Dark Lord Day (2023)

DLD first timer with possibly stupid questions....just trying to make the most of my experience.

Does the bottle share go on throughout the entire festival, or is it only at certain times? I've been involved in pre-gaming shares before, but never been to an event that has it the entire time. I don't see anything labeled on the map, unless it is the "Tent". Coming solo unfortunately so guess I will have to find some random souls looking lost like me.

Is there any advantage to getting their early? For instance for the share. I'm group B, but was thinking arriving after noon.

Any insight into the "vintage bottles". Are these for sale? Typically regular DL or possible variants?

Is there absolutely no parking within reasonable walking distance or just limited? What's the best logistics? I see mention of shuttles from Open Bottle and Reggies, which aren't exactly nearby.

 

So "share" is a loose term. Anyone can bring in bottles, who you share them with and who shares with you is up to the people. MOST people share amongst their group, but I have chatted people up and we've poured each other the beers we are holding. I hope you're an introvert or at least get chatty when you're drunk.

There is no advantage to getting there early except for maybe one of your other points....parking. The neighboring businesses are either going to block off their lots or charge you to park in them. Be prepared to spend upwards of $50 to park in a lot near DLD. Otherwise, yeah parking is non-existent unless you like I dunno park in the Target down the road and hoof it over. Not sure how Target feels about that though, not sure they enforce things like that.

 

Parking might be allowed in Centennial Park on the east side of Calumet Ave for $5/day. Parking was available there for DLD pre-pandemic but not sure if it will be open this year. If you can park there, you'd just need to cross Calumet and walk to the back of the industrial park to DLD.

I personally like sharing beer in the bottle-pickup line with your group. I realize this was a bigger deal in early years when you'd spend an hour (sometimes hours) in that line and had time to pass bottles. Now pickup is fairly efficient and the line moves faster but I'll still hold onto a bottle for that line.

 

To answer your share questions:
The shares go on throughout the entire festival. You can share while waiting in line to buy food or beer. Or if your heart really desires, you can share in the portapotties as well. But on a more serious note, you do not have to be in the Tent to share. Just mingle and talk to people and everyone will be happy to share what they brought.

 

On the topic of bottle sharing, FFF posted the below yesterday.

 

Shares aren't remotely organized, it's basically chaos once you're checked in. Anywhere people are standing is a potential/likely drinking spot. Some people may be clique-ish or territorial, but most will freely share whatever.

No advantage to arriving early anymore, that was a much bigger deal when variants were first come first serve. If anything some of the riff-raff will be gone/passed out later and you won't have to lug your allotment around.

I don't think they've done a vintage sale AT the fest before. Probably recent vintages of regular and variants. May or may not be packages.

I would generally not recommend driving as most of the attendees are varying degrees of tanked. That's the reason for the shuttles talk, DLD is usually a shitshow. If you have to drive, there are spots around but you'll probably be across Calumet or down the road a bit. Also, expect to be gouged.

 

Glad DLD is back. To save me the time of reading through this entire thread... has there been any mention of oz limits for entrance? I think they only did that for a couple years and the last one they seemed to actually be enforcing it.

 

Officially 72 oz, but we all seem to be ignoring it based on our lists. Enforcement seems inconsistent in my experience, I've gotten through with around 100 oz, but other volunteers were actually doing math. Come on, who willingly does math?!

 

Yeahhhh that is an absolutely ridiculous number.

 

But this year they will have cavity sniffing dogs.

 

Looks like the Whole Foods pub nearest Munster is having an FFF takeover in the event you are lining up 3 days early for DLD ...

https://untappd.com/v/brewhouse-41/4986980/event/670835

 

One advantage of getting there early is getting a table in the tent. Looks to be a bigger tent. Rain was forecast yesterday but today 65 and only 5% chance. I love the tent tho so maybe you might not care.

As far as sharing, Walk around with a bottle in your hand, offer pours to people and get pours in return. Worst thing that can happen is someone tells you no. (don't need to be whales but a least have something local, not something you bought at the store on the way in).

72 ounces, ya right. One trick is to put some cans in the bottom of your bag, cover with ice and put some bottles standing upright on top. I bring extra to share in the entrance line but I get there early.

IMO after noon is late. But that's just me.

 

Fuck yeah!

Tho true, just for the noobies @vette-ss , don't risk going over the limit. They have held people back from entering until they either drink, redistribute or leave behind their excess, which can be no fun, unless you're trying to showcase your boofing skills first thing in the morning.

 

I'll be bringing nothing but lighter beers - Seedz, other randoms I have. There are so many big beers that are being poured and shared, in my experience, you offer someone a quality pils or whatever, and they are willingly received. Well, I may bring a couple of small format bottles of a Central Waters stout, but that's the exception. Unless....

To me, after 10:00 is late to the party, but I'm old skool. I have fond memories of the cattle chutes, in a pouring rain, and no one was having any fun because it was miserable. So, random pick out of the backpack, and I was sharing a bottle of an 18th St Hunter variant (can't remember which one) with everyone and anyone. The weather continued to suck, but that's all it took to break the ice. And then, a guy on the other way through saw the bottle and said - save some for me! And when we passed back by each other, we handed each other about a third of a bottle - he got the Hunter (when it was a thing) and I got some Mexican Cake. It was a fair dinkum trade, in my opinion (except I won).

To the first timer - just offer a pour, and you'll find your way. The main share tent can be intimidating, because they fill up early and those folks tend to stick to their tables, but shares happen anywhere. Especially on the way in to the fest - that's a great time in and of itself. (Wistfully remembering an hour+ wait to move 50 feet....)

 

Does anyone know if they will be checking beer oz at the 7am main entrance or not until we cross the 9am festival gate entry? Beer planning for line share.

 

I believe they would as the point of opening thr 1st area at 7am is to scan in and security check people coming into the holding pen so there isn’t as big a crowd to deal with at 9.

 

Yes, they check your oz at the main entrance. If you're over, you'll either have to ditch something, or drink it down with people outside the gate. While they weren't doing advanced math in 2019, most security lanes were checking reasonably so and enforcing to an extent.

 

alright, so this is my first beer thing in awhile, who's going that I know? @Zoomslowik I'll probably be following you around if I can find you

Also, anyone got a Dimensions of Time Al Young? I plan on bringing the other dozen or however many. We can do a grand tasting.

 

This will be the first year I won't be there at the ass crack of dawn. I'm actually looking forward to arriving later in the morning.