Extreme Beer Fest 2016: Survival Guide

Ready for Extreme Beer Fest?!
Whether you're a noob or veteran, we hope that you'll use this survival guide to get your ass through what will probably be the best week/end of your life. I've copied over most of last year's guide, added some new items and will update as needed leading up to the fest. Feel free to reply with your own helpful advice for others.

Fest Page
http://www.beeradvocate.com/ebf/

Follow us @BeerAdvocate on Twitter and Instagram.
https://twitter.com/BeerAdvocate
https://instagram.com/beeradvocate

And make sure to tag your posts with #ExtremeBeerFest.

Frequently Asked Questions
Before you ask, check 'em out.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/faq-beeradvocate-fests-boston.276039/

Gatherings & Parties
We recommend the pre-throwdown at Meadhall and post-brunch at The Kirkland Tap & Trotter.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/ebf/events/

Fest Talk
Geek out with other beer advocates before and after the fest in the BeerAdvocate Events forum.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/forums/beeradvocate-events.35/

Take an Uber to EBF with BEERADVOCATE
Enjoy your beer with a free ride! Plan ahead by leaving that car at home and get a safe ride to the event with Uber! New to Uber? Download the app on your smartphone and receive $20 off your first ride using promo code BEERADVOCATE or signup at: https://get.uber.com/go/BEERADVOCATE

Venue
Seaport World Trade Center
200 Seaport Boulevard
Boston, MA

https://goo.gl/maps/Yszpe

Times
Session #1 = February 5, 6-9:30pm
Session #2 = February 6, 1-4:30pm
Session #3 = February 6, 6-9:30pm

Entry Line
The line starts on the eastern side of the building, around the corner from Sovereign bank, and extends down the Harborwalk.

• If you have a disability, please alert one of our line crew volunteers or security at the front of the line so we can make your wait a more comfortable one.
  
• Dress for the weather if you plan on waiting in line early.
• Please listen to our line crew and security to ensure the line is kept tight.
• Be prepared to be redirected to walk around the building if the line reaches the end of the building.
  
• We'll be pre-scanning early to ensure that we get you in quick. Have your tickets and IDs ready when you see us coming with scanners in hand.

How to Pickup Your Limited Edition EBF 2016 Tee
Purchased a tee with your ticket order? Awesome! To pickup your tee you'll want to head the BeerAdvocate booth (see the map), present your proof of purchase (your receipt) and we'll match it against our list. No receipt? We'll need your ID. Can't make the fest? You may give your proof of purchase to another ticket holder for pick up.

And, as a reminder:

• These tees are only available for pickup at the fest only. They won't be shipped. No exceptions.
• All sales are final.

Thanks again, and wear your tee with honor.

Fest Guide
We'll have free guides available at the fest with more fest info, beer details, lingo, map and whatnot. Make sure to pick one up, and then add it to your BeerAdvocate shrine after the fest.

Fest Map / Booth Assignments
Plan your attack in advance with our handy PDF map of the EBF battlefield.

https://goo.gl/8cyYfe

The Beer Lineup
We promised over 250 beers, but it turned out to be over 350. Sorry about that.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/ebf/beer/

Disclaimers:

• All booths will be manned by brewery staff.
• The beer lineup is the same for all three sessions, however, all beers are subject to change and availability.
• Pours are 2 ounces (or less) in accordance with MA State Law. Please consume with respect.
• Please be advised that some of the beers poured at EBF may contain allergens. Ask before you drink.

Random Protips

• Eat! Don't forget to buy a bite from one of the awesome EBF food vendors. You'll thank us later. This year we welcome back Waffle Cabin, KO Pies, Cellars at Jasper Hill and Roxy's Grilled Cheese. See the map for their locations.
• Hydrate! Bottles of water will be available at the BeerAdvocate booth for $1 a bottle. Stay hydrated, friends.
• The fest can be overwhelming, and you're not going to be able to try every beer. Make a short list. Like your top 10 must try beers. Hit those, if you can, take a deep breath and relax. Everything else is now gravy. Now go have fun and explore random booths and try something new.
• Skip the long lines. Explore! There's a very good chance that you'll discover some amazing beers that you'd otherwise miss because you wasted the entire fest waiting in lines.
• Look up from your phone now and then. Drinking beer isn't a game, and the fest is a great chance to interact with fellow beer geeks and brewers in the flesh.
• Don't get drunk. Don't be that guy or girl. You'll only regret it and your odds of getting the boot by security will greatly increase.

Respect Beer.
We're all about having fun as we explore beer, but by observing these simple rules and noting a few practical policies, you can increase your enjoyment and learn how to truly "Respect Beer."

• Appreciate what you're drinking. Note the beer's appearance, smell and taste. Savor it.
• Pace yourself, and find out what the ABV of a beer is before you consume. Drink for flavor, not just for impact.
• We've said it before, but it's worth repeating: water is your friend. Drink plenty of it to help detoxify and counteract the alcohol stripping water from your system. Eating also replenishes the system, slows down your rate of consumption, and helps to absorb alcohol so you don’t find yourself inebriated after a few (extreme) beers.

Beer Fest Line Etiquette
Believe it or not, you're not the only person at EBF. Look around. There are thirsty people surrounding you. And if you follow these simple tips, you'll go from an inconsiderate beer fest noob to courteous veteran in three easy steps!

1. Get your sample, say thanks, and move so others can do the same.
2. If someone has to ask you if you’re in line, and you're not, you're in the way. Move!
3. However, if you feel compelled to talk to a brewer, or ask a question about a beer, and it's going to take more than 5 seconds ... please move to the side to geek out.

That's it. Cheers to you, courteous beer fest pro.

Thanks for your support, and we'll see you at EBF!

 

Collaboration Beer
For each of the last eight years, Dogfish Head and BeerAdvocate have teamed up to brew an extreme collaboration beer to be poured at Extreme Beer Fest. True to form, each one-of-a-kind ale has challenged palates by pushing the boundaries of brewing. Past examples include Wrath of Pecant, an American Brown Ale made with carob, plantain flour and pecan-smoked malt, the martini-inspired Dirty Fermentini, a Rauchbier-Gose hybrid brewed with seven ingredients and three yeast strains, a pair of Black Lagers made with mesquite powder and in 2015, ExtRemus and ExtRomulus, two very different barrel-aged Export Stouts.

This year's beer, an American Malt Liquor, began to take shape over a lunch in Denver during the most recent Great American Beer Festival. Flash forward to early December, and Sam, Jason, Todd and brewmaster Tim reunited at Dogfish Head's Rehoboth, Del., brewhouse to turn a recipe into reality. Since Malt Liquors generally include one or more adjuncts—especially corn—this beer starts with a simple foundation of pale base malts and incorporates hominy (which is typically used to make grits), huitlacoche (corn smut), dried and roasted Peruvian corn nuts, poblano chiles and green chiles. Fittingly, hop additions were kept to a minimum.

Liquor De M'Alströms
8% ABV | 10 IBU
An American Malt Liquor brewed with hominy, huitlacoche (corn smut), dried Peruvian corn nuts, poblano chiles and green chiles.

More on our brew day:
http://www.dogfish.com/community/bl...r-fest-brew-day-with-the-alstrom-brothers.htm

Make sure to swing by the Dogfish Head booth, say hey to Sam and crew, try this unique beer and let us know what you think. We'll be trying it for the first time too.

And a big THANKS to Sam, Tim and the entire Dogfish Head team!

Cheers!

 

There's a link to it in the above guide.

 

This was covered elsewhere and in this thread already, but I don't recommend queueing up too early. Unless you hope to run to a specific booth in order to ensure you taste a certain beer, there's really no need to queue up more than 15-30 mins before the session. We get people in quick and 3-3.5 hours of drinking is a lot, and we have plenty of beers.

And many have learned that if you show up around 20 mins after doors, you can almost walk right in.