Washington Beer News (2022)

Discussion in 'Northwest' started by BBThunderbolt, Jan 3, 2022.

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  1. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I know you've been, so I do have a question... Worth the $55 price tag? Seems a bit steep to me, given the price tag for the Hood River event.

    Am planning to go, but am interested to know what one gets for the $55 ticket price
     
    #61 John_M, Mar 18, 2022
  2. Reidrover

    Reidrover Grand Pooh-Bah (4,886) Jan 14, 2003 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    #62 Reidrover, Mar 18, 2022
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  3. Reidrover

    Reidrover Grand Pooh-Bah (4,886) Jan 14, 2003 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yeah I couldn't see anything on the website. Might be worth going the full $100 and getting VIP..depending on what you get of course.
    It is a pity they didnt have a camping area. I would take my trusty old van.
     
    #63 Reidrover, Mar 18, 2022
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  4. 66jzmstr

    66jzmstr Pundit (960) Jul 17, 2005 Washington

    Maybe it’s because I’m scrolling on my phone, but I could find what the VIP ticket entails. Anyone else have better luck?
     
    #64 66jzmstr, Mar 18, 2022
  5. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I think it gets you in an hour or two earlier, but other than that, I'm not sure. I was unable to find any additional information either (either on their website or with a general google search).

    I guess we need to wait till 10 AM today to find out exactly what it entails.
     
    #65 John_M, Mar 18, 2022
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  6. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I hadn't been for a a couple years, even pre-Covid, so take my answers with a grain of salt, and dash of lack of recent knowledge.

    Yeah, $55 seems a bit on the high side, but the price of everything has risen. As for comparison to Hood River, it seems that HR is a token fest, you get 5 tokens for $20, and can buy more. Yakima is a freepour event. Drink as much or as little as ya want. Yakima pours are 8oz these days, I think.

    The fest location is now outside of town at a set of soccer fields, which means, unless you've got a DD, a taxi or shuttle bus ride is required. The old location downtown was close to a couple other spots, and if you wanted to get away from the crowd for a few minutes, it was an easy thing to do. Also, we could just walk back to the motel after the fest (and maaybe stop for a couple pints on the way). The current spot is not walkable to anywhere.

    In the past, V.I.P. got you into the teatre next to the site a hour ahead of time, where they had food set up, and you get seated in a separate area, where they bring your beers to you, so that you don't have walk away from your table.

    I'll decide closer to the date if I'm going (I'm not sure I'm ready to go into the heart of The Red Beast with Corona hanging around. I'll see how things are a couple months out), but I've had fun the times I've gone.

    There's breweries there I don't see with any regularity, so for me that's a draw as well, YMMV.

    https://freshhopalefestival.com/?fb...ZmqdrmI71SUn9_a8Hit2Sy3nVL-eG7k7ScXMDd5tlP1fo
     
    #66 BBThunderbolt, Mar 18, 2022
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  7. vurt

    vurt Grand Pooh-Bah (4,504) Apr 11, 2004 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    From the Fresh Hop Ale Festival page on Facebook:

    Saturday, October 8th 2022! [​IMG]

    Tickets will go on sale Friday, March 18th at 10 a.m. Make sure you mark your calendars! Here is the breakdown on ticket types and the perks of each. VIP Sell out quickly, so don't wait.

    VIP TABLES: $1250 10 VIP Tickets (Early Entry 4:00 pm, Reserved Seating, Swag, Food and Snacks included, 8 Drink tokens, games and more)

    VIP INDIVIDUAL: $100 (Early Entry 4:00 pm, Casual Seating, Swag, Food and Snacks included, 8 Drink tokens, games and more)

    GA INDIVIDUAL: $55 (Entry at 5:00 pm, Commemorative glass, 4 Drink Tokens, Live Music and Grass Seating)
     
    #67 vurt, Mar 18, 2022
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  8. sharpski

    sharpski Grand Pooh-Bah (3,100) Oct 11, 2010 Oregon
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    It appears to have switched to a token event; even at 8oz pours, 4 for $55 is a little rich for my blood. I’m sure the commemorative glass is much better than any other in my cupboard, though.
     
    #68 sharpski, Mar 18, 2022
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  9. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    If I'm only getting 4 pours for $55, those better be full pints.

    I've also heard lots of stories about public drunkenness and massive over drinking at the Fresh Hop Festival, so I can see why they've shifted to tokens.
     
    #69 distantmantra, Mar 18, 2022
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  10. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Agreed. If it was an all you care to drink event, then the $55 price tag might be something I could understand. However, when I add that to the time and cost of getting there, plus the price of a hotel, this likely isn't going to be an event that will interest me.

    I'm not a spring chicken any more, and so have to be careful with how much I imbibe. The Hood River event works for me, as I can try a number of different beers without getting too polluted. I can get small pours, I can dump what I don't want without any remorse, and can even sip and spit the beers I try. The total cost usually ends up being around $40 - $45, not including the cost of gas getting to and from Hood River. I typically sample between 25 and 30 different beers at the event.

    If I were to do something comparable at the Yakima event, it sounds like the cost will more likely be in the several hundred dollar range (including the cost of gas, hotel, base price ticket and extra tokens). While I can afford it, I don't feel like this is a good use of my money.

    I believe I'll stick with the Hood River event.
     
    #70 John_M, Mar 18, 2022
    Last edited: Mar 18, 2022
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  11. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Me too, but then drop the base price. IMHO, there's just no justification for that kind of entry fee, given what you're getting for your $55.

    Frankly, I'm puzzled as to why they don't charge a ticket price more in line with the Hood River and Portland fresh hop events.
     
    #71 John_M, Mar 18, 2022
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  12. checktherhyme

    checktherhyme Savant (1,036) Apr 8, 2008 Washington

    Community Pint recently got a few of their beers. Very good stuff.
     
    #72 checktherhyme, Mar 18, 2022
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  13. sharpski

    sharpski Grand Pooh-Bah (3,100) Oct 11, 2010 Oregon
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Perhaps Yakima has enough extra cachet from being in prime hop country that they're confident people making it a destination are less price sensitive? I think those VIP table packages are aimed at breweries hooking up staff more than the average group of attendees. I was unaware of the move out of downtown, which probably has a bunch of benefits to the organizers, but leaves me even less enthused if I have no possibility of walking to/from a hotel.
     
    #73 sharpski, Mar 18, 2022
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  14. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    That's the only thing I could think of as well. Good for them if works out, but I have to think a lot of people are going to have the same reaction as us. That's just not enough bang for the buck.
     
    #74 John_M, Mar 18, 2022
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  15. sharpski

    sharpski Grand Pooh-Bah (3,100) Oct 11, 2010 Oregon
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Saw a FB post from Reuben's about their Barrel Aged Fest 2022, happening today. Taplist looks great, but one in particular caught my eye: 2020 Heart of the Wood- BA Brett Fresh Hop Hazy IPA. Please try this for science (and for me); it may not have any FH character left, but I'm real curious if it does.
     
    #75 sharpski, Mar 19, 2022
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  16. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yeah, that slipped by me. I was talking with a couple (and their dogs!) I know casually at a brewery yesterday, and they had bought their tix first thing at 10am. Next time I see them I'll ask if they know about about the shift to tokens. I didn't look to closely at the site, but they also mentioned that camping is available on-site, but it's $100. Sheeesh. If they're trying to drive down attendance, I'll probably be helping them out.
     
    #76 BBThunderbolt, Mar 19, 2022
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  17. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    A quick look at Bing maps puts it at 6.3 road miles between the old location (next to the Capital Theatre) out to the soccer fields (by the airport). Zero walkability.
     
    #77 BBThunderbolt, Mar 19, 2022
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  18. Reidrover

    Reidrover Grand Pooh-Bah (4,886) Jan 14, 2003 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    $100!!! is it a luxury yurt with nearby hot showers?

    I am guessing the whole thing will become a victim of its own success
     
    #78 Reidrover, Mar 20, 2022
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  19. Reidrover

    Reidrover Grand Pooh-Bah (4,886) Jan 14, 2003 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Saw what is available for the price and i do think the $100 VIP would be a better deal as it has double the tokens, nice seating and food
     
    #79 Reidrover, Mar 20, 2022
  20. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I think it's pretty funny that the VIP ticket looks like a deal (comparatively), but I agree with you.

    Still not interested.
     
    #80 John_M, Mar 20, 2022
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