Firestone Walker Invitational 2017

... but that would totally be okay. Honestly, I'd rather they brought multiple kegs of one thing as opposed to eight 5 gallon little shits.

 

FW confirmed in the Facebook post comments that Side Project is bringing 12 beers this year. Might as well put their name on the People's Choice Brewery award already!

 

Oh, I know it. Side Project was going to be the example I used to talk about breweries that don't always announce everything. But this is the first year that Trillium is coming and it really wouldn't surprise me if that was it for them.

 

I would be shocked if they didn't bring Congress St. or Cutting Tiles. I do enjoy Night and Day so that is what I will be stopping by their booth to get, depending on line...

Thankfully I can get my fill of Angel of Darkness while receiving hate stares from beer nerds. I hate the sellout, but damn that beer is still delicious.

 

I need to try that Chocolate Covered Black Angel too.

 

HPB better bring a tanker truck of Timbo Pils...

 

Also good to note: the tacos al pastor are in the same location they have been the last few years. I don't know if I saw the donut vendor on there though...

 

You mean those shitty tacos that nobody should ever eat because they are bad?

The ones I was going to help consume in order to save the stomachs of other beer drinkers so that they could have better food?

Those ones?

Yeah, don't go to those ones. I'll take care of it for you. They we can dance around the bonfire I make after setting the leftover guac on fire..

 

Yeah. Those ones. The ones everyone else should avoid.

 

I mostly just go back and forth between donuts and Intelligentsia. Have fun in the Side Project line.

 

Tartare Rouge is rare? I'm guessing maybe if you're not from the bay area? I've had it a half dozen times at least.

 

Bear Republic has never really "brought it" at this festival.

 

I'm sure I'm in the minority but Bear Republic doesn't have anything to "bring"...they are mediocre at best. On the same level as Fig Mtn as far as I'm concerned.

 

Nah, I agree. Beers are fine, but I can't remember the last time I picked up anything from them.

 

The Überbrew beers are all better than those ratings

 

This is my first year attending and I was wondering about the VIP early entrance. I have an early entrance ticket but my buddy was telling me that I wasted my money. From what he was telling me most of the rare beers will be timed tappings later in the day. Do any of you experienced people know about this? I was hoping to drink a few pours of apple brandy derivation in that first hour

 

A number of the special pours are timed, but most are not and you absolutely did not waste your money. Last year Side Project brought 74 beers (plus or minus) but no one knew when anything was going on...so we got a few pours during early admission and enjoyed not standing in the 30-45 minute line (no exaggeration) the rest of the fest. There is a lot of value in being able to walk up to these breweries and get a pour or two of all this amazing stuff. I would have gone early admission again this year if the computer gods looked favorably upon me, but no luck. Relax and have fun - and that's easier to do with early admission.

 

If they are bringing more than listed (and it sounds like they are), they will rotate the kegs to the next beer as they kick. I think 2 beers on at any one time is the norm.

When Derivation goes on the line will cease to move from people cutting.

 

I've done early admission every year and it is by no means a waste of money. Like the post above me said, some of the special beers will be timed tappings but what the extra hour gives you is the opportunity to hit as much else as you can before the big crowd comes in. AB Derivation will likely not be on then but who knows. What I normally do is spend that first hour getting to as much stuff as I can and then I spend the next hour (after GA gets in) wandering around to random food spots/breweries with no lines. The timed tappings are normally around 2PM or 3PM so by that point, you've probably had enough beer and can make the decision to stand in line for one of the timed tappings.