Dark Lord Day 2016

I believe they also tweeted BA Variant

 

Sharp's Lord 2017

 

Dark Lord aged in O'Douls barrels?

 

No, No, and no. Please guys, stop. I don't want to delete pages of useless BS info. Its early in the game and you should save your game faces till we are a little closer. Thanks….

 

I haven't seen this question asked (or perhaps missed it amongst the plethora of DL Day content), but any idea how many tickets are in each group or have been historically?

Does group A have 100 people or 1,000 people? Although, with the format change, historical precedent maybe irrelevant (particularly if there are 10 variants)....

 

The estimated attendance for last year was around 10,000-12,000 with around 8,000 group tickets and 2,000-4,0000 general admission tickets. So that would be about 1,600 people per group. This year everyone gets dark lord, and I am guessing attendance won't be significantly reduced, so I would expect about 2,000-2,400 people per group this year.

 

so figure the first half of those lined up in group a clean out all of the bvdl

 

Valid point, never looked at it from that angle. Guess I'll be dropping the $200 then

 

Yeah, even if they doubled the production of BVDL it could still run out in Group A. That said, last year had some pretty interesting variants last year with the Cherry Cocoa, and Coffee Congac, so it's not like BVDL is the only really good variant anymore. I expect enough people will choose other variants that BVDL will last into Group B, but past that I don't think you will see it.

Still last year Coffee Congac and regular BADL were awesome and just as good as Vanilla IMO.

 

I suppose you're right, the Useless Info Stage of the DLD threads typically starts AFTER all tickets have been purchased. Hitting pause right now!

 

Reading your posts I'm a bit confused. When you go and buy your bottles, do you get offered a chance to buy other things? What is the best group to be in? I would think early if you get full choice at the other bottles but then you gotta hold those bottles all day which would be pretty annoying.

 

There are five groups (A - E) each with a different time slot. You pick your group when you purchase tickets, that determines when you go to pick up your bottles.

In years past you had the option of buying other FFF beers at the same time you bought your Dark Lord or from a separate tent. In 2014 they had a whole separate warehouse dedicated to selling other FFF beers to go. But as of last year they eliminated that, it slows down the line considerably and creates more hassle. Also there may have been some implications with their event license as well, I don't think the State Police liked the idea of unlimited to-go beer being sold which people could open on the spot and continue to get black out drunk on. So this year no other beers will be for sale to go. You will just go pick up your Dark Lord, pick your variant and then return to the festivities.

Yes, if you go early you gotta lug your bottles around all day. Many people leave the fest, drop the bottles at their car/hotel and return. Or just stake out a place and always leave one person guarding the beer so someone doesn't swipe it.

The main advantage of early groups is larger selection of variants to choose from, as you mentioned.

 

Okay. Your answers were pretty in line with my thoughts. Also, if me and buddy are both looking at going, is it pretty easy to coordinate the purchase. Like I go for A and he goes for C. If I win, then he doesn't submit his order for C? Or is it such a mad rush you just have to go for it? Thanks for the help.

Also, they should really do a scratch off and that devices your variant. Make it luck of the draw.

 

Once you get them in your cart, I think you have 10 minutes to checkout. So assuming you and your buddy got them in your cart, just call each other up and decide who will buy. The mad rush is getting them in your cart, once you have them and get the checkout timer, you are good.

 

My palms are getting sweaty just thinking of the ticket frenzy.

 

My body is ready

 

Knees weak? Arms heavy?
Vomit on your sweater already? Mom's spaghetti?

 

I still assume one of the largest reasons for the format change is the insane amount of cash they end up with on site. Just for dark lord if you assume 8,000 tickets and 1/3 of people getting BADL that totals $772,000 last year. That doesn't include taps or merch so it's pretty safe to say they pulled in a million dollars last year, all in cash. I didn't see the armored truck but I assume they had at least one.

 

I actually wish we couldn't pick our variant. That all 10 were sorted out and put in the tote bags and the workers had zero idea which variant was in which tote and you literally just walked into the warehouse, were handed your bag and were not allowed to open it til you exited the warehouse. No fighting in lines trying to get in as early as possible in session A. Everybody with the exact same odds.

 

I think the variants should be a blind pick or something that makes it random ... that will alleviate the need for people to "rush" over to get variants. Maybe pre pack the 5 bottles?
First come first choice could be a issue for a large crowd.
Either way I am happy to be guaranteed a variant with my ticket purchase