Darklord Day 2017

Pretty much this.

Ok, but how?

I mean I got lucky with DPB (which I actually didn't like very much) and made my old lady stand in a line while I searched around for the next variant, and she got lucky with an MMHJ. However, when I wasn't trying to stay out of the rain and/or standing in line for my bottles, it felt like I was running around from one tap to the next and almost nothing ever popped up. I don't know how I keep hearing reports of people getting almost all of the variants, because unless you stood at a tap station where you somehow had secret info guaranteeing they would tap something (don't think that actually happens), it was a crap shoot, and the stuff kicked rapidly when it did pop up.

Also I feel like hovering by a tap station is really awkward, since they don't let you line up, there's a big cluster of folks you're just standing by or sharing with, then you have to tussle with everyone you've been standing with once they announce a rare keg.

 

Best beers I was able to have on tap were BBPt5th (which I wasn't the biggest fan of) and Boneyard Notorious Triple IPA. I saw some interesting things like BA Blot out the Sun and a Hill Farmstead IPA, but both were gone by the time I got to the front of the line I was waiting in. I ended up having Dark Lord '16 three separate times but I was really hoping for the variants of any kind. Here's to hoping for some better luck this year (should I be able to secure tickets again).

 

Here's a hot DLD tip. If there's a beer on tap that you want. Go to where there's no line. Tell that person you want that beer. They'll run and get it for you. Tip appropriately.

 

Well aren't you Mr. Elitest. How about becoming a beer advocate too?

 

This works at some of the tents but not all, at least from my experience. Maybe some are luckier than me.

 

If there is no line, what person are you telling? Or do you mean the staff? Hmm...

 

At the guest taps. Sometimes there's no line at some of the booths. In my experience just because you're on one side of the taps doesn't meant they won't get you something from the other side.

 

My point was simply that there are in fact good beers on tap at DLD.

Last year was worse than years prior I will agree.

 

I think you misunderstood what I was saying. I'm well aware that there are good beers on tap, I've just never had the good luck to see ANY of the ones you've mentioned. I don't spend the majority of my time hovering around the taps, so it basically comes down to me getting lucky when I've finished my beer (or want another beer); so far I haven't been lucky (I'm relatively sure I've never even seen regular DL on tap, although it's possible that I've seen it once). I spend most of the time wandering with my girlfriend, and making the occasional pit stop at White Caste for some of their fine cuisine. I'm sure if I spent more time getting a beer and then popping back in line to get another beer while drinking the first, I'd have better luck. I know the beers are out there, they've just been elusive for me in the first 3 years that I've gone.

I also don't spend the entire day at DLD (usually half a day or so), so I'm sure that cuts down on my odds a little, too. But then again, I'm part of last year's Group A that got screwed into buying DL bottles after Group B, so I'm probably just cursed.

 

Thank you. I'm glad I'm not the only person in this weird world where BAVDL isn't on tap at every stand.

 

Yeah that makes sense. I don't hover by the tents either, but I tend to stay late, a few years closing out the fest. After 6pm it clears out pretty good and you can get BA DL taps much easier. There is some luck in the guest taps but in my group we tend to always have someone who was sent to the taps to get whatever was good and they bring back 2 beers or so to share.

I recall one year Parabajava and Rue D Floyd available with zero line later in the evening. Could get multiple pours of each no big deal,

 

Thanks for sharing. Time of day certainly is a good marker for judging tap quality. Let's hope for some better quality taps in 2017, compared to 2016.

 

I'm just hoping that they don't have stuff like Yum Yum and Alpha King on all day at multiple taps. That was definitely annoying.

 

Yeah, in 14 or 15 they had Baller Stout at pretty much every tent first thing, instead of a regular year round offering. I'm guessing they were just clearing out their stock that year.

 

I definitely think staying late helps, but I'm kind of torn between two options there, since I can't stay the entirety of the fest (my girlfriend would murder me), but try to get there early to have my pick of bottles (didn't work last year, but that's a different story). All in all I know it's a luck thing, so I'm not super upset, just hoping my luck changes soon.

 

Can anyone confirm approximately what time the whales went on tap. I think I read there was BA Abraxas, FVM, Marsh Handjee, etc.... I left around 6 PM last year and I never saw shit at any of the taps. Best I got was regular Dark Lord and that was sometime in the early afternoon (~noon-2PM). If they bring out super stuff later in the night - I'll be staying until they close up shop.

 

Clearly I'm the wrong person to answer this, but from what I've read in these threads, the good stuff pops up randomly all day. It seems like being around later is a better bet just because so many people have left or passed out (giving you more of a shot to get in line easily), but it doesn't sound like there's a set schedule to the taps (at least one that's public info).

 

My experience later in the day has actually been the opposite. The lack of people means the taps do not get rotated often or even at all. Sure if something goes on you can likely get 5 pours if you want before it blows, but it seems less likely you'll find something solid on later in the day.

Just personal experience though..

 

Oh yeah, that makes perfect sense. I'm just saying that if something good is on tap you'll be likely to get it. I remember someone saying that by the end of the night a few years back, they convinced someone to fill a growler with BAVDL. The bastards.

 

The good stuff goes on in the morning when more people tend to be there and it cycles through quicker, but that being said they don't just blow all the whales as they kick. They also have timed ones all fest long.... If you aren't at the taps, how on earth do you plan to see something that will kick if you aren't already in the line? Game of Lines...only you can decide whether it is worth it to you, but I'm like Kodt, I've figured out how it works and score multiple DL variants and other good stuff on draft every year.