Despot Day 2016

This is why I hate going to Scott's Addition with any regularity. I don't blend with the #newmoney crowd! I cringe to think what kind of #newmoney shit show will take place once The Veil opens up.

 

yeah, I think alot of people here are gonna think they'll have a TreeHouse on their hands and will try to rob people blind for a 4pk of cans...

 

Having had neither, I'm almost certain I'd prefer Supreme Leader over Foolery, all things being equal. Considering it's likely 6(+2):1 ratio on bottles /pp as well... well I am out of walez trading biz and perhaps 1 Foolery is indeed "worth" more than 8 LCCB stouts, and also you wouldn't have to drive anywhere if you live in rva. More dancing room for me, as they say.

I believe I had Illuminatos last year and enjoyed it, the coconut one they announced today sounds pretty $$ actually.

 

I'm with you. I love SL. Have had Foolery and Trickery but both were way too hot. Never had Ruse. If I was a heavy trader then it would be worth the effort but for my own personal stash I prefer SL. HW is often secretive to bottle counts and they rarely do tickets and never pre-sale from my experience. Just more trouble than the beer is worth but again, some like the beer and all that goes along with their releases.

 

I had awaken today to finish the set off. My favorite is hug by a huge margin.

 

I'm going to the Supreme Leader release and have a couple general questions:

1. Are "pins" different than pours?

2. When they offer up other bottles for sale is that in the same line or a different line? If it's a different line can I buy them whenever I want and not when my group time is?

 

The only time I've heard "pins" used was when referring to one-off or special brews made specifically for an event, like a base beer with cocoa nibs or coconut, maybe juniper for an IPA or something of the ilk so to my knowledge a pin is more like a firkin.

 

Answers to your questions.

1. Are "pins" different than pours?
YES. The pins announced are variants of Supreme leader that are basically casks tapped the day of the event. Just consider "pins" to be part of the draft lineup and you are purchasing pours for any of the beers that have on the lineup for that day. They usually sell tickets for pours for $7 at the releases. each pour is 10oz and good for any beer they have tapped. They have have two pouring stations. One right inside the barn and a beer truck/tent out in the field or behind the barn. If they do have multiple pour stations then expect them to update what beers will be pouring where and/or provide a lsheet when you show up on the 2nd.The pins (and tap times) for SL are;
12:00: Ginger & Coconut Supreme Leader

2:00: Cilantro & Jalapeno Supreme Leader

4:00 Chocolate Pecan Supreme Leader

2. When they offer up other bottles for sale is that in the same line or a different line? If it's a different line can I buy them whenever I want and not when my group time is.
Typically the same line. They should also update the event details as to what bottles they will have for sale at the event. I would stick to your time slot for those bottles just to keep things organized and less busy since that's what they have these for but you could probably go up later in the evening if you want to pickup separate bottles too. They will probably have just about anything they offer in bottles too so you can taste before buying.

 

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by same or different line, but draft pours and bottle sales are a different line, but usually drink tickets are the same line as bottle sales. Despot is the biggest release they have, and there was almost no bottle line at any time because of the way they set it up (guaranteed allocation). They separate people into purchasing groups, but they let you purchase your bottles whenever because if the fact that there is no line. I'm sure they reserve the right to enforce times if they need to, but its unlikely. The Supreme Leader release should be very easy.

 

I meant was there a line dedicated solely to Supreme Leader bottles and then if you wanted anything else you had to go elsewhere. I have the 2 PM group and I want to see how many Richmond places I can visit so it sounds like I'll be good rolling in around 3 or so if I want to wait that long.

 

Oh, yeah you will be fine rolling in whenever.

 

What @beernuts said. You are fine arriving after your ticket window but don't make it too late. For Despot they opened up availability for remaining bottles not picked up at 7pm, an hour after the 3rd and final time slot ended. Your window is 2-4 so either way you should be fine. Just be sure to plan 45 mins or so from RVA to get to LCCB. West End/Short Pump are is on that 35-45 minute timing for arrival.

 

At despot you could buy other bottles/merch/drink tickets at the place you got your despot (can't call it a line with a straight face), or there was another 1 or 2 spots where you could buy the other bottles/merch/drink tickets. No issues at the paying stations, there weren't really lines at all.

My only slight complaint at DD was that it was a mega line to get to the pins, because there were seemingly more people interested in each one than beer in each pin. So people were just going to the back of the line after getting a pour, so as not to miss the next pour, and just sipping their brew over the next 45mins, standing in line. I didn't figure out what was going on until I stood in line for 15min, only to find out that one was gone and the next didn't tap for 30 more minutes. It wasn't a big deal, just got a "regular" despot from the other queue and went on with my day. This is not actually a gripe, only trying to explain how it worked because as a first timer, it was initially not very clear what was going on.