Dark Lord Day 2016

Not particularly enjoying the discussion on numbers.

I'll pivot to this instead.

This is funny because the day I had the tickets secured my +1 and I started developing a plan of what to bring. Last year I brought entirely PA & IPAs, figuring there would be plenty of heavy stouts to drink there on draft. This year I will change it up a bit and bring a couple of stouts. Just unsure if I want to bring something like Caffe Americano or Abraxas, (considering those might actually be offered at DLD), or bring something I know won't be there like Zipline Bourbon BA Double Chocolate Stout and Temperance's Double Rye Barrel Might Meets Right.

 

Not gonna lie. I did the same thing.

 

All your Caffe Americano will belong to mah belly.

 

I've done pretty much the same thing with figuring out what bottles to share. I've already noted which ones in my spreadsheet are potential beers to bring. I'm trying to make it some variety of things...saison, sour, stout, barleywine. I have no idea what could potentially end up being on draft, so I'm just gonna go with what my gut tells me.

 

I'll probably be bringing some Hoof, Frog, Thirsty Dog, Jackie Os, etc. Maybe some out of state rares but not sure there's a point since so many others will be bringing their locals and rares...

 

Thanks god I'm not the only one who did this. I made the mistake of doing all BA stouts and barleywines last year so I'm working in some lighter sours and such this year for a pallet break.

 

Anyone else get a golden ticket? Says redeemable for 1 (one) Barrel Aged Vanilla Dark Lord regardless of group. Ticket number is ∞ for those keeping track at home.

 

Me too. It's been on my mind daily. I'm a total dork.

 

You only got one?

 

I figured out what bottles to bring as well. Bringing 12 bottles to share between Friday and Saturday. Mix of all styles, mostly New England area offerings. First one we always pop in the DLD line in the AM is Double Shot. Can't start the day without a cup of coffee!

 

Bringing Rhinegeist Dodo, Braxton Yesterday's Headlines Kiwi, Jackie O's BB Brick Kiln Nuts!, and maybe Jackie O's BBCV Dark App. I'll probably bring a few others too. Not really sure what though. Looking forward to sharing some beers with whoever is in line next to me haha.

 

Can anybody comment on the length of the line/wait time at different points in the day?

 

For dark lord bottles? The later in the day you have, the longer the line is. Had group a last year and was in and out in 20 min. Had group D the previous year and waited close to 2 hours.

The later it is in the day though the shorter the draft lines are.

 

If you wait towards the end of your group time, the lines are shorter. I've had group D the past 2 years and waited till the last 45 minutes and have been thru the line in under 20 minutes.

 

I see that some saint in Chicago has posted 2 group A guest tickets are for sale on Craigslist. Not only do two lucky fellows get to go to the festival, at the very modest price of $2000 (and probably a good chunk of one's dignity), but the offer is on the table to make some dreams come true as well. And all the while, this considerate humanitarian just wants to make sure his $2000 rent gets paid.

 

Jeffrey huh... wonder if this is the infamous jeg that Chicago knows and loves.

 

Agreed with the coffee choice... Mine will be Hammerhead Speedway to start the day. One of the best parts of the event, IMO, is planning which bottles/cans to bring

 

Guest draft lines are short right when the festival opens since not everyone is inside yet. They get heaviest around noon until 2pm or so I would guess, then start getting shorter and shorter later in the day. Late in the day there will be almost no line.

In years past the earlier groups move faster and the later groups slow down b/c of people who missed their group going late or just any slow downs in the process finally have caught up and affect group D and E. However, since no cash will need to be exchanged, nor will people be fiddling with their scratch off ticket, or buying other bottles the lines should move faster this year. You can always wait until the end of your group time and get through faster, the only downside is potentially less BA variants to choose from if some run out.

The Dark Matter coffee line tended to get super long early with people wanting to score "rare" glassware that they could resell on eBay and then late in the day there was no line at all.

Food lines get long at times, but late I have seen them thin out pretty good. In 2014 there was really long line for burgers around 6pm, but last year the food lines at that time were non existent.

 

"Due to an unexpected divorce..." There's a new one.

 

Can't think of many things I'd rather do than stand in line for an hour or two with someone who just gouged me $300 on a ticket for a beer festival. But yeah, I'm sure someone who wants to pay $500 for Group A is happy to negotiate giving you their bottle of the variant.