Bluesapalooza...Who's Going???

i love mammoth brews, and heard about this will i was up at yosemite. im on the fence, it looks like a great time!

 

Done it many years...skipping it this year just because it was feeling like a rut.

Don't go expecting much in the way of rare beers or one-offs, though there usually are some gems if you look around. Plenty of good beer to get you through the day. Don't expect a beer-geek event, or you'll be disappointed. It'll be dusty, the lines will be long for the porta-potties, and you will get dirty. Drink lots of water, since it's easy to forget you're at 8k altitude. I've taken a camelbak in years past, that helped a lot. The line to get in beforehand will look ridiculous, and it will be, but it tends to move pretty quickly and you won't miss out on too much.

It can be a lot of fun, especially with the right group of friends. Just relax, expect lines and for it to be dusty, and you'll have a good time.

 

I'll be going with my girl for the 3rd year (along with 1000 brew caddies being sold/given away this year ). This festival is a lot of fun and there are usually a few cool tappings throughout the day (last year I recall Parabola, Deliverance, RR 9L, etc. Last year I stayed at the Westin (great spot!) which is walking distance to everywhere you'd want to be. If you can find some time to make it to Devil's Post - I'll be making the trek this year.

 

9L bottles?!

 

This'll be my 4th year.
Its a good time, not like FW or Stone in rare factors, but still some great offerings.
Off the top of my head from last year:
Kern Citra
BP Barrel Aged Sea Monster
FW XV and Parabola
Bruery Autumn Maple
RR PtE and Temp
In years past we've stayed at the Season 4 (its just up the road from the Westin). This year we're staying at Horizons 4.
We're getting in on Thursday and headed out of town on Sunday.

 

Yeah yeah I remember the BA Sea Monster and FW 15. Must have missed the Citra - did have the JO IPA.

I think we'll be there Friday morning - Sunday afternoon.

 

I went last year and had a great time. Not making it up there this year for the event though.

As MrTopher mentioned there was still some great beer (RR was also pouring Supplication as well and I had a bunch of it. The Temptation were in 3L bottles). All of the breweries brought really fresh kegs of their hoppy beer.

 

I'll be in attendance for the 3rd year in a row. I can only reiterate all the positive comments mentioned above. You cannot ask for a more beautiful backdrop to enjoy great beers from some of the top breweries in CA.

Although it is not a tickers' paradise, I am always 100% satisfied with the beers poured (and I do enjoy a good tick). Most of you have already mentioned the cool one-offs that were poured in past years. I will also throw in that we've seen RR Hop Father, BP Bourbon BA Victory at Sea, Bruery beers that are unique to their tasting room, and other interesting specialties from the likes of Port, Newport Beach Brewing Co., etc. It's also a good sign that this event is gaining more traction in the beer community when I see new breweries joining for the first time. Super stoked!

I'll be staying at the Westin nearby The Village. The Village is a great place to walk to from the site to get food after the event (I've always managed to be hungry afterwards. Alas, we are drinking copious amounts of fine beer). As mentioned above, the line will be exceptionally long to get in, but it moves quickly enough. I recommend getting your wristband the day before at Whiskey Creek or at the site itself to speed up your entry a bit. Last year we bottle shared in line, and although fun, it really caught up to me quickly based on the ridiculous amount of beer consumed at the event.

That's my Cliffs Notes visitor's guide to the Mammoth Beer Fest. Hopefully the city of Mammoth Lakes' recent bankruptcy doesn't mean that the event will forgo porta-potties in exchange for holes in the ground.

 

We are now staying at the Alpenhof above the Clocktower Cellar - gotta take what you're given! Bringing a few things with me, BA Speedway for sure. Looking forward to the weekend.

 

We're headed up to Bishop this afternoon, going to bike from Bishop to Mammoth tomorrow then some downhill on Friday and then the fest on Saturday.
We're at the Horizon 4 (Meridian Blvd). Bringing a few things, but nothing too crazy (GI BCBS, Stone 12th, some Brooklyn BCS, and a Parabola/Abacus) want to save myself for Saturday.
Looking forward to RR, Bruery, Ballast Point, Kern, FW, LA/Port, Beachwood, Drake's, Epic, Ladyface (support local), Sierra Nevada, Stone and Telegraph.

 

Keep an eye out for Travis, Doug, mark and tucker from Societe brewing with some great beers.
Cheers and be safe
Kevin

 

I didn't see them at the Brewery CCBA Reception yesterday... GO BULLDOGS! (class of 2003)

 

I missed the Tartare - include me in those that didn't know it was there (and I'm upset) I didn't see any Fresno State shirts in the crowd and I had 2 small pours of DDBA so I must have seen you. I also enjoyed the Dorado and Dirty Hippie.... worst beer award goes to Cismontane Bandwagon

Edit: Nobility was pretty solid too.