Firestone Invitational 2016

Really looking forward to the festival. This will be my first time attending and I am hoping to get thoughts / advice on a few things.

I have read through this thread and ones from previous years. It sounds like the bottle shares are great and I have a few additional questions, following-up on recent posts in this thread.
- I know that bottle shares are often informal and sometimes spontaneous things. Is there a good way to keep track of what is happening and where? It sounds like Adelaide on Friday night is a standard and perhaps that is a good starting point. Any others that would be good to target?
- What is the general vibe of bottle shares around the festival? Is it pretty laid back and in particular open to newcomers?
- Are Friday and Saturday the main nights for bottle shares? Does much happen on Sunday?

If anyone has general tips for a first-timer, these would also be appreciated. Some specific questions include:
- I currently have a general admission ticket. Is the entry fairly smooth for this group? Or given the size of the crowd, does it take a while to get in?
- I know that some lines (e.g. Side Project) will be pretty long, but what is the general wait time for average lines? A matter of minutes or longer?
- The number of options at the festival is a bit overwhelming, in particular in what feels like a somewhat limited amount of time. Any thoughts on how to approach this?

Thanks!

 

Adelaide on Friday night is the major informal share, and there's several other smaller ones. Not to be rude, but if you haven't been invited to a smaller group share Adelaide is probably your best bet as I've heard it's usually a decent group of people.

Laid back at Adelaide from what I've heard. People will always take care of friends first, but there's enough that I doubt you'll be unhappy.

Most of us drive back Sunday.

They start checking everyone in early, and it works well and everyone is ready to go once the event officially begins. Worst part of the day is going to be standing in the 100 degree heat waiting to enter the actual festival after checkin.

There will be plenty of lines with lots of people, and plenty with a few. You'll have to decide if that Dark Lord variant and Side Project pour is worth X minutes in line, or just jump around to other breweries with much smaller wait times. Hit a few big releases, but don't ignore all the other solid beer.

Have fun and don't stand in line all day. Lots of great breweries.

 

Open invite for peeps staying at the Motel 6. Our group is having a share by the pool area.

Cheers

 

Getting some feelers for bottle shares just on Friday night. I've done both shares at the Adelaide and smaller private shares. Unfortunately due to the tix situation this year, many of the usual groups will not be attending or holding shares. Anyone staying at the Courtyard Marriott that'd be down to set something up there? Not entirely sure how cool the hotel would be about it but I doubt it's a major deal assuming 80% of the hotel is probably attending the festival.

 

Ha, beat me to it. Guess I will be seeing you guys at the pool. That .5mile walk to adelaide seems so far when I can just walk around the corner. =P

 

Anyone staying at or planning a share at the Best Western Black Oak - next door to the Adelaide? There's a decent pool area and with temps over 100 a poolside share may be the way to go. Pretty decent set up there with tables and chairs.

 

look guys, don't worry. You can throw a stone in just about any direction and know a bottle share is going on and if you have bottles in hand, any share will be glad to accept your mid-west pours.

 

Been at the Adelaide pool for the past three years. I am trying to understand the Midwest pours comment. Is it a reference to anything or just a joke. Explain please.

 

Did this year 1 of the festival and we were kicked out because of the no glass in the pool area rule. Maybe they are more lenient now.

 

I'll be staying at the Marriott, although I'm not sure how late I'll be rolling in. I've stayed there before, albeit not for this event and I don't think they would have an issue with it.

 

Adelaide was very accommodating at the pool last year.

 

Don't yell at the night manager at the Adelaide in a drunken stupor. You'll fee like a douche the next day. Do walk through the Taco Bell Drive Thru at midnight, tap on the window and order some tacos. You'll feel like a boss. Don't throw up those tacos all over the road on the walk back to the hotel. You'll once again feel like a douche...

 

Anyone staying and sharing at The Oaks?

 

The joke (or maybe it's reality) is that if you go to a bottle share in the Midwest, you're getting a sip as your pour.

 

We stay at the Oaks. There was a very small share at the pool last year after the festival. There may have been more, but we usually don't spend too much time at the hotel...

 

It can also be defined as 40 people sharing a bottle. A "pour" is really a "splash."

 

Hung out at the pool at the Motel 6 after the fest in year two or three and the staff didn't really give a shit (most of us were using plastic cups or cans though, which may have been a factor).

