Darklord Day 2017

I literally had one Untappd checkin last year just to get one at the venue. I couldn't keep up with everything offered, and the rain didn't help. I also didn't want to spend the whole day on my phone. I remember a decent number somehow, but some are lost to history.

One in particular annoys me. Someone in the north line gave me a pour right when my guest called me from the south line. I made a hasty exit to go find him without drinking my sample. I finally drank it when I got there and whatever it was tasted fantastic. I had never heard of it before, have no idea where it was from, and don't have any tasting notes. It was way too late to go find the guy again, but whoever you are, thanks!

 

Oddly enough, i remembered all 26 beers i tasted last year. 23 the year before that.

When you stretch out that amount of drinking over that long of a day, for some reason I can remember everything. The one thing I couldn't remember back in '15 though was where I put my housekeys after I scratched off my golden ticket. I searched all over the grounds for them.

Lo and behold, they were still in the brewery. Where I scratched my ticket and got pissed after I got a loser for the third year in a row.

 

70 pages down...30 more to go. #RoadTo100

 

Yes you can bring a chain wallet, they don't give a shit. They're just making sure people aren't bringing in open alcohol, over size bags and machetes like the one @DoomBlasterBerry plans on bringing.

 

I just went through my Untappd check-ins from last year. Some pretty amazing stuff in there. Notables:

Surly Todd The Axe Man: Someone brought a mini keg of this to the bottle share

Bruery Bois - Barrel Aged Strong Ale

3 Floyds Quaanto - Triple IPA

Central Waters Black Gold 2015

Goose Island Bourbon County Barleywine

18th Street Bitches Bank

Anchorage A Deal with the Devil

Bruery Mocha Wednesday

JW Lees Harvest Ale matured in Lagavulin Whisky Casks

 

Not planning on bringing one, just a comment on how poorly they check bags. There was one year they stopped letting us bring in beers after a certain time, so i put a bag of pretzels over my bottles and they glanced and let me in.

 

As I'm coming to the realization that I most likely will not get a decent variant being in C this year, what are the opinions of best vintage years?

 

I am also in C, and I am willing to try any variant over picking vintages. With that being said 2011 seems to be a favorite of a lot of people. I had a 2011 a year ago, and it was great. I would avoid 2012, but that is just me.

 

2012 is the worst Dark Lord ever. Any other year you're fine. 2011 and 2013 are my favorites.

 

What makes 2012 something to avoid?

 

2012

 

Yeah, it's been far too long since I've had DL.... maybe ten years. Just wanted to get a heads up from those that aren't ignorant about the vintages and avoid the possibility of getting a crap one at that (if it comes down to it).

 

I may be optimistic but I'm in C also & I don't think vintages will be the best option until maybe D & into E

 

These are my thoughts as well. If I was in D or E I would be thinking about vintages I would want, but in C I feel like there will definitely be something I want.

 

I'm really thinking there will be variants into group D. I'm also thinking the variants will be fewer and more solid this year. If I was in a later group last year I'd rather have had the ability to choose two vintage Dark Lord.

 

Guess it will be a crap shoot at this point? See what variants make it into C and beyond and go from there.

 

Really hoping this is the case! It would be great if they just made a lot of 3 or 4 solid variants! I agree last year would've stunk to be in D or E. Luckly I was in the very front of B and still had good choices.

 

Last year my brother and I were group E. We ended up with Temeculan 3000 and Quit Hitting Yourself. Haven't opened either yet, debating on bringing one of them with us for a line share.

 

Unless it's a pretty terrible variant list, I would think you still have a decent chance of getting plain old bourbon in at least the first half of Group C. That's a safe and solid pick. You'll have a better idea once the list comes out.

 

I think it really depends on how many vanilla variants there are. if we have two it will definitely skew group A completely. With Group B looking for any bourbon barrel or or double barrel (not wine) variants. Group C getting cherry or the like etc