Dark Lord Day 2016

Wasn't the hot sauce from last year trading really high right after dld? I can't remember for sure, but I could have sworn it was pulling rather impressive bottles for HOT SAUCE!

 

In the pas they've allowed you to bring in UNOPENED bottles into the festival for sharing.

 

That's the beauty of Dark Lord Day. They don't make you leave your bags outside, so you can bring in as much beer as you want. A lot of people (myself included) bring cooler bags with empty cups and (maybe) ice.

 

I agree...mostly. The glassware line in 2014 was a complete disaster though. I enjoy collecting the glassware from the events I attend and DLD is at the top of my priority list. When I got in that line there were about 15 people in front of me, in single file. I was sure I was getting the glassware. In a matter of 5-10 minutes there were at least 40 people in front of me, and the line got much wider....and then people started pushing and shoving their way to the front. So what started out as a fun bottle share line, turned into a clusterfuck. I did get the glasses I wanted, but some of my buddies who initially were only 5-10 people behind me didn't get everything they wanted.

 

I opened my last hot sauce bottle about 5 months ago and it exploded like a volcano all over my kitchen.....guess there was some fermentation happening in there.

 

they do check bags....and they allow unopened beer to be brought in to encourage sharing.

 

did you cellar it properly?

biggest rookie mistake is not properly cellaring your hot sauce

 

yes I put it in my hot sauce cellar....which is the bottom drawer of my fridge

 

You are allowed to bring in a reasonable amount of your own, quality beer. No cases of Natty Boh or Red Dog and no hard-sided coolers, but a softsided with a few bottles is permitted.

They have tents/tables set up and waiting in line can be a great way to meet folks and share beers.

It truly is one of the best parts of the whole festival.

 

Not surprised, given that people ISO BCBCS verticals...

 

To me this is the festival. Sharing beers with people from all over the world. Everything else is a sideshow to that.

 

hmmmm... properly cellared. drawered even.

Might be infected. I'd contact the brewer and ask for a refund or at least a BADL to make up for your loss.

 

As others have said, the bottle share is what makes all the lines "fun".

It starts outside, the line to get in is a huge bottle share.

The wait in the huge serpentine line to get the DL bottles is a huge bottle share. That line even has bathrooms in it.

There are tents and tables which are huge bottle shares.

I typically just walk around with a bottle of Pliny and people ask for a pour and offer a pour.

 

I fear no line.

Last year, we didn't get in the north line until about 11:30ish, and there was still a long queue of folks in the cattle chutes. Everyone dripping wet, cold, and miserable, and huddling under umbrellas. So, I had my better half pull out a random bottle from my back pack (pretty certain it was something from 18th Street), and started pouring for those all around. Brought cups to give to those who weren't hadn't bought for themselves. Pretty soon, we were chatting up, and sharing pours, with folks from anywhere and everywhere. That's how you do it.

My $0.02? Just bring a small plastic cup that won't break if you drop it, with a lot of bottled water (for rinsing the cup, and more importantly, hydration), and whatever beer you like from where you live, whalez or no. Then, open, offer, and share, and it will come back around to you.

 

Bring a sleeve of solo cups....easiest way to taste and you don't have to bother washing anything

 

They sell hard plastic solo cups at Walmart. Not the cheap ones. I paid like $2 for one cup and it is awesome, plus it held 16oz of beer. Also, great to transfer any beer you purchase at the beer tent.

 

I was totally going to bring a bottle of this to share in the morning this year! Totally forgot about it til I was cleaning out my fridge a month ago. It'll either be good cold espresso or disgusting. Either way it'll wake you up!

 

Had a bottle that was a mere 4 months old and it was atrocious. Here is what I would recommend if you're going to crack it, and keep in mind that this stuff is seriously really really high in caffeine, so small amounts (if any) are recommended:

- Have some sort of creamer on hand to cut the acrid bitterness and stickiness that it has become
- Do NOT use the snifter you are going to use for tasting throughout the day for the stuff - your glass will smell all day long and ruin a lot of other beers you will try
- Try not to smell it when you drink it - it will smell like gas station coffee mixed with butane and mixed in with grinded coffee beans that have been sitting out next to a tire fire

 

I prefer going to GFS and grabbing a bunch of the 5oz plastic tumblers. 16oz solo cups are way too large.

 

I'm sorry if this was asked already, but....
if my friend gets two A tickets, and he decides to get there before me, can he meet me at the gate if I get there later than him to verify that I'm his +1?