Dark Lord Day 2016

Last year we smoked just outside the north gate under a bunch of tents.

If you're into cigars Casa de Montecristo in Chicago is a must-visit shop. They have a rare/vintage room that is killer and it's BYOB.

http://www.casademontecristo-chicago.com/

 

I kinda disagree on the whalez thing. I think people generally bring their best stuff and share freely. Ive tried things like DB huna at DLD which I'd never get to try any other way. If you don't have whalez to bring its not something to worry about but you will definitely run into them. Best I can do is Prop 14 so that's what I'm bringing along with other cool locals.

 

Yeah but the point is, no-one will look down on you if you don't have uber whales to bring. Yeah some people bring out the big guns, but if you just show up with fresh local stuff, that will be great. I've done DLD with nothing but huge BA Stouts and Barleywines and you get stick of them and get palate wrecked pretty fast, hoping someone had a nice sessionable beer to break things up.

If you have a really special beer, DLD is the perfect time to bring it, but don't feel intimidated if you don't have a deep cellar. Just show up with beer to share and a good attitude.

 

I'll be there with a Garcia & Garcia My Father or two.

 

That place looks fantastic. Thanks for the tip.

Excellent. I was thinking of bringing a couple Camacho American Barrel Aged or an Alec Bradley Texas Lancero.

 

There is a pretty cool cigar lounge not too far from FFF. 1101 Cigar Lounge in Schererville, might be worth checking out.

 

I completely agree with this post.

I was talking with a buddy about what to bring and he mentioned that he didn't feel like he had anything special enough. I mentioned to just get some bottles or a growler or two from a local place. There are plenty of people who just want to try new beers and not just hunt whalez. The key is to bring something and be willing to share. The rest just kind of falls into place.

And Casa De Montecristo is a nice spot. BYOB as mentioned and have quite the selection. The liquor store across the street has a decent selection and usually has some Pipeworks for those from out of the area looking for their beers. You probably won't land anything too crazy, but good shelf beers.

 

That place is right beside the hotel we stayed at last year for Dark Lord Day. It was definitely a cool place.

I love cigar lounges. I wish they were legal here.

 

Greetings, I'm in Austin, TX and flying to ORD the night before. I am on group A and I think I opted for the earliest shuttle which was 8 am. Where are you in TX ?

 

This is great, but a quick tip.

DO NOT be that guy who drops off a bomber of FFF DIPA (or nothing at all) on a table full of all sorts of "rare" type stuff and then proceed to grab a bottle of whatever to pour for yourself and your friends all standing next to you or whatever. This has happened more often than I'd like to recount at DLD, and it's just a dick move. At least introduce yourself and try to connect with folks you don't know before you take other people's bottles.

 

Can you explain this a bit please? I've been to a few things where I have seen people just sat things on table but I thought they were for people who knew people. A bit new to releases where this happens.

 

Dude! I am flying from Houston that night, my whole crew is in group A, and I am taking the 8 am shuttle.. JINX you owe me an TG SR-71! Joking aside, I will shoot you a PM. Always good to see a large Texas showing..

 

My experiences at Dark Lord Day are what really makes me want to go every year. Sure, I like Dark Lord and it's variants and look forward to getting some. However it's the culture that really draws me in (now, I'm not referring to the over self-served or the hipsters). People that I've never met and may never meet again pouring me something rare and/or something I've never had while waiting in line. Myself in return offering something to random people walking by or waiting in lines. The conversations had with many people from all over the country and with people from out of the country as well. Dark Lord Day, despite it's unavoidable shortcomings, is a great view into the culture of craft beer.

 

Yeah, that wouldn't be my style. I'm a bit shy and likely to hold back or avoid pouring someone else's unicorn unless they offer. I love bottle shares, but I won't be treating this like a free-for-all. I'm figuring I'll meet people in line, share there, and mostly drink the tap stuff otherwise (since I'll have $40 to blow). Easily the best beer I have in my cellar is a '15 BA Darkness, which I've never had. I've already promised to share it with a couple friends who can't get to DLD though...

If they come out in time, a local brewery called Big Grove cranks out some fantastic beers, one of which is a series of DIPA's they call Hopocalypse. Last years were fantastic, and the series is to be resumed this spring. A growler of that is a pretty good start for sharing. Their "Richard the Whale" and variants are excellent too.

It sounds like a fun community atmosphere with a bunch of experienced brew hounds....should be fun.

 

Bring cool local stuff, definitely don't feel intimidated or that it has to be rare. The first time I went to DLD the guy sharing his St Lam was legitimately complaining about the fact that I failed to bring any spotted cow with me (for those unaware, that's the shelfishiest of shelf beer in WI).

Also, growlers of local stuff is cool but probably try smaller sizes if possible because most people are just taking small pours and at 2oz pours a full growler is 32 people. Also, they're really heavy to carry around.

 

I just recently did a vertical of '11-'15 and I was recently reminded of this. By the time I was on the fourth one, I wished I had more time to space them out with something lighter like a wheat beer or IPA, just to give the taste buds a reprieve. You wouldn't think it could happen with 3 oz. pours of your favorites, but multiple that by 20 and it can get overwhelming fast.

 

Yeah thats it. Or its the fact that there are no rooms available maybe? I don't want to stay in Chicago. I have a prior engagement Friday night, so I can't leave until early in the morning anyway, getting to Munster around noon.

On a different note, does anyone know if you can leave your car in the industrial park overnight? I am certainly not driving after this event is over, especially if there are check points leaving it.

 

Another plus to bringing smalls is giving people a chance just to try something new. Let's say you see Saugatuck's Neapolitan Milk Stout on the shelf. You might be a little tempted, but not enough to commit to the four pack, but if someone offers you a pour, you'd happily oblige. This way, instead of offering rarity, you offer variety.

 

Yup, this is what I was going to say. On the one hand, I have no real particular love for Spotted Cow, as I think it's one of the most overrated (at least by word of mouth in the Midwest; maybe not on BA) beers from one of my favorite breweries. On the other hand, a beer like SC is very welcome when I'm drinking a bunch of heavy stouts.

One of my favorite things at festivals like Stout Fest and FoBaB is to drink a nice, light sour or two in-between 99% abv stouts.

 

Lol houstonian as well, group A and 8am shuttle ha, Texas going to represent