2017 FOBAB

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by sahd-1, Aug 10, 2017.

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  1. HouseofWortship

    HouseofWortship Pooh-Bah (2,735) May 3, 2016 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    This year the tasting glasses are shaped like piggy banks so you can start saving for next year's $20 increase....

    That being said, maybe they are just looking at what Half Acre is charging for Big North and increasing accordingly....
     
  2. WITTBEER

    WITTBEER Initiate (0) Jan 12, 2008 Illinois

    Not sure if this is worth the price if the space isn't increased for this event. This is coming from someone who's gone to the last 9 FOBABs.
     
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  3. macewank

    macewank Zealot (666) Aug 28, 2010 Illinois

    My guess is they're building extra "tickets" into the cost of entry to cover the fact that they haven't been taking them.
     
  4. Beer_Economicus

    Beer_Economicus Pooh-Bah (2,698) Apr 8, 2017 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Can you clarify? I don't understand.
     
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  5. macewank

    macewank Zealot (666) Aug 28, 2010 Illinois

    So... FoBAB inevitably turns into an unlimited sampling event every year, but, that's actually against the law in the state of IL. They're supposed to be taking "tickets" -- in FoBAB's case the past couple of years, they've used a passport book with stamps. 1 sample = 1 stamp. The past couple of years, I think we've gotten like 20-25 as part of the price.

    My assumption is that part of the reason they're increasing the cost is because they know it's become an unlimited sampling thing, and just giving everyone 40-50 stamps and actually forcing the folks serving to stamp the passport gets them around the legal issue.

    Of course, it could also just be a money grab from the ILCBG. Wouldn't be the first, won't be the last. It sells out every year at $60, why not jack the price up over 33%
     
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  6. cryptichead

    cryptichead Grand Pooh-Bah (4,857) Jul 3, 2014 Illinois
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Same venue, so I doubt there will be more space (unless they reduce number of beers). But at this price, hopefully they will lower number of tickets so at least we get a benefit of a smaller crowd with this price increase. Otherwise, it's just a price increase without added benefit.

    My other thought, is that maybe the price increase is due to the 15th anniversary of FOBAB. Maybe they'll have something special planned? (Just hoping/speculating).
     
  7. ahbithwabm

    ahbithwabm Initiate (0) Apr 27, 2013 Illinois
    Trader

    maybe they're trying to convince more people to volunteer
     
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  8. HouseofWortship

    HouseofWortship Pooh-Bah (2,735) May 3, 2016 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    For $85 they should guarantee me 1 pour each of whatever they have there.
     
  9. HawksBeerFan

    HawksBeerFan Maven (1,378) Dec 24, 2011 Illinois
    Trader

    Gotta love people freaking out about an $85 ticket to without a doubt the best beer festival I've been to, but talking about how every week they are buying cases or multiple bombers of all sorts of different beer.
     
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  10. HouseofWortship

    HouseofWortship Pooh-Bah (2,735) May 3, 2016 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    The difference is you can enjoy the cases or multiple bombers over the course of a few weeks, you don't have to try to down 3 ounces of each in a 3 hour window....
     
  11. ratwheels

    ratwheels Initiate (0) Jan 12, 2011 Illinois

    $85 is still a steal and IIRC, there was zero (or almost zero) price increase from 2015 to 2016. $85 for unlimited pours of BA beers is a great deal.
     
  12. macewank

    macewank Zealot (666) Aug 28, 2010 Illinois

    Who's freaking out?

    People noticed the $25 increase this year and are curious why. It's a fair question to ask.
     
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  13. RexKramer

    RexKramer Initiate (0) Jan 19, 2011 Illinois

    Yeah, I don't think it's worth freaking out over, but it is a bit of a price hike in 1 year. Overall, it's still a good deal, but it is certainly getting to the point where I might not be as care free about the beers I try to sample.

    The optimist in me hopes that they decrease the capacity by 25% to make it more enjoyable and a bit easier to grab some of the beers, but I somehow doubt that is the case.
     
  14. Spider889

    Spider889 Pooh-Bah (1,933) Mar 24, 2010 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah

    Shouldn't matter because the breweries have to donate all the beer so the margins on the fest have got to be very high. The venue might have drastically increased the rental fee though.
     
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  15. JFresh21

    JFresh21 Savant (1,036) Mar 6, 2012 Illinois
    Trader

    I'm pretty sure they said they had a 3 year contract at UIC. After fees/taxes it's probably closer to $95. Regardless of beer quality, $95 bucks is an expensive night of drinking.
     
  16. Spider889

    Spider889 Pooh-Bah (1,933) Mar 24, 2010 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah

    Yeah I get that. I was actually trying to point out why they shouldn't have needed to increase pricing. But the devil's advocate in me suggests there might be an unforeseen and truly legitimate need to increase price.
     
  17. Beer_Economicus

    Beer_Economicus Pooh-Bah (2,698) Apr 8, 2017 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    FTFY.
     
  18. LemonJelly

    LemonJelly Aspirant (272) Aug 1, 2013 Wisconsin
    Trader

    Just my 2 cents... but after going last year for the first time, I would never go again unless they had a bigger space. The sour side wasn't bad but the BA stouts and barleywine was basically a mosh pit for the first 2-3 hours and made it very difficult to get a pour of anything. Not to mention most of the "whales" besides BCBS (long line, but hey at least there was a line) were tapped out instantly. To each their own, just not my cup of tea for a beer fest .
     
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  19. HouseofWortship

    HouseofWortship Pooh-Bah (2,735) May 3, 2016 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'd like to see this be a free event where they keep all the beer on stage and then auction off all the 2 oz pours to the highest bidders....
     
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  20. ratwheels

    ratwheels Initiate (0) Jan 12, 2011 Illinois

    It's 6-10 for non-IMBIBE, so that's 4 hours.
     
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