FoBAB 2021

The alleged reduced effectiveness of the vaccines on the variants, high percentage of anti-vaxxers, proposed full reopenings of in person learning for schools, and rising rates of cases in many other parts of the country when we are in the summertime when people spend more time outdoors rather than indoors has me worried that we are going right back to a business restricted tier come fall. I'm going from the optimistic camp too the one where Imbibe will play it safe and stick to can pick-ups again

 

You are probably right sadly.... IL has stayed away from this but there have been events in other states where you had to prove you were vaccinated or get tested the morning of to be allowed into the event. But I don't know what ICBG will be willing to do to make FOBAB work. The thing is wouldn't this scenario play out every fall since so many refuse to get vaccinated? Going to have to figure out how to do FOBAB eventually

 

World of Beer festival in Milwaukee was scheduled for Aug 28th, but they cancelled yesterday citing supply and distribution problems. They don't say if COVID played a role but you have to wonder if it did, directly or indirectly.

The Delta variant may throw a monkey wrench into things for FoBAB. Really tough to make plans right now.

 

The fact that this happened makes me leery of any mass event, indoors or out.

 

Well it's only 1000 people infected out of 40,000 that attended, and it's not a guarantee that they all got COVID while at the festival. They could have got it somewhere else, they just all happen to have attended that festival.
And that's only 2.5% of the folks anyways. Sure, those 1000 people probably infected another 1-5 people each after the festival, but "super spreader events" are just made up words, like "scientific evidence" and "milkshake IPA".
I trust the behavior and words from anyone attending FOBAB, since there has never been douchebaggery at a beer event. Everyone that attends those are classy and are there for the camaraderie and community.

 

Lolla is getting lots of attention this week, but The National Sports Collectors Convention is more interesting from a public health perspective (to me anyways) since it’s an indoor event on a large scale.

 

I think the spike in cases post Lolla will have the city cancelling future fests in the near future. I feel like the Chicago/IL government knows this is a terrible idea to have Lolla at this point, but they are already too deep into it.

 

And they’re also broke…

 

Not sure the money made at Lolla is anywhere close to the tax money they'll lose if we have to go back to closures due to pandemic.

 

I think that’s an accurate assessment. I think Lolla will take the majority of blame for cases rising in the area regardless of how true it is.

 

Form the Chicago Beer Fest, "All attendees of the Chicago Beer Fest must be fully vaccinated to attend the event. Attendees that fail to provide proof of FULL vaccination will not be refunded their purchase."

Will FOBAB follow suit?

 

uhhh, is FoBAB happening?

 

fwiw breweries weren't notified of FOBAB last year until the 2nd week of August and sometimes even later in prior years. This doesn't really mean much other than that it's definitely too soon to assume it's cancelled.

I'm hoping they can make it work but there's every reason for them to do another virtual thing again as well. I think it's safe to say they'll do something at least... :-/

 

The Guild announced on August 6th last year that the fest wouldn’t be in person as normal. Not totally apples to apples as we didn’t have vaccines last fall, but it could mean we are in range for some news

 

Hey all, brewers just got notice that the fest is on at the UIC Forum this year. Sounds like there might also be an at home component again as well. No other details at this time but seems like most are getting their wish. ;-)

 

It's not an apples-to-apples comparison since FoBAB participating breweries don't have to actually attend, but Weldwerks just cancelled their 2021 Invitational event because "over half of the responding breweries said they would either be entirely out for this year, are very much on the fence, or are saying that they would only be able to send beer without personal representation" due to the Delta surge.

 

<-Prays UIC updated to Merv-13 air filters

 

I could be wrong but I think he was just basing that on the info we had earlier in the thread from weeks back when brewers were asked about submitting for an in-person festival.