13th Annual Bistro Double IPA Festival

I'm planning to go, but I don't understand the system. Is all admission at the door?

 

I've never been to this - I'd probably get palate fatigue after about 10 different samples. I assume that's what happens to the judges every year since they pick winners like Hoptologist.

 

I will be there.

 

I like the Bistro's events. The way they work is you show up and then pay. I forget exactly what admission is, but it's typically like $40-50 for a glass and 10 tasters, and more tasters are $2 each or so. For this one there will be a line at 11, but it moves pretty quickly. They'll have multiple kegs of Younger, so don't worry, you'll get some.

And yes, you get palate fatigue pretty quickly. Line up the things you want to try early. They provide pretzels to help with that, but it only goes so far.

Oh, and there's food available for purchase, usually like $8 for a tri-tip sandwich or $6 for a sausage. There's also Buffalo Bill's up the street if you want restaurant food.

EDIT: Oh, the one potential knock is something some friends have noticed, which is that sometimes stuff you're familiar with isn't as good there, and so they wondered about the cleanliness of the lines. I didn't notice it last year with Younger, but the Citra was definitely off. I attributed it to being a small batch, but it has made me wonder... (Citra was the first beer I tried, so it wasn't palate issues.)

 

I'm planning to be there.

 

I'd guess it was the line. I had Citra at Gourmet Haus a few days later, and it was flawless.

 

It's a great event, just be there, you won't be sorry.

And Stu is right about Younger, there is plenty, you'll score a taste or two.... no need to run like a crazed dog to find the tap (although it is entertaining to watch).

 

I'm pouring Younger...so yes.

 

Damn, same weekend as Lunar New Year. This event is usually my yearly Younger and Citra fix but not this year.

 

I promised my wife a Napa event on the 9th before I realized DIPA fest was on the 9th this year. Nice event, you will not be disappointed.

 

I thought the exact same thing. It tasted way off. Why couldn't they have put something like Mad River dipa on that line dammit. Or actually had all clean lines. What a concept.

 

Ever thought it was just the Citra. You are implying that all of the lines were not clean, an incorrect assumption. The Bistro is a a great place to have a beer. I can't complain about them. The Bistro serves the beer community well.

 

No, I am not implying that they had all dirty lines. The Bistro having one dirty line means not all their lines are clean, which is why I stated having all clean lines would be a novel concept. Never said they were all off. Rodgers Last Stand, Younger, and many others tasted great.

I am implying that the line on the Citra was dirty or off in some way. Likely diacetyl infection because the aroma was not there at all and subtle notes of butter were in the beer. People told me that it tasted phenomenal at Gourmet Staudt Haus days later from the same batch. So common sense tells me this was a dirty line.

 

Gonna be at this one. Made the Barrel-aged one and had fun, but this is the one I've been really looking forward to.

Having recently moved up from socal, looking forward to meeting some norcal BA folk.

 

Alternatively, someone was pouring the wrong beer. That wouldn't surprise me.

 

Me neither. The Bistro are good people and have all the best intentions. I doubt I would do any better hosting a festival with 60+ taps, a lot of high abv beer and drunk "volunteers" and patrons. Double IPA is a good time. I'll be back this year for more.

 

Yeah, I feel the need to, after being a negative nancy for a while, say that I fully intend to go and enjoy myself. I haven't missed a bistro fest since I got into beer, and won't start now. Even if I think that they have some problems.