FOBAB 2014

I have two tickets for session #3, starting at 6pm on Saturday night that I can't use. Looking for face value. BM me.

 

Torn. Had a great time, but like others mentioned, the VIPs went to town in that hour before GA was let in. BA Abraxas, Side Project, Nthulhu, V013 and Chocolate Rain were kicked before 6. Also, missed out on Prop, which blew around 6:30 and if you didn't go to the GI line right away when doors opened, probably missed out. Vanilla did last until 7.

Talked to a few VIP holders and they basically said groups went to a rare beer, had repeat pours until it was done, then moved to the next whale.

 

Yeah. Why would anyone be annoyed that certain people got 5 or 6 pours of something and they got 0? What idiots!

(In all seriousness I don't care what kicks or doesnt / I get to try or don't. However I do hope people understand why the above scenario would bother someone.)

 

Got there are 6:30 missed out on ba abraxas, all the side projects, prop and vanilla which somehow i ended up getting some bottom of the barrel prop towards the end of the night. Half hour into an event and ur out of some heavy hitters? I was disappointed. But now i learned my lesson for next year. Dont do the friday session cuz everything will kick b4 u get there.

There were a couple unexpected highlights. Grimm vicar was solid, bcbcs was unreal, transients sour brown ale was top notch, mothers MILF surprisingly good. I was disappointed with uplands permission slip, but rambutan was amazing. Freemont dark star was just effin awesome. Dont miss out on that one. Vainglorious was very different but i enjoyed it. Ba neopolitan milk stout was solid. bastard in the rye sucked. Agrestic was kind of mild. Of course rufus corvus was awesome. 2 year barleywine from GI wasnt that great. But the 2 year bcbs was. Thats all i remember for now

 

Are you able to bring in water bottles?

 

If you look to the very right of this picture, and around the middle - that is the end of the Goose Island line. If you can imagine, the line went down to the bottom of the picture, and then went from right to left to the opposite corner, where GI was. So, the line, at times, went almost halfway around the entire room. It was not a 45 minute wait - I would guess maybe 10 minutes - I went through it 4 times. Now, if you're there with someone, then one of you can take both glasses and scurry off and get something to drink for both of you while you're waiting in line - problem solved (if said problem is being without a beer for 10 minutes at a beer event).
Four hours is plenty of time - a lot of stuff obviously is kicked by the end of two hours, then three hours, etc.
Besides everything at GI, I recommend Clare's Thirsty - really powerful raspberries - awesome!

 

doing this from my cell here so bear with me.

 

Just for clarification purposes, does Imovie get in early on every session or just friday?

 

just friday

 

I was in general admission and had no problems getting chocolate rain, the side project saison, veritas 13 and vanilla bcbs. I know the saison lasted a while because I don't think I had it till 6:30 at the earliest

 

I'm heading out any minute now to volunteer at today's first session and I LOVE the reports of people not collecting tickets and some getting two pours at once (while others wait in a different line, etc.).

They kept hammering it home that this is not what they want done in the meeting on Monday, their 8 page (I kid you not) volunteer guide and in various emails. It's hard to find good help!

I hope to holy high hell I don't end up pouring for Goose today. Jeepus Creepus.

 

Is the setup of the beers in numerical order? By style or random? Where is BA Abraxus when entering?

 

I didn't see anyone get 2 pours at once and almost every person took a ticket from me.

 

I'm pretty sure I had Saison du Ble around 6:30 or 7, so there was still some Side Project around for awhile, and the line for it wasn't bad at all. I agree on the BA Abraxas, it's a shame it kicked so early.

The GI line was obnoxious, as many have mentioned, so I just skipped it. If I'm going to wait in a 45 minute line, it's going to be on black friday for bottles (suburban Binnys). I know there's a tendency torwards whale hunting at these things, but there was so much other great stuff around, I slightly adjusted my mindset and just tried to drink interesting beers. The experimental category was a real highlight - lots of creative hits and misses.

I felt the event was a bit oversold, but not as badly as that overhead shot made it appear. Lines for most pours were nonexistent. It was more of a challenge than I would have liked to actually move around, but I have seen worse.

Chocolate Rain did not kick before GA entry. One of my buddies got some and he was near the back of the GA line.

 

How are so many people saying something about a 45 minute GI line. No such thing existed. The line got pretty massive at some points, but they had 6 or 7 people pouring constantly and the line moved quite quickly. If you skipped it because of the line, you missed out. 10 minute max wait

 

Some people did do this, but not as much as people are making it out.

If they could find some way to do a punch card system (or something) for the known whalez, that would help a lot. Keep people from just camping the line and getting multiple pours.

Yeah, that 45 minute line thing isn't my experience. I was in it a few times, and it always felt like it was moving well. It was a good chance for a water break, if nothing else.

 

They should barrel age Beer Advocate tears.