All Pints North

in my opinion All pints north is one of the best fests for a balance of great beers and not huge crowd/lines. I have been 2 of the last three years and the only lines I remember being long were when surly did their timed releases, otherwise most places were 5 mins or less. The nicest part of APN is that bayfront park is gorgeous and can hold way more people than are at this fest so it doesn't feel crowded. my .02.

 

I would say that crowds are pretty reasonable for this event. I never experienced lines more than a couple minutes long and had a number that I could just walk right up to. I think it is like most fests, where a couple of booths will be bombed at the beginning or for a timed release and will have a 15-20 minute line, but that isn't the norm.

 

Seems like you're insinuating that most beer fests have huge lines @ZAP and in my experience that's not the case.

Like @sembo says, most fests have no line at all for the majority of breweries. To use ABR as an example, there are over 100 booths and maybe 10 of them have a line (Surly, Town Hall, Goose Island, Bent Paddle, etc.)

Even last year you could just walk right up to the Central Waters booth and get pours of Black Gold.

 

Yep, went the last 2 years and the lines weren't bad at all.

Last year it was around 93*, and the year before was 91-92* as well. So I'm hoping this year is MUCH cooler.

 

You're almost as old as @mnbearsfan and he braves the lines at Dark Lord Day every year! If you love a nice long line, you need to get to Munster in the spring

 

All pints is one of the best, and Duluth can't be beat. If you stay away from all the fan boy stuff (and that is starting to be less and less) there really aren't any lines. So many great breweries in the state that many will never stop by because there is no hype, visit them...I know you will

 

Speaking of APN. If anyone has any knowledge for some tap takeovers going on, please post them here!!

 

It will be my first APN, and first beer fest in 2 years. Going with my daughter, and her bf. Let's hope for fabulous weather, and and no hassles.

 

Don't forget all the Friday night activities and Saturday night ones!!

 

Would you mind listing the activities you are referring to? Thanks!

 

• Driving to Duluth
• Staying in an overpriced, 2-night minimum hotel
• Drunkenly eating Pizza Luce or Burrito Union post festival
• Driving back from Duluth

 

Other points of interest:
1. Northern Waters Sandwiches in Canal Park (restaurant up the hill too).
2. Vikre Distillery in Canal Park.
3. Thirsty Pagan in Superior (acceptable sours and great deep dish pizza).
4. Bent Paddle tap room.

 

No beers posted yet, but here is the list of brewers:
http://www.mncraftbrew.org/events/allpintsnorth/participating-breweries

 

I think they usually release the program on the Tuesday before the festival.

 

*Drinking alot of great beer Priceless.

 

Check Facebook. There's the Pizza Luce, Red Herring, and Bent Paddle so far. Bent Paddle's All Pints Hootenanny is only Friday. Red Herring has events Friday and Saturday. Pizza Luce has it Friday night.

 

@Oneeighthcuban any spoilers on your beers for APN?