Dark Lord Day 2016

lol sleep it off in a ditch

 

This was my first year specifically geared toward setting up outside of the gates on purpose to spend most of my time there. Totally worth it. Not only did we have a tent, chairs, and table all to ourselves, I did not languish in any entry line other than sharing in the north line way early before the rain started. Granted I had D and other in my group C, we didn't even go in until 330pm. Met lots of friendly people in the neighboring tents and ended up having a great day, staying mostly dry the whole time, and with plenty of elbow room.

 

I mentioned this to my buddy as something that would be pretty cool. I think I'd still like to go inside where there are more people and guest taps available (even if they don't have tons of mega-super rare whales on tap), but it certainly is an option for quite a good time at a very low cost.

 

That should have been my love this year, as we knew some people outside the gates.

I wanted to stay inside because of the drafts though. Because of the shitty weather though, there just wasn't enough turnover on the draft beers.

 

How could you shun your love?

 

The sad truth is I basically slept off my time in the line in the fest. being in those north gate cattle guards with nothing to do but share bottles did me in

 

Yeah I was pretty worn down by the time I got out of the Dark Lord Line, too. Dropped my bottles off in the car, warmed up, went to...White Castle, then back into the fest to get poured on some more.

 

I guess I assumed the thieves were more just opportunistic jerks than premeditated larceny for profit types. Like, the thought of doing a full buy-in to DLD - weather, parking, and all - specifically to steal bottles didn't even cross my mind.

I guess that many drunk/unobservant people must be like fish in a barrel for anyone with practice.

 

They're watching us now...

 

Check out this theory you sons-n-bitches ...

Floyd brothers born --> start of Three Floyds Brewery --> creation of Dark Lord beer --> Dark Lord Day is born --> money flies in door --> Floyd Brothers become addicted to cash --> create $40 voucher system as a money grab --> no places to eat for 9K people creating massive lines --> install shittier-than-usual beer list which drives people away even more to not use vouchers --> Johnny usually-passive beer nerd gets angry about voucher system and nowhere to use it so turns to thievery of any and all black totes in his sight --> arrest of formerly-passive and nice Johnny --> Johnny loses job, wife, friends, and family dog

So, Floyd brothers born = nice people turning into thieves and ruining their lives

That being said, I'll be back next year for my ninth in a row - YAHOOOOO!!!

 

Seems legit.

 

After this year, if it rains again, and I get an A or B. I will just go back to the hotel to drink after getting bottles. The best part for me is getting in line early and sharing. Too much work trying to lock down the BA DL pours especially in the rain. Can you guys imagine the lines if it was actually nice out lol.

 

At least if it was nice out we would be more spread out, I hated huddling under the tents

 

I never even tried to get under them, it was basically a barrier of backpacked humans around the entire perimeter.

 

I never had an issue finding room in the big tent.

But the you unfortunately had to listen to the awful music.

 

It was definitely hard to find a spot. We got lucky because there was a guy passed out at one of the picnic tables face down on the table, and there was a bit of space by him....I think everyone was kind of avoiding him, but since it was just me and my buddy, we were able to squeeze in once a couple other guys said they could move their stuff.

About an hour later the guy got up and walked away...who knows what happened to him after that.

 

I like the idea of trail cams on decoy totes.

Or even better, putting GPS trackers in your tote.

Would be interesting to see where that bag ends up. Maybe a couple days later show up at some random house - "Hey motherf*cker, I see that you got my tote!"

 

Any one find a tote with a bottle of quite something in it?

 

More likely in typical 3 Floyd's fashion, they would forget to bring the tickets or only provide enough lockers for a 1/3 of the people that want them.

 

so you're a proponent of beer being the only commodity to not increase in secondary market value when supply is far less than demand. good luck with that.

I was too lazy/busy to look - I would guess that ATF or TTB regulations federally would apply, and any state board of liquor control/whatever they are called in whatever state you are looking in (or potentially the state tax regulations).