Darklord Day 2017

Can't wait for another Dark Lord Day! I have Group B and C tix.

You can read about my experience last year along with a buddy of mine's.

http://www.eatshopsandlife.com/post/158552265078/darklordday2016

We'll both be returning this year.

 

This will be my first dld and will be trekking in/out from Chicago the day before. I have group c so I will avoid rolling in with group A so I can guarantee making it to my bottle pick up. I am aiming to get in line around 10am.

And if it is anything like MD/Assassin day shares. It seems to start off in small groups and just merge together. I went by myself and basically walked around meeting new people and sharing local/"whalez." I love these national events as they always bring great beers from across the country that are not mainstream. And that alot of people are just there to enjoy a common interest.

If anyone from Chicago is going solo I would be glad to meet up before DLD just so there is a familiar face in what I assume is chaos. Lol

 

As far as the people discussing the shares, I think the common themes here that I've seen all apply:

• Don't be a douche
• Offer a pour of your beer first
• Don't have expectations

Seriously, someone shared Chickow! with me, I'd never heard of it before, and it blew my damn mind. I've had a lot of great luck by myself making friends just by breaking out a bottle. I'm pretty sure most people are like me, in that they don't bring things they're afraid to share. If they brought it, they don't mind sharing it. Follow that same philosophy. Bring things that you're not stingy about. It doesn't need to be special. Especially if you're from out of town, break out those locals! Those of us from around Chicago would loooooove to try your beers! If you bring unique bottles that you're not protective over, your attitude will reflect the attitude that people want to share with.

Cheers guys, and here's to another great year!

 

There's someone that always takes on that task every year and it doesn't matter who it is. The spread sheet always includes an ISO:FT category for trades, what beers people are bringing for bottle shares, what group you're in, what hotel you're staying at, and a couple of other random categories. Unfortunately I'm too stupid and lazy to do it but I'm sure one of the fine folks on this board will get it started.

 

How would you break down the $180 ticket price? Say that I have a guest who really wants to go for the bottle share and to get some DL, but probably doesn't want that much DL or want to pay that much for the experience.

It seems like what you get is: 1) Admission; 2) 4 bottles 2017 DL; 3) 1 rare DL variant OR 2 vintage bottles

So would you think the breakdown is something like:
Admission - $20
4 bottles 2017 DL - $80
1 rare DL variant OR 2 vintage bottles - $80

Or

Admission - $0
4 bottles 2017 DL - $60
1 rare DL variant OR 2 vintage bottles - $120

Or something else entirely?

 

Shouldn't admission be more along the lines of $40 based on prior years? 4 bottles of DL should be at least $80...if not $100 IMO, based on their other beers such as Behemoth.

 

Yea this sounds right
40 admission
25/dl
40 for variant/vintage

 

The last year they didn't include it, the bottles were somewhere along the lines of $20/DL and $40-50/variant. I can't, for the the life of me, remember the ticket price, but there should be a 2015 DLD thread with the specifics.

 

Why do they hold the variants hostage on us? I'm so ready to know that list, especially to see if there's anything that's gonna last to group C worth getting this year.

 

Bourbon BADL makes it to C. That would be my choice. Unless there is Cognac BA Coffee DL again, which I picked in group C in '15. That was really good!

 

2015 tickets were 40$

Here is the new website instead of the dark lord day history thread that @kodt created.
http://darklordday.info/index.php/Home

 

My Wife and I roll in every year from Cleveland not knowing anyone and generally end up finding some people to talk to throughout the day and share. Same plan this year, we'll be there with some local Gems and a few more popular whalez from the cellar

 

my brother in -law had an extra ticket to this year... after the weather of my first DLD last year I never thought i would go back. I am hoping for better weather -- don't mind the cold but that rain was too much for me. I am working on some VT/ NJ/ Plan Bee (upstate NY) stuff to bring for everyone to taste. I will be the guy with the Plan Bee Magnum lol

Group B by the way. .excited to see what will be left after A get done

Also what time should I plan to get there in order to get into the event before B bottle pick up starts ?

 

Any local opinions on Byway Brewing in Hammond??? I just noticed there is a brewery rigth across the street from our hotel, wondering if anyone has tried it. Seems like a logical place to get dinner

 

I was group B last year and am in group B again this year. Last year, I got there around 10:30 for the 12:30 allotment. After a 45 minute to an hour line to get in, I was able to get some DLD swag, grab a beer or two from the tents and scope things out, then get in the cattle line.

So a two hour lead time should be good, but earlier won't hurt as the line is tons of fun.

And bear in mind, group B is 90 minutes earlier this year.

In short, I'm shooting for no later than 9 for B.

 

Awesome! I've been in A both my other times, and I've never actually had Bourbon, so that'll be perfect!

 

DL variants were always $50 each, before they were included with the ticket price.

tickets to the event have climbed up from $5, $15 (remember that shit show when there were counterfeits everywhere) to $30.....I believe the year they did GA it was $30 as well.

Darklord was $15 the first year I went

this years cost break down
$25 reg DL
$30 Ticket (include bag /lanyard)
$50 BA DL (or $25 for each vintage)

 

Last year I believe they valued admission to the festival at $40 and regular DL bottles at $20. If I remember correctly. I remember them indicated we were getting $210 worth of stuff for the $200 ticket price. $40 in food vouchers, $80 in regular Dark Lord, $50 variant, and $40 admission.

 

Never heard of it, but if you are staying in Hammond, why not go to 18th street brewing in hammond?

 

it's possible I'm going off of memory