FOBAB 2024

ISO Dump Bucket 64oz Growler

 

Dump Bucket is the new Mat Shot.

 

Think that's the best advice. Been to enough beer tastings to know that not every brew agrees with you. Don't be shy about just taking a few sips and dumping it out. I also recommend bringing some water and some Gatorade for afterwards.

Usually when me and my buddies go to a big tasting we map out what we want to hit first. Get them out of the way then peruse the other breweries,

 

Beer list is posted for anyone interested.

https://www.fobab.com/2024-beer-list

 

Not going this year, but for those of you attending do not sleep on the Barleywines from Jukes & Kros Strain.

 

Any initial reviews / must try’s would be highly appreciated!

Very pumped for tomorrow!

 

Won’t make it this year but hope to live vicariously through those of you who are there!

 

I'd be stealing the dump buckets based on the list of shit over 12%

 

Just to be clear the dump buckets you are intending to steal aren’t the porcelain ones.

 

I only have limited feedback, as I didn't venture far from my volunteer area (Other Dark Beer) on the upper concourse. Standouts in our area:

• Half Acre Orin (704 - Strong Ale + Bourbon Barrels)
• Loose Ends NPN- Applejack Brandy Barrel-Aged (705 Belgian Strong Ale + Applejack Brandy Barrels)
• Milieu's Bruce (707 Scotch Ale aged in Bourbon Barrels) and
• Sun King's The Velvet Fog (712 - Belgian quad aged in port and whiskey barrels)

Many including Rev FUPA Fan Bois flocked to Where Eagles Rare (709), likely because Rev plus the low abv (Working Man - English Mild Ale with the French Oak they used in D.B.X.O.D. Le Troncais). Many liked it, but I personally would have preferred just the Working Man.

The adjacent Lager Lounge seemed to always have a long line, either for the popcorn I believe they gave out or just for people to sober up as they do waiting in those GI lines.

People raved about the Other Half Banana BA Stout Anniversary. I think Dapper Rye kicked early, there were a few more hype beers but sorry no details, same with what GI brought. Was a very light crowd beyond the Imbibe session and an initial rush. Didn't seem like many kegs kicked this year, though Saturday should be more crowded based on reported ticket sales. I believe there will be less volunteers available, so might be a bit bumpy, but they always seem to manage the event as well as possible.

The evening was fine until the end, when someone puked in the adjacent bathroom and it was closed down, followed by going down to retrieve my jacket and finding out it wasn't there in the free for all unattended locker room. So had to return home via the CTA and a mile walk sans jacket, so GFY to whoever took it. Not sure I'm returning in future years to deal with this bullshit.

That's all I have today, will focus on the barrel aged without added flavors, wild ales and other low ABV pours and likely bail between 3-4. Just too old to handle a bunch of this stuff, OK to hit and run checkout and leave, especially if it's very crowded like I expect this afternoon.

That's all I have from the limited viewpoint of yesterday.

 

Thanks for the info, sorry your night ended on a bad note.

Will definitely hit up the ones you mentioned. Mostly good to just know what to try early on before the kegs kick.

 

IRRC the only things that kicked early last year on Saturday was Resident Culture - Twice as Lonely (within 5 minutes of entry, no joke), the already mentioned Bananaversary after an hour and the Mehndi about half way into the event.

 

Yes, we could see into the arena and there were only about a half dozen beers total with a steady queue. I only could see facing north, so there could have been others facing the south, but beyond the few no show kegs I only saw one keg that kicked with an hour to go.

Best advice is there are 5-10 beers you like best, hit those first with a fresh palate, and you’ll likely be able to hit all 5-10, then just go from style to style and sample. Use the FOBAB online beer list, as many volunteers will know little to nothing about what they are pouring, assuming they haven’t abandoned their station to continue sampling like I’ve seen in the past. Our volunteer group did care looking up the beers and answering questions, and the attendees appreciated the info.

What we can’t answer is what YOU would like best, only what is listed for the beer descriptions, and what beers have been requested the most. I’d say 1 of 10 attendees asked what they should try.

 

Did you report the jacket theft to the powers that be at Fobab? They should make that right if they want to ensure future volunteer participation.
Edit: unless you wore you $7,000 white mink coat then that’s on you

 

I spoke to a few key organizers, and they were understanding. It was a cheaper windbreaker, brought primarily in case of this type of situation. One of the organizers I spoke to had her car broken into last night in the UIC parking lot. All the staff/coordinators I’ve interacted with over all five festivals have been great. I still recommend the experience for people looking to attend and also help out.

Of the beers I poured and recommended, HA Orin (704) won best in show, and it was really good The Apple Brandy (705) was also excellent and won silver.

I had about 30 oz which was more than enough, and about 12-16 oz total last night. Was enough to leave responsibly.

Beyond my Friday recommendations, I really enjoyed these three out of state breweries most after having the chance to walk the floor:

• Seedz’ Little Z (1103), after seeking them out by recommendations by @brewskis and others. It was a Wild Beer (Acidic) and 2.8% packed with great flavor.
• Milieu (poured Bruce yesterday) Smol, sane ABV and category as Seedz, and it was also a pour and brewery I hope to visit.
• San Diego Tap Room, which I go to each trip to SD (it’s in Pacific Beach). They have a great tap list including my first crack at Pliny the Younger, but I’ll focus equally during future visits on their beers after enjoying Purple Icon, a pastry Porter having a nice balance between the base and the coconut and coffee, with complimentary but not overwhelming vanilla.

I enjoyed both double barrels from Spiteful (Hostel Harry & Belligerent Bob), More Mehndi & Revolution “The 309” most among the local entries.

The Lager Lounge line was too busy every time I looked, and I didn’t bother with Goose Island, so not sure what they brought.

And that’s a wrap on 2024 FOBAB. Will shoot for number six next year.

 

Another great FOBAB!

First off, as some have mentioned, I could not believe how late into the festival just about everything lasted. I think an hour and a half in, me and my group were all like, we can't believe NOTHING had kicked.

Some of the medal choices were bizarre I must say. None stand out more than the Chaba beer winning gold in the specialty stout category. I also thought the Milieu winner in wild beer category was mid at best.

That said, I spent a lot of time in the barleywine category this year and they NAILED the medals there. After our first pass trying a lot of them, my friend and I thought the Verboten and Kros Strain were two of the best beers we had all night, and they won gold and silver. The Brothership was also great.

Other fantastic beers we had...

Other Half Banana
Resident Culture Macadamia
Weldwerks Coconut PVW23
Revolution The 309
Resident Culture Single Barrel Select
Weldwerks Medianoche
New Image 9505
Lost Abbey Ghosts in the Forest
A bunch of sours I'm forgetting too

Thought it was a bit of a down year for Mendhi honestly. Not that it was bad, just not a stand out. Thought the 2024BCBS was actively not good, but the Bardstown cask finish was good.

Also shout out to Lunar's Oak Aged Voldamalort for being the worst beer I've ever had at FOBAB.

Overall a great year, as always. There's nothing like FOBAB.

 

Just a genius name for such a horrible flavor. The character and the liquor are equally hated/loved.

 

I actually like/enjoy a malort from time to time but the beer made me almost physically ill.

But yes, incredible name.

 

I didn’t go this year for first time since 2014… I was not happy that GI bourbon county preview stopped happening. I’m a huge bourbon county fan… would consider coming again if more of lineup was there. I saw macaroon, reserve rye and reg were there. What else? I miss the days they were all there.