However, there was a smaller group who was way too drunk and leaving all their empty bottles on a rickety table, which unsurprisingly ended up resulting in broken glass when one of them drunkenly bumped it too hard. Some of us that were less shithoused grabbed a trash can and cleaned up before it turned into an injury situation, but if you're going to share bottles there, be conscious of the fact that you're in a pool area where people walk around barefoot - just throw your empties away and minimize any possibility of broken glass.

 

It doesn't seem to me like it would be an issue so long as everyone is cleaning up after themselves and not being drunken ass. They have a patio area with seating which would be great to set up a share. I'm not sure of my exact ETA to the hotel, leaving SF around noon and making a few stops in between. I'd be down to start post a quick dinner on my end. My fiancé and another couple would be joining with bottles as well.

 

I'll be at the Marriott as well. Not sure what time we're rolling in, but post something if there's a share and I'll bring some sweet bottles.

 

That's what happened in our case. We had cups, then another group came with bottles and growlers. We were then told to remove all the bottles and glass from the area, so we just went to our room. Been renting the same cottage since year 2, so problem solved.

 

My wife purchased our tickets and on both of them it says her name. Tried changing one ticket to my name on the Eventbrite site but it won't allow it. Think it will be an issue when they match the ID's to them?

 

Im bringing some bottles to the Marriott as well. Looking forward to a share Friday night.

 

Email them and let them know, but I doubt it would be that much of an issue the day of.

 

They have been saying that your name has to be on your ticket and match your ID for the past few years now, but they never check when you enter. At least mine or anyone I know.

 

I went last year with the same thing and it was no problem. As long as the barcode scans you should be good, and if it doesn't you should still be fine as long as the person whose name is on the tickets is there with ID.

 

I had the same issue. My name was on both tickets. Attempted to change it the other night and couldn't. I emailed them. They told me it doesn't matter that both tickets have the same name on it. They aren't checking yet again.

Don't stress it.

 

Look at the app faq, also email from Firestone to me said its ok.

For name changes you can log in to your account or call Eventbrite directly. We are not checking names to ID's this year so as long as the ticket is valid you won't have any issues. Thanks

 

Leaving Santa Barbara around 5. I'll bring some bottles with me and then check back here once I arrive and get a child to sleep.

 

I just went in to change the name on a couple of tickets and had absolutely no issues doing so. Just used the edit under attendee information.

 

As others have said, it won't matter as long as your ticket scans. That said, you can edit a single ticket or tickets where the person was individually named. The ones you cannot edit are when a single person is listed x2. So John and Jane Doe can be edited but John Doe x2 cannot.

 

Had same issue. Called FW and they said they will not be checking ticket names this year (nor did they last year). So you're good.

 

Sounds like we might get something going on at the Marriott, even if it's a small share. I'm coming slowly from SF so I'll keep you all posted. I'm assuming we might be able to sit down around 8pm or so by the time everyone makes it and gets settled in their rooms.

 

will be at the Adelaide, looking forward to sharing friday! if anyone is down to get a little side blind tasting going shoot me a message we can try to pick a fruit or all lambic or whatever theme.. I know there will be plenty of good stuff being shared and this is not nessary but it is alwasy fun killing hype

 

"Seeing Double? Folks, we introduce you to Rye Double DBA. What is this beast, you ask? Well it’s our Double DBA oaked for a second time in rye barrels. Clocking in at a whopping 15% abv, this beer is not for the faint of heart.

Available exclusively on Saturday, June 4th ONLY at the following locations: Brewery Emporium (Paso Robles, 10am), Barrelworks (Buellton, 11am), Brewery Store (Venice Beach, 12pm). Two bottle max per person, $29.99 per bottle."

 

Looks like Firestone finally decided to start charging what the market will bear instead of their normally incredibly fair pricing schedule.

 

Duvel ain't going to leave money on the table. This ain't no charity.

 

Why is this beer $30, when Parabola is only $14?

WTF?

 

Double barreled double double barrel ale

 

dayam... that being said me and my buddy will be at Venice to pick a bottle or two. we love our DBA

 

Hopefully they wised up and allocated each location a proper amount. I mean, with it being invitational weekend, Barrelworks should get a good amount given there will be a lot of traffic flow through there.