FOBAB 2014

Were your friends females? My wife used 2 tickets all nights. And both people that asked for her tickets were women.

 

That was one of my faves too. Very excited when they announced it, and it didn't disappoint.

 

Volunteered and poured at both sessions yesterday. Yes, there was an emphasis on taking tickets, especially for the beers that kick early - one, to try and lessen the effect of the aforementioned problem of jerks standing in front of rare beers and hogging 5-6 pours, and two, clearly over-serving is more and more of an issue as the bros are showing up in droves, and no one really wants to be responsible for any idiot moves later that evening ("we don't want this to be a shitshow"). Not exactly a mystery...

Yes, Goose Island didn’t take a single ticket all night, but they brought a ridiculous amount of beer so scarcity wasn't an issue.

 

I thought the H2O in Hinckley Schmidt barrels was prime!

 

Goose island got me on tickets every time I went to them

 

I went to the Friday session and only used 4-5 tickets (got 20 pours at the very least). It was actually more of a surprise when they did ask for them. I thought this was very strange and never had this experience at past FoBABs. I wonder if they tightened up on asking for tickets for sessions 2 and 3.

 

I attended as an Imbibe member Friday as well, and yes, it was a bit more lax, but still used more tickets than in previous years. Other volunteers did say there were mixed messages Friday night, but it was cleared up later. Yes, we all got a lot more than we paid for in previous years, but bigger events -> higher profile -> more rules have to be followed.

 

I was pouring BA Abraxas at Session 2. We had 24 bottles total, and ran out in 20 minutes with 3 people pouring simultaneously.

For Session 3, they originally started with just 12 bottles. Shortly after that ran out, they received an additional 7 bottles to pour, which disappeared quickly.

As for taking tickets, the emphasis was made for those in Session 2 and 3 to ask and take tickets as a result of some issues that popped up with law enforcement (no additional context given) after Session 1.

 

Just another data point on tickets. I think only two people didn't ask for a ticket (session 2), which is pretty much how I remember it going last year as well. It seemed like a lot of volunteers (not all) were pretty strict on the two ounce limit as well. I don't have a problem with that early, since they want to make sure the stuff is going to last, but some of the pourers were loosening things up a bit toward the end of the session.

This is the only Chicago event I've been to where they take tickets, though it likely wouldn't matter at some of the other events. Beer Under Glass was like three hours, and I got 30 tickets (plus another 15-20 that my fiancee certainly would not have used). I doubt I could use all of them if I tried.

I thought the Off Color Yuzu was really interesting and delicious. I was very glad I was able to get a full glass of it at the Map Room anniversary yesterday.

 

I'm quoting myself as to not sound like a hypocrite.

the past few years, this was the first time the line for Goose was fast. In the past, it was definitely in the 30-45 minute line. If anyone remembers the sour room last year, with goose and sideproject there, that line snaked all over the place. BA abraxas line snaked around a couple of times too in the main room. i don't think i saw the line move for a while as i had marked folks in line as my markers.
anyway. the goose island, when it snaked around towards the food table (popcorn machine is my marker) the line was ~15 minutes. i DID get in that GI line 3 times. 1 time they took my ticket. (half the pourers took my tickets). the longest wait line was 15 minutes.

venue was nice but didn't like the convention center feel to it.
pictures make it look like a cluster, which it kinda was. a majority of people would get there pours and then drink in front of the line, not meaning to get more of the same, but just because they wanted to lounge their. that sucked.
i don't think it felt over sold.
if you coat checked, you might still be in line.

 

Probably related to happy hour laws, or some such BS. Can't go around offering all-you-can-drink packages unless it's part of a private function (like a party at a bar in a separate room). The relevant difference is between unlimited pours at a beer event like FOBAB and virtually unlimited pours at a large in-store tasting is beyond me, but it somehow makes a difference legally

 

I liked the venue only bc of the bathrooms. Bridgeport Art Center had what, two stalls and urinals?

 

I thought it was darkly amusing still, because this was one of the only events I've been to where there was a line snaking outside the restroom for the men, whereas the women just walked in, did their business, and walked out.

 

I would guess the reason would be (at least for the 1st session) the ratio of male to female was 20:1 (hyperbolic statement, possibly... or not?)

 

I was in session 1, I would say that's not particularly hyperbolic.

 

all in all it was a good time. I'm volunteering next year most of my friends did and had a blast.

 

There should have been 24 bottles of Abraxas per session. There were 6 (12 bottles per) sealed cases there on Friday morning when I was setting up for the judging, each case labeled session 1, 2 or 3.

 

Bridgeport had an interesting allure to it with the exposed brick and wood floors. All a venue should be is a stage to let the performers shine. Bridgeport