Firestone Walker Invitational Beer Fest 2013...

My room is already booked.

 

I am curious why they are an $25 extra this year? The Presale tickets last February were only $50. Special bottle release??

 

I need to get on that. Which venue hosted the epic tastings last time?

 

Ouch price increase.

 

Already booked as well. Motel 6 sucked for tasting afterward, the management threatened to call the cops. This time, booked the Best Western and hope to find the good tasting.

And on the price increase... $75 is a fantastic deal for the quality. If you use the $50 I just spent at this past incredibly disappointing Bistro fest as a scale... the FW fest should be like $1000 a ticket.

 

We had a pretty nice tastings in multiple rooms at Motel 6, but I hear that Adelaide Inn was where it was at. That's where I'll be staying this year.

 

The room I was in @ Motel 6 was blasting Truck Fighters & passing around bottles of Eclipse all night so I couldn't sleep :/

 

Having heard the over-the-top stories from the last fest (including the late chswimmer vanishing for 30 minutes and reappearing with a 15-gal keg), I am definitely going to attend this one.

 

Any info on how accommodating/fun the Holiday Inn Express was last year? I just had my wife drive us (non-beer enjoyer) last year. But, this year we plan to stay in Paso. Thinking about the HIE.

 

I believe that one is definitely one of the closer spots to the fest, though there are a handful of hotels along that street.

 

It's within walking distance, in fact. I just wondered what kind of atmosphere they promote/tolerate...

 

Adelaide appears to be booked solid. We're going to be at the Best Western across the street.

 

Ah, I see. At Motel 6 last year we lasted a good 30 minutes at the pool until management told us to take it to our rooms. Next door at Adelaine was a little more laid back...If I remember correctly.

I expect all the hotels down that street to be filled with fest goers, so I see some late nights that weekend.

 

Adelaine sold out pretty fast. The rest of the hotels seem to be right around the same price per night. Motel 6 still has rooms...and the cheapest around.

 

Yeah, we did Motel 6 last year. Not in the mood to repeat...

 

Same here. I gladly paid the extra money to stay elsewhere.

 

I know somebody on the pioneer day board (100% of proceed benefit this) and they are planning on 30-40 more breweries this year which would increase the area needed, there was also talk of about 500-1000 more tickets sold with the larger area, this might by why there is a price increase, it might also be because it is a benefit and they want more money for the pioneer day. Also the Paso Oaks hotel is now open, it is next to the motel 6 and is brand new right now, not sure on availability or cost, but it is a new option for those looking for rooms.

 

I just transfered my room at the Adelaine because my party needed more space. After looking at the Paso Oaks Hotel's rooms and rates, it made my choice pretty easy.

 

How many hours did the fest run this year?

 

We already booked a 3 bedroom house .01 miles away. Fun is about to be had in extreme amounts.

 

Bottle share!!!

 

yes and more yes!

 

I want to say it was roughly noon to 5, but certain brewers kept pouring much later. Vanilla Dark Lord made it until about 2:30.

 

Fest Ran 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. However, all but Stone & FW stopped pouring at 4 (all said they were required to do so, even security wasn't letting brewers pour after 4) but Stone & FW continued to pour for that last hour, though pretty much only their standard lineups were left at that point.

Bourbon Vanilla Darklord did indeed last about for just over half the fest, which was surpring considering the marathon dash/wave of attendees that stormed that tent, & how long the intial line was.

I happened to be in line early for the fest, 2nd in line in fact on the street, which accounted for nothing, as they let everyone in at around 11 into this staging area, so the line turned into a crowd , in front of this white rope (like in a race) and once removed, pretty much started that way with a rush/wave of people. There was video of this posted of that craziness, but can't seem to find it now.

Didn't matter though, nothing ran out all that early, got to try eveything I wanted to. The fest was not only the best I went to in 2012, but the best I'd ever attended. Water stations all over the place, and constantly stocked, food in between every beer tent, lots of it, and really tasty, all included for your intital fee, umlimited food & pours. Not crazy about the price increase, but being so far in advance, I'll forget about the fee, and just be glad I'm there again when it comes around. Also as others posted, the fee goes to charity, so more like a donation to attend an awesome fest.

As for the bottle share, I was at the Bestwestern, right next to the Adelaide. Had a share at the Adelaide the night before, and the bestwestern after the fest, both cool & chill. Hotel Mgmt overall was cool, hope that is the same this year.

 

Now THAT is what I call Beer Advocacy!

 

Just booked rooms at Paso Oaks also. Will be there Saturday and Sunday night. Will have a few nice bottles to open.

 

Just got my tickets....anybody else?

 

Yep, quick and easy. See you there

 

Girlfriend and I are in as well

 

I got mine, that was almost too easy.

 

Simple. They should hold all on-line beer sales at midnight on a holiday.

 

In like flynn, 2nd go around should be twice as nice. T minus 188 days....too early?

 

Got mine too. I wonder how many they released and how long it took to sell out the presale...

 

Well fuckballs, I completely forgot and now they're sold out. Fucking midnight releases.

 

Same here, Stu. Now we have to beat the rush on Jan 31st. Ugh!

 

I even set a reminder to go off at 11, figuring I'd never be asleep before then. Well of course I've been sleeping like shit lately and got ludicrously tired at 10. Oh well.

 

Same here. Why did I go to bed?

 

Are the tickets going to be more expensive when they go on sale again?

 

Tickets have been secured and a room booked at Adelaide. Can't wait!