Best Beer Festivals/Release Parties & Why

Beer festivals and release parties are completely different things, but I'll answer the why part.

I love festivals that offer the chance to try stuff I can't normally get where I live. I attend release parties in hopes of getting one limited beer while it's really fresh.

 

Release parties for release party-only beers. New Glarus R&D release is always worth it (beer Dan puts out, and the bottle shares). I'm actually going to 2 this Friday and Saturday. Beer fests for hard-to-get, or otherwise not distributed in the state.

 

One of my faves is the 'very special keg' event at Blind Tiger in NYC (OP, not sure if you're in NYC or not, but keep an eye out for it).

It happens every November, and although it gets packed, I'm usually buzzed enough within 5 minutes to not care. This year's list was:

Firestone Walker Parabola
Bear Republic Tartare Rouge
Cantillon Iris
Peekskill Higher Standard
Bells Harvest Ale
Ballast Point Grunion
Founders KBS
Hill Farmstead Anna
Almanac Dogpatch Sour with Rainier cherries and aged in wine barrels
Avery Lilkoi Kepolo
Logsdon Saison Bretta
J W Lees in Calvados Barrels 2011
Thirsty Dog Cerasus Dog
Central Waters Brewer’s Reserve Bourbon Barrel Cherry Stout
Oscar Blues Ten Fidy 2012
Stone Double Bastard Aged in Red Wine Barrels 2012
Sierra Jack & Ken’s Black Barleywine 2011
Dogfish Head 120 2011
Nectar Black Xantus
Evil Twin Doughnut Break
Stillwater Even Less Jesus
Tilquin Gueuze
Crooked Stave Surette

 

I'll only go to small, basically unknown beer festivals anymore. The kind where a township is trying to make som money so they invent something to go with their fall fest.. I want to #1- be able to get a beer without waiting forever, and #2 - be able to stand around and talk without a swarm buzzing around me. For me it's social, to reconnect with beer guys. It's not about trying beers, although I'm open to that, but I never rate beers at a festival because, honestly, it's not the right place and time and you're not going to do the beer justice. And if you're not going to do the beer justice, why bother.

The same thing goes for release parties. They can be fun, and a good place to see all of the beer friends you've missed over the past couple of months, but if it's too big I just can't be bothered.

 

Stones Anniversary Parties are fantastic!

 

I've never been to a festival. Doesn't seem like my thing. I'm not into small tastes, big crowds, and long lines.

I go to most of Perennials release parties. It's the only sure way to get some of their popular beers. They generally tap a few kegs of some Barrel aged beers, or something special for their releases. The crowds aren't too bad, and you can get full sized beers at the bar.

 

Except for Armagedd---er, I mean Hunahpu's Day

 

Wow! Great list- I've only had about half of those. We currently have a few of those on the shelves at the bottle shop that I work at.