Firestone Walker Invitational 2018

I was pretty surprised how short the WeldWerks line was. It took them a while to get some of the other stuff on. Their line was long as hell at EBF, maybe the FWIBF crowd isn't as in the know.

 

Good event as always.

Highlights for me:

• Gigantic - 2016 Massive
• Jackie O's Brewery - Vision is Lost Without Eyes to See it Through
• The Bruery - Double Barrel Black Tuesday with Vanilla
• Thornbridge - Versa

Disappointment - The App. Was working great until about three ratings into the festival than it crashed and locked up. Switched to my backup plan, pen and paper for notes. So no harm done.

Had a small share going at the La Quinta, which didn't last long, so I uber-ed over to the Adelaide to join all you fine folks. Nice to share a pour with so many of you.

 

Highlights: Bruery DB Black Tuesday Vanilla, Weldwerks Medianoche variants, of which marshmello was prolly my fav, Omnipollo Pancake Stack, the poke tacos and all the cool people I met and drank with.

Lowlights: Side Project Derivation, Cigar City Huna, and all ‘bruesicles’

 

Can't say I recall much about them. There was a couple different tappings/uncorkings where there was a line waiting patiently and the second things started people would be rushing in from the sides. Just a total dick move to those waiting.

Overall though the vast majority of people at the shares and at the festival were fucking cool so it's whatever. I was talking to the security guard at the Adelaide and he said for how much we're drinking, we are very well behaved and he's seen other groups get far more out of hand with a fraction of the alcohol or next to none. Few broken glasses and a person or two had a bit too much, but at least by the pool people were very well behaved. Hat off to the Adelaide for letting us do our thing and hats off to everyone attending who aren't making them regret that decision.

 

Had a wonderful time, as per usual. Also, not surprisingly, the bottle shares were better than the festival just because of the friends and new friends met along the way.

Friday night at the grassy knoll was fun and chill.

Saturday morning I was feeling that friday night (not sure why, can't say I drank a lot) but some bacon and eggs from Joe's perked me right up to go hard in the paint.

Saturday festival, didn't eat as much as I would have liked but I did get to drink almost everything I wanted. Fell 5 people shy from getting some Westly but a friend has already graciously shared his bottle and another friend offered to bring theirs down to san diego to share the next time they are coming on in.
I skipped the Garage Project and Omnipollo lines, which, in hindsight, was a mistake. I should have just gotten in the Omnipollo line with a buddy and we rotate out to keep filling our glasses with that cherry rye vsop from Revolution (#BiL).

Saturday evening, braved the Adelaide pool share since a buddy was already down there drinking. I walk in, and was greeted with a 2014 bavss pour. The rest of the bottles opened/shared were fantastic, almost as good as the company. Big props to the guys that were carrying the one guy back to his room (the real MVPs), also, guy that got carried....my girlfriend weighs like half of you, so please don't fall on her again...she probably won't be able to push you off. =P

 

Was that the dude with the fez?

 

Yeah, that was him.

 

He biffed HARD! Hope he's OK.

 

While I saw him stumbling around the pool, a couple ppl from our share table got up to make sure he didn't fall in, I was more concerned for my better half who just finished using the restroom and was coming out as he opened the door and fell in.

 

Ha. We were at the pool Friday night, then the grassy knoll on Saturday night. Equally great times, this is still my favorite beer weekend of the year. Hope to see you guys next year!

 

I'm glad you said this. Out of all of the beer I had that weekend (share + festival) this is the one that I remembered the most. Maybe because it was the lightest beer I had while it was hot? Or maybe because it was just that delicious.

I also was lucky enough to visit the booth when they opened the 3L of Science Sucks Apricot. That was a tasty beer!

 

Can the people who went describe the lines? I went in 2013 and 2014, and 2013 was AMAZING. The lines were only long for the crazy rare stuff, but otherwise such a great event. In 2014, though, the line to get in was so much longer; and the lines for nearly every brewery were longer. I didn't have a single rare beer pour, or even get drunk because the lines were so long everywhere. My group of 4 friends who went both years all swore off the fest after 2014, so I was wondering if the lines are still long for the beers.

 

I feel this year was worse for lines across the board. This was my 5th year.

 

I thought it was better than last year, still kinda long, but I got almost everything I wanted.

 

yeah, the worst was Garage Project & Side Project. But nothing like that first SP year where the line didn't move all day. I didn't feel like I waited too long for anything, even SP. I didn't brave the Garage Project line.

 

Yeah I agree this was either my 5th or 6th year in a row and the lines were by far the worst ever.

I think they just sold more tickets this year then normal as every place had a line. There was even lines for the food.

I might break my streak and just pass next year, between cost of ticket and room I could fly out to side project for the weekend.

 

I've been every year, and this year was the first that I left at 3:30p. There were lines at almost every booth. Water tanks were running out around 2pm. Some breweries and food booths were closing up shop by 2:30-3pm. I walked out of there sober (which was actually kinda nice). The breweries seemed like they were partying more than any other year.
That said, it was still fun. All of the standard pours were mostly new to me, and super good. I didnt bother with "rare" beers. And of course, Revolution had basically no line. And that cherry rye was superb.

 

I guess YMMV as this wasn't my experience this year or any year i've been to FWI. Do they even have water tanks? I use the filtered kleen canteen tents that were everywhere, those are connected to water lines. There were a couple food spots that ran out a little early, which happens every year, but I was eating until like 4:30P haha. Never waited more than a few minutes for anything with a line aside from the expected longer ones we've already mentioned. Brewers always drink with you at FWI, that's part of the fun. Meeting brewers and talking to the people making your beer. I think it's party of the invitation, if memory serve.

Meh, whatever. I'll definitely be back. People will always find something to complain about.

 

And apparently the buzz hasn't worn off.