I know big beer festivals are not always preferred here... but curious who is attending or heard of any Taptakeovers/ special tappings on the days leading up
Tuckahoe has a new strawberry gose abailable in their taproom, and available at the festival..saw glasstown is bringing some ddh danky kong as well but that's all I've seen so far.
This will be my 11th year at beerfest. My friends and I look forward to it every year. We are all in our mid 40s so we look at it as a fun guys night out. I know AC Beerfest isnt popular on this board but the people who run it do a really nice job, Tons of NJ breweries. Looking forward to trying Magnify Cold side IPA, Jersey Girl Rake Braker IPA, Brotherton Pale Ale. Hoping Tonewood is pouring Fuego IPA or Chief Pale Ale since I havent tried that yet either. The APP with full pour lists should be updated anyday.
We are in the same boat. A group who do it as a tradition. It is well ran, and there are really a ton of jersey breweries this year. Never overly croweded either
Im with you guys. I go every year with friends. They dont have the "whales" that you can get at EBF or some of the other festivals but tons of local NJ breweires and man, what a fun time! Drink good beers, listen to some good music and then hit the tables in AC.
Could not agree more. From the map it seems they are putting all of the NJ breweries in one area. If so i am a huge fan of this. Lots I have not hit yet. Also it looks like Vegabond Kitchen is doing some Vintage KBS tappings Friday night
I'm going to session 2 with my son and his friends, they wanted to go in the day so they could go out that nite to a club. I hope its not overcrowded, I took him to the smaller beerfest in Resorts and we had a blast.
Just saw this from Brotherton on Facebook , special release during AC beerfest. " In late January of this year, we brewed a rich Imperial Stout and decided to let it condition in previously used Heaven Hill and Wild Turkey bourbon barrels. After 8 loving weeks kissing that beautiful oak, we're pleased to announce the release of Swarthy Invader. This stout is now showing classic flavors of oaky vanilla, dark chocolate, gentle coffee, and caramel-bourbon. Dark, thick, and as swarthy as they come! 9.6%abv Very limited release for draft only! We will be doing a SPECIAL LIMITED RELEASE of Swarthy Invader at The Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival! Listen for the tapping announcement over the loud speaker during each session! #brothertonbrewingcompany#bourbonbarrelstout #limitedrelease
I really don't understand why AC Beer Fest gets a bad rap... maybe from the Friday sessions? Who knows. But at THIS point in the beer game, the AC Beer Fest is vital. With 70 breweries in New Jersey, this is an excellent showcase for beers that a lot of us might not be able to try because of distance. Last year, I was able to get my first taste of Glasstown, who I'd have NO clue STILL who they are other than the Beerfest. Got to spend some valuable face time with Ship Bottom, the good people of Founder's, and quite a few other New Jersey breweries. At least for me and my wife, this fest is pivotal in deciding what places I'd like to prioritize in the upcoming weeks. I'm looking forward to offerings from Devil's Creek, Nale House, Kelly Green, Ludlam and getting re-familiarized with Three 3's and Tonewood. We had a blast last year, looking forward to it again this weekend.
ACBeerfest has come a long way since the beginning, but if you don't pick the session that fits you, it will be less fun for you. Saturday Night is a frat party if you don't like that scene the day session or Friday Night are for you.
I'd consider going back, I recall having a few beers from Budweiser that were awesome, Tomahawk and what not, and I've never seen them elsewhere. But I also have a funny story... as I was returning for the 2nd session there was a guy laying across the wide concrete steps leading up, covered in his own vomit, and laying in a pool of piss that ran like a river down to the sidewalk below. That's funny enough as it is, but even funnier was his clearly drunk friend leaning over him saying "C'mon dude, rally, second session!" Hahahaha! There's no way he was even getting up, let alone getting back inside for another beer! That was then followed by a car driving by with a guy hanging out of window throwing up. Good times.
Liked the set-up with all of the Jersey breweries together. The day session on Saturday was not overly crowded in my opinion. I was shocked and got hte feeling that it was busier/longer lines by some of the Macro breweries that were in the back of the room. Was also very cool to have about 30 minutes with a small amount of people after finishing the Hops Trot.
Cape May killed it. Just utterly killed it. Probably the best collection of beers I've ever had from one NJ brewery outside of a Kane anniversary party. Seriously, they made me rethink how good a shady could actually be.
in the past the options have basically looked like leftover distro from Hunterdon -- not many beers that aren't abundantly available at your local store. also, there always tend to be a quite a handful of people who over-drink and pick fights (search the event on YouTube for some gold lol). some people don't want to deal with that adolescent bs for an entry that isn't cheap. that was different this year, of course, in regard to selection since several breweries really worked to make an impression at the event.
I loved everything from 3 Three's. Pulpitations and Bug Juice were great. White Caps from Cape May and Fuego from Tonewood were other favorites. Rake Breaker from Jersey Girl not so much.
I finally got to try Rake Breaker and Sun Kissed Citra... and yeah, agree, not so much. Three 3's had some REALLY good stuff. Unfortunately for them, they make a Citra Pale Ale that is pretty similar to Kane's but not as good. Fortunately for anyone who lives nearby to them and not Kane, that's fantastic. I loooooooooooved Pulpitations. Overdue for a re-visit to the place.
