ColLAboration

Yea, taster size. They were still pretty generous pours.

 

I had fun but agree pior events had better stuff on tap. 0 sours as well, or at least from what I saw.

 

They had La Folie and Sour Wench on tap.

 

Kick was on earlier too. They were all out at the station by the beer pong, so they were easy to miss.

The taps would have been amazing at a bar, but expectations were so high (because of past events and the lead-up on twitter/FB) for this that maybe it felt a little underwhelming. There were a couple of lulls where it didn't seem like there was that much appealing on tap. Thinking back, though, I had plenty of really great beers, especially for $5 each.

I thought it the belasco was a really cool, epic location, loved the ceilings and the booths and it was fun to explore, but honestly I kinda liked it better when it was just in some parking lot. There were a few times when the lines got all mixed up in the middle, it was super dark inside, and it kinda felt like it was trying to be fancier than a beer garden, or something.

 

Here are my thoughts:

I was literally the first person inside the venue when they opened at noon. There was really nothing special (this may just be my opinion) on at first which was a bit disappointing to those of us who were lined up outside for over an hour before the event started.

The line issue was pretty confusing at times, with the lines for the back booths crisscrossing into the line for the “main” bar.

The beer lists were on easels on the floor at the start of the event with all of the kegs that were going to be there. People were peeking behind the current keg lists to see what was going to be tapped after and the staff for the event saw and moved most of the lists behind the bar where it was somewhat hard to read, especially if you had been partaking all day.

I absolutely loved the taster option for this event and from what I hear this is the first time it was done for a ColLAboration. If anyone involved reads this, PLEASE continue to make this an option for future events.

I was able to pick up a sweet Duvel tulip with the ColLAboration logo on it for $5 on my way out. Good deal.

 

I was able to trade up to a taster package after all. Pretty easy switch with bossman Tony Yanow handling things out front.

I agree this was DEFINITELY the way to go. Generous pours indeed - and with some of the huge ABV monsters out there, it's really all you needed.

We lucked out and happened to be at the front of one of the side bar lines when PtY went on tap. I would say maybe 10-15 people got pours. Was a definite highlight for me, as was Indra Kunindra, which I had not tried before. Went back for seconds on that one.

 

Good to meet you again man, cheers.

 

Likewise!

 

Yeah, a lot more sours at previous CoLAboration's. Wished there had been more.

 

Since this was my 3rd (or maybe 4th) CoLAboration. I see the good and the bad. Good: The Belasco theatre was beautiful, and did allow you to spread out and chill when you wanted too, but due to the next point, was not utilized to it's full potential. Bad: but unlike previous CoLAboraitons, the food situation was not up to par. I did bring food to one previously, and think I will go that way to any of the future ones, since the local restaurant delivery menu's were absent from the tables at this one. (Food sales likely helped Blue Palms, so I rolled with it, but took 20 minutes in line to have my order taken, and and hour to get my food. On top of that, being vegetarian & ordering the garden burger, it was out of stock when my food arrived, so there went my protein) I also had to keep going back 5 times to check if my order was ready, taking away from chilling out & enjoying the garden feel.

Beer Tap stations were spread out, helped with clusters of crowds at some times, but actually made for longer lines then previously due to everyone hearing rumors of which one was pouring PTY next. I prefer the parking lots personally, easy to get around, or move to shorter lines on a whim. I spent more time roaming, and in line this time around, then any previous CoLAboration, which to me lost its "pop up beer garden" appeal, and instead just felt like a massive beer fest inside a theatre.

As for beers, my highlights were Abyss, Deliverance, Sour wench, Indra Kunindra, Sucaba. My wife and I both got PTY, which was a first for me. IMHO, & for me personally PTY = OVERATED. Glad I ticked if off the bucket list, but Pliney the Elder is just fine for me, it was not unicorn blood/milk, or even close to the most complex beer on that I've had. It's strong, grassy, balanced, and rare, but not worth the stress or chase at all imho. Many love it, obviously it's # 1 on BA, and if your still chasing, I wish you luck, an hope it meets your expectations. At least for me, I can say that now for me personally, but to each their own.