Dark Lord Day 2016

I am expecting bookoo Jester King boys.

 

Done!

 

What you are referring to are tasting tables. Typically these tables spring up around a group of folks who know one another, and they are generally open to everyone to come join, provided you are sociable and have something to share. There are some significant unwritten rules, however, that will turn you off to everyone there, and could (on the extreme side) potentially wind up in a nasty situation with drunk people who had too many dark beers to start the day wanting to "fight" you or "punch you in the face" (most of us have witnessed a form of this in the past, no doubt). Other folks feel free to add as you see fit, I'll try to get the heavy hitters:

1. DO NOT OPEN ANY BOTTLES ON THE TABLE THAT ARE NOT YOURS. (This cannot be stressed enough)

2. Do not share some awesome beer you see on a table without talking with someone there first. If the person is standing by the bottle, there is a better than average likelihood that a) they are either the owner of said bottle or b) know the owner of said bottle, and may ask the owner if it is OK to give you a pour.

3. Don't be a dick. If you don't like the beer, you don't need to tell everyone how much it sucks. Frankly, no one gives a shit what you think, people there probably don't know you, and you just tasted free beer. If you don't like it, be coy and dump it out somewhere away from the table.

4. This will likely cause some controversy, but sorry, if you are bringing that six pack of Two Brothers you just picked up on the way in to share at a table with some serious stuff, you might want to pass on that table you had your eye on, or at the very least make friends with someone first before asking for a taste of M that someone brought for their friends. (YES I KNOW IT'S PAST ITS PRIME THAT'S NOT THE POINT HERE)

5. Do not, unless you have permission of the person who brought the bottle, take a bottle off the table and pass it around to your friends next to you and around you who didn't contribute. No no no no no.

Many more, but that's a good start I suppose - hope this helps!

 

And as much Yellow Rose as you can travel with.

 

Pretty interesting post. And good to know.

Personally, I wouldn't think of picking up anyone's bottle of a table or anywhere, no matter what it is. My past experience has been quite pleasant: strike up a conversation in a waiting line while drinking something that I enjoy to drink, and offer a pour to those folks. I hope for similar but don't expect it.

This year, I'll probably bring a couple of stouts I like to drink from time to time (Caffe Americano will make an appearance), but most of what I'll bring will be easier drinking PA/IPAs that I enjoy (like Space IPA, PseudoSue, some Pipeworks)…. something that will help me 'sober up' between those heavy IS.

Whale sharing I'll leave to the pros.

 

Most people wouldn't sober. Personal property lines get a bit blurred after 8 hours of everyone just handing you awesome shit.

You'll likely just get some handed to you anyhow.

 

You'd be amazed how many people completely ignore this and say "f&$% it" later in the day at DLD. We're going to put a camera up where we will be to monitor activity (also to deter people stealing bottles) and I guarantee we'll pick up a lot of this later on in the day.

 

I would like a copy of said video please when its complete , it will keep me laughing for days I'm sure.

 

I'll edit down to the highlights, and you got it.

 

Beautiful set of rules.

With number 3 - if you don't like the beer don't spit it out. Drink it, thank the person for their generosity in sharing with you, wander away and spill it on the ground.

For number 2 though, how do people feel about taking a pour from unattended bottles? Example scenario - I open a beer, pour for everyone around then set the bottle down. There's still 1/3 of a bottle there but we move on and drink something else. Then it's time to get in line so I walk away and leave my 1/3 bottle chilling on an unattended picnic table with some other empty/nearly empty bottles. I'm certainly not going to be expecting that bottle to be there when I get back, so I personally wouldn't care if someone walked up and polished it off.

Would others be upset at that? Would anyone else drink out of those nearly empty bottles? If I saw something I wanted to drink sitting there I would snag a pour if I was sure no one was going to miss it. I figure the copious amounts of alcohol I'll consume over the weekend should kill off any potential germs.

 

Most of the heavy hitters will be killed within 5-10 minutes of opening at tables so bottles sitting there with over 1/3 left are most likely fair game. Just follow Lansman's advice and share some beer, be social, and always ask before you take your first pour.

Another rule that was not mentioned is... DO NOT TAKE BIG POURS. Only take 1-2 ounces max of something that is not yours. I rarely take even a full ounce. Filling you taster well over halfway is very frowned upon and can result in confrontation.

 

Ah, the end of day vulture scenario. In this case, the warmish/gross bottles become fair game.

<National Geographic voice> One must be careful to not scare off this somewhat common occurence in the wastes of DLD. These individuals are common at DLD and tend to be identified by first taking a bottle from an unattended table and looking into the top to see how much backwash is on the bottom of that almost (but not yet!) empty bottle of Assassin. Upon pouring out a small amount and smelling the bottle for good measure, they quickly segue into their search for another orphaned vessel by which they may continue to quench their insatiable thirst for Untappd check-ins.

 

You deserve BA of the year award, i thought you couldn't top the map the other day, but now its a whole new level. Pretty quick you are sir.

 

Backwash or dip spit....those roasted tobacco notes though!

 

Oh yeah, I wasn't asking for me, I was totally asking, uhh, for a friend..

Seriously though I've seen it happen plenty of times and if they were my bottles I wouldn't care, I open the bottle, pour for a couple of friends and then take the stance that once I set it down it's fair game.

I had a few buddies show up late to Darkness Day this year (Hi, @holzwama) and they cleared out a whole table of backwash pours while everyone else was asleep. If you leave your standards at home it can be a good way to crush ticks

 

Gross.

Double gross.

 

Even simpler: Be courteous; Be generous; Don't open a bottle that's not yours; and Don't be a dick.

It's beer. Have fun, make friends, avoid assholes.

 

For the DLD veterans or other contributors that have been giving us the low down on the bottle share etiquette and other useful information, seriously thank you very much, this information is very valuable to myself and possibly other first timers out there.

Hahaha so I was just chatting with another Texas user that's going to be going up there. Here is what I'm considering to bring for the sharing, of course it may change. Hopefully this is enough to pull my own weight out there:

1 x JK Colour Five
2 x JK RU55
1 x 2015 Mother of All Storms
1 x 2015 Cantillon Kriek(750ml)

I think any more than that and the backpack will start getting heavy.

 

I have a very particular set of skills.....I will find you......

 

First timer, and if DLD is half as fun as reading this thread, I will be a regular attendee. Thank you all for the valuable information and anecdotes.