Dark Lord Day (DLD) 2015

Shit I might just bring the goggles and wear them for fun. @jwadas

 

While I agree that the festival is a great time, people come from all over the nation to get to DLD, and the icing on the cake was always to be able to get a case or two of beers they can never. If FFF warned us ahead of tix sales, that's one thing, but hiding it is pretty bad business acumen.

 

I'm glad to see there are always whiners about every beer event, not just the ones in Pittsburgh. You could always like...show up the day before or after DLD to buy cases. Sorry FFF didn't hand it to you on a silver platter. And that they forced you to buy tickets to their event.

 

I'm sure this was covered earlier in the thread, but just saw this article.

"Last year about 10,000 Dark Lord diehards flocked to the brewery grounds, and this year – having purchased more property in the industrial park it calls home – 3 Floyds should be able to accommodate another 3,000 to 4,000, says company co-founder Nick Floyd."

Hopefully the guest tap/food/restroom lines aren't 40% longer than they were last year...

 

Yes the food lines, glassware/ coffee line, and the draft lines all converged into one giant mass last year. They had 2 or three staff members taking orders in the glassware/coffee booth so they had 2 side by side lines just for glassware/coffee. I waited in one of those lines for probably close to 3 hours. People were getting angry due to cutting in from the food and tap lines. Some people were confused and didn't know which line they were in and others intentionally cut. I witnessed a fight between two guys right when they were almost to the front of the line. The drinking, anger and frustration got the best of them. They waited in line all that time just to get hauled off by security and landed no glassware (Don't be "THAT GUY"). Side note- also towards the front of the line a guy dropped trou right there and urinated. He also was hauled off and landed nothing. (Don't be "THAT GUY" either)

with the wait being 3 plus hours for glassware there was lots of bottle sharing in the line (big thanks to the guy who hooked me up with a nice poor of Anna) which posed a problem of having to leave the line to use the bathroom. Not to mention having to figure out what to do with your backpack & gear while you are in the bathroom. I suggest telling your neighbors you will be right back as they may be so intoxicated they do not recognize you on your return.

when I finally was at the front of the line word got out that the blue mini snifters were sold out but you could still pay for 2 gold ones and they would ship them to your house. I was able to land 2 gold mini snifters and 2 Dark matter/FFF coffee mugs but the girl behind me just got 1 snifter and 1 mug. Everyone else had to use the mailing option. Why one line was still giving glassware away the other line was forcing the mailing option I will never know.

It is amazing what a difference it makes to use caution tape or rope to define the lines (similar to how they do for when your pick up your DL bottle allotment) and having an extra security guard on hand to deter cutting and direct people to the correct lines.

At Dark Horse BBPT5 release this year they used caution tape to define the line which I believe was successful. However, Dark Horse took one step forward with the caution tape and two steps backward when they started handing out order slips earlier then said time and screwed up the allotments which caused some chaos and meltdowns.

All that being said I am really excited for DLD and will forgo the glassware/coffee line this year.

 

The important question is are you driving a BRZ to DLD? Cause I'm driving my FR-S.

 

The guest taps are definitely a selling point, no doubt. But there's no guarantee you'll get to try a particular beer, which is fine, that comes with the territory. It's awesome to see a great beer available on tap but by the time you get your turn to order it may be gone, so it's not a main selling point IMO. It's a nice bonus amongst the other mediocrities the festival has to offer. Also, I'm not from the Chicago area. I'm from Cincinnati. FFF beers are rare down here, and when they are down here they're limited to one bottle per person, usually. Which is fine, I get that. Supplies are limited and FFF takes care of Chicago, no beef there.
My gripe isn't with the fact that there may very well not be beer sales to-go, my gripe is with the fact that we were informed of this possibility AFTER we dropped our hard earned cash for a chance to purchase more than DL to-go and beers on tap. I could have dropped $0 and sat in a parking lot, tailgating the entire day. I'm upset with the possibility that I made an uninformed decision, because FFF decided not to share all the information.

 

Where on the DLD website does it say anything about beers other than Dark Lord?

 

He's referring to his experience from last year. Having a warehouse with pallets full of to go beer last year would have one be inclined to believe it would be available again this year.

 

Nobody's asked for anything on a silver platter, chief. I'm asking that FFF let us know all the information about the festival BEFORE we commit $100 to just getting in and not having as many options as we did last year and ALL PREVIOUS years. If that's not a reasonable complaint there's never been one.

 

Yeah, how ridiculous I'd presume it'd be the same as it's always been since the very first festival.

 

I know, I definitely feel for anyone who isn't from the area; I mostly meant that FFF might not be thinking of everyone when it comes to this.

To be clear, I 100% feel your pain if you get screwed out of to-go beer. I remember how frustrating it was to get ZD back when I wanted to try it.

Also, do I think this event is ever as well communicated as it could/should be? No. So I do feel everyone's frustration. However, there seems to be an issue with every beer event, so this is unfortunately par for the course.

 

I am hoping that they're towing the "don't get your hopes up" line with the chance for it to change if they can figure it out logistically with the reno process underway.

 

Sorry I don't mean to get all pissy. I work in the business so I guess I have a different perspective. I just don't agree with what you guys are saying. Things change, they didn't promise anyone anything other than entrance and an allotment of Dark Lord.

 

Every year there's been speculation:

- Event moved to park across the street
- price increases on bottles
- allocations limited
- band's playing before announced by the brewery

A lot of them turn out to be false, so I personally wouldn't assume anything until the info is posted by 3 floyd's either through social media or on Darklordday.com, especially this no to go sales idea. Just my two cents.

 

Beer business or event planning business? Just curious.

 

To go sales status is still not fully confirmed, but let's assume there are no To Go sales. I suppose the key point to your comment is whether you would have still purchased a DLD ticket knowing beforehand there would not be any To Go sales on DLD. Would you have? If yes, I don't see the significance here. Yes it might be a bit frustrating for folks coming in from out of town but nowhere does it say on darklordday.com that there will be To Go sales. Situations change so it is never safe to make any assumptions, even based on prior years.

edit: as someone else mentioned, other FFF beers can certainly be purchased on Friday or Sunday as well.

 

Beer business.

 

I get that. But when ever other event has had it (every single other DLD), it's expected, especially by veterans. I could have planned differently (assuming all of this is true anyway, because it may just be horseshit, let's face it).
I like FFF, but if this rumor turns out to be true, if they've changed such an expected thing, traditional thing from the veterans of DLD it's so far beyond disrespectful that it's disgusting. I would absolutely understand if they got rid of to-go beers. One less thing to worry about. And, besides, it's their business, run it how you run it. All I asked for was a heads up. An, "Oh, hey, btw, even though every other year has had to-go sales, this year won't."

 

Again there is no confirmation either way, but assuming no To Go sales on DLD would you have not then purchased a DLD ticket this year if you knew this prior to last Saturday's sale?