How hard is it, really, to get Dark Lord?

I posted something similar about Dark Lord got a BM and ended up trading a bottle of Beergeek Speedway a one off from Ale Smith. Sadly I was disappointed with Dark Lord just a tad to syrupy for my taste.

 

@do_ob
Got a response in less than an hour. Assuming I have some + he likes it is a done deal for a consecration +

I guess it isn't very hard after all!! At least not IP in Chicago but it can't be much harder by mail

 

As far as how hard it is to actually get... If you plan on being in Munster for that weekend and have a decent internet connection it typically isn't that difficult to score a ticket. I believe 2014 was a cluster because they would let you queue 15 minutes before tickets actually went on sale.

Once you spend $45 on a ticket you can buy an allotment of 3-4 bombers at $15-$20 a piece. Variants are $50 if you win on your scratch off. The problem I see with $4$ trades is the fact that you pay ~$40 to even be able to buy the beer which then bumps up your true cost to $25-$30 per bomber. Some people on here don't see it the same way. Unless you luck out and live near the pub when they do a very limited release of DL you aren't getting any unless you pony up for the ticket cost and deal with the lines.

Weather isn't always great. This year was 5 hours driving and 3 hours standing in line in the rain. 1 hour standing in line to get let in followed by about 2 hours in the bottle line.

 

Considering there were over 30k bottles this year (~8k group tickets x 4 bottle allotment), I'd say not extremely difficult.

 

The beer itself is highly debatable as far as how it tastes. Some vintages have really had the soy sauce flavor and some are really good. I personally think the '15 bottles taste better than '14 bottles currently, and most will agree that it does taste better with 4-5 years of age on it.

As far as getting a bottle, its not as hard as you think. Like @ColtsandCraftBeer said, a lot of people will want more than $20 of limited shelf beer for a bottle due to the price of a ticket, but seeing as you are in Kentucky, if you post something like a Bo n Luke+ for one, you shouldn't have a problem. I have also seen 2x FSW proprietors bottles get a DL several times. And the easiest way IMO, is posting up lambics. Good luck and I am sure you will have no problem getting a bottle

 

Yes, the beer is.

 

@do_ob I traded 1 HF 750 growler 1:1 with DL around Nov/Dec.

 

I was able to trade Pliny $4$ against a few bottles so I would say pretty easy.

People trying to amortize their ticket price into the bottle value, that doesn't seem right. A few cats tried to lay that logic on me, I just (politely) walked away from it. Doesn't really make sense... Your ticket comes with other advantages besides just the 4 bottles.

 

@Coldstorage I agree, a DlD ticket has additional advantages. The massive bottle share is hugely popular. It's a highly regarded social event. People have the opportunity to taste many FFF beers, including some that are devilishly hard to obtain. Ticket holders have the chance to win a variant. And there's the cool glass plus bragging rights

When I make it to a Side Project or Perennial release I drive 10+ hours round trip which requires considerable gas & food money as well as a vacation day. So are my SP/Perennial beers worth more than those purchased by locals??? DuH...

When pricing gets complicated it's time to seek the beer elsewhere.

 

Totally agreed - $4$ means the price of the beer. As soon as you start talking about other costs I am out.

 

Not as hard as people make it to be: I've traded my DLs for: Mexican Cake (x2), Huna, and Upland Lambics. Don't let anyone try to play the "ticket cost" junk. $20 worth of limited release beer should be enough to close it.

 

@do_ob
So I just closed my trade today. Took a week to organize a time to meet, but deal was done quickly; a consecration + a Sunday morning stout for a 15 Dark lord. $4$, everyone very happy, so yeah, not that hard to get

 

nope.

none of that matters

 

FWIW, I traded all of my Dark Lords this year (not a fan, but I did win a variant - tried AMAZING, RARE beers during the bottle share, and had a great time even with crappy weather) 1:1 with Beatification, BCBCSx4, Huna, and one other thing that I can't remember, haha....

 

Nicely done - a 4 pack of BCBCS is a serious upgrade! I think this proves the point that it really does depend on the trade partner and how badly they want to try Dark Lord. I personally would not have done these for a DL, but it depends on your trade partner and I am not surprised that people would offer the above. It seems to trade all over the map, but if you are patient you can pick it up for something pretty reasonable.

 

I traded my MBCP for a '13 DL. Both sides were happy.

 

This spring I clicked on the FFF website "bottles to go" page and saw '14 Darklord listed and drove down and got 2 bottles. I was in a restaurant near my house and overheard a guy working there talking about beer, got into a conversation and he said he never had Westy 12, so I drove home and got him one. He then handed me a Darklord '15. I traded it for a Darkness. Another person IP traded me a '15 DL for a HF Arthur. I guess my point is this: if you live around Chicago and you want Darklord, they're around.