Great taste (Special Tapping Times)

Counterpoint: why do you feel the need to try these beers? And for that matter, have you ever been to a beer tasting where nearly all of these beers are available in abundance of late?

You seem to have been on BA just long enough to potentially remember this event as all about discovering new breweries/beer in a relaxing and enjoyable environment. Instead, the past several years I have seen lines stretch through the entire festival for Goose Island, or <insert hot new brewery here> while the Real Ales tent sits abandoned with plenty of gems to be found without any lines.

We now live in a time when people are justifying it to themselves that it is somehow worthwhile to spend $20 on a 5 oz pour of SR-71 when all it takes is a friendly smile, a bottle of something you enjoy and want to share, and an environment such as that coming up in line at New Glarus to try all these "whalez" (including SR-71, which many folks who I share beers with were able to try pours of from the graciousness of @woodchopper last year) by talking with people and enjoying the hobby. And you know what? If you don't try this particular hot new thing, there are nearly 2,000 breweries now in the US who I am sure will come up with something very similar in the next day/week/month to try and grab a piece of your craft beer dollar.

This post isn't going to change your thinking. You're going to go out "for the tick" or whatever and stand in line and have a great time, and that's fine. However, the over-reliance/emphasis on the ZOMG I HAVE TO GET IN LINE TO TRY <INSERT BEER> AT 3 PM hopefully is a mentality that folks will soon outgrow and we can return to the reasons why the vast majority of us got into this hobby in the first place- to relax, drink a beer with friends, and not worry about dying without obtaining your 10th pour of Prop in the last two years.

Tl;dr: It's OK to wait in line for beer but some perspective is also helpful. It's also OK to try new things and not wait in line for anything. Finally, it's amazing what a bottle and smile can do when beer geeks come together for a release/bottle share.

 

This bears highlighting. The Real Ales tent is still probably itself the biggest undiscovered gem at the GTotMW. It can take a little more effort to figure out what's available there, but that also means little or no lines and extended availability for beers that would otherwise be mobbed and gone.

 

Yeah, I get what you're saying, and as I say, I don't really do that anymore. I think it's mostly newbies (of which there are a lot in the ever-expanding world of craft beer) that seek out these beers that they've heard so much about. I used to be that way, too, and again, I don't really do it as much anymore. There are still some beers that I will wait for ($4/oz of SR-71 is not one of them), but I do remember when it was all about trying these borderline mythical brews. Many of those people will follow in our footsteps and get away from the ticker mentality, probably most, but right now they want to chase those big beers for the thrill of the hunt and the pedigree that they have( rightfully in many--but not all--cases).

Also, yes, I've been to plenty of bottle shares with plenty of great beers. Our most recent one included the '14 Grrrz set (don't waste your time or beers), Broken Truck and The Anniversary (believe the hype, and I am not drinking the de Garde KoolAid overall), CD11 and Flora b6 (again, believe the hype), among many others. All this to say that yeah, I know there are alternative ways to try sought after beers, and I'm no stranger to them. I just understand the mentality and don't see why there has to be an element of negativity towards people who have it.

I think you're even-keeled about it and are coming from a place of wanting to shepherd people that are new to GTMW away from potentially wasting their time, missing great beers, and getting caught up in the hype. I appreciate that perspective. I think other people will, too, but if people want to wait to try BADL instead of trading 3/4 of their cellar or ponying up $200 (or splitting those costs with friends, and not everyone has super committed beer friends), more power to them, and more unknowns for people like us.

Also, I would argue that those beers are worth seeking out since the consensus is that they are exemplary beers, tops in their style, and worthy of the hype. This isn't always true for every beer for everyone, of course, but I never bought into the whole, "There's better stuff than (insert whale here) on the shelf," mentality. In some cases it's true, but it is not the rule in my findings.

Personally, I'll seek out a few of the super-hyped releases (Prop, Madagascar, NG's R&Ds, MD, Black Gold, etc.), but I'll be spending most of my time trying to taste the littler breweries, especially anything with Pilsners, Kolsches, or Zwickels (all of which are quickly becoming favorite styles of mine, and none of which are sexy whale styles). I also plan to make my way through the intimidatingly huge Real Ale tent because I believe there isn't a beer around that isn't better on cask.

In sum, I think we are closer than you think but are coming off differently in attitude. That's cool. I'm super excited for the taste, I'm sure you are, too. I'll be curious what your favorite beer of the fest is. Cheers!

 

Shhhhh.....Nothing to see there just keep moving on....

 

Amen brother!

 

I've done the GTMW both ways. Do yourself a favor a wait in a line every once in a while. It's a 5 hour all you can drink beer event. It's good to pace yourself.

 

I've never been, but what if you just placed beer in mouth and enjoyed the flavors for a bit and spit it out. You could taste as much beer as you wanted.

 

As a fat man, your post offends me.

 

It's Just Beer Folks I promise it will not change the world!

Great people are always willing to share beers with like minded people. Lansman I have one more
SR-71 for the CW release if I can make it.