it?

 

I would say it is worth the wait for the overall experience. Great people, great day, amazing food as well! The beer is definitely overhyped but with this level of hype what beer could stand up? I remember my first KTG on tap in 09' was definitely a wow moment! Will also agree with what others said that this years version is not as good as previous years. Is it still damn good? Without question.

 

I'm sure the event is great but wouldn't you rather walk in at 6pm (as other people did yesterday) get your two glasses and leave?

 

Waited 4+ hours as opposed to 2+ last year.
It was a great time but this will probably be the last time for me.
I imagine the wait will only get longer each year. I'll stick with bottles from here on out.
I'll mimic what others said. This years Kate was quite different than previous years.
More hops, drier, but tasty as hell! Can't wait to taste from the bottle to see how it compares to draft.

 

Sweet, I'm sitting at the bar in the green shirt snapping pics and sipping Kate with my friend. Our fourth year. Good times!

 

no, I would not

 

Those people were also a hair away from missing it completely though. It kicked about 6:30 - it could have just as easily kicked at 5:45...

 

Ah well, different strokes . . .

 

Very true. I'm just trying to understand the appeal of: taking a day off from work to stand out in the cold for many hours.

While I'm sure Kate is ,indeed, great there are many other readily available imperial stouts that don't require require freezing your ass off for.

For those that attended, props to you.

 

I'm half with you and half not. I understand the appeal of attending a release like this if you've never done it before. It's a bit of a spectacle, and even a pilgrimage if you will. But once it's been done, I agree, I don't fully get it. If the weather was nice and/or you could drink beer outside it would be different, but the conditions for Kate are usually kind of brutal.

 

It's usually a pretty fun experience overall with a lot of people who also are crazy enough to freeze their ass off for a beer. The experience itself is worth the wait.

I do agree that the beer itself might not seem worth the effort, but the experience is a just a lot of fun.

 

Wouldn't it be great if Portsmouth Brewery moved Kate Day to a warmer month?

 

No, because the sidewalks of Portsmouth might cave in from the hordes of people. You would need to be in line by 5am just to get in if they did it in the summer.

 

yeah i definitely thought it was worth it. if you asked me right before i went in i might of disagreed. but once inside and slightly warmer it was a great time. very good beer met some great people and the service and food was top notch given how big of a crowd they were handling.

i'd do it again but i'd make sure to get in in the first wave (and get a seat in the main area)

 

imperial stouts in August! Yaay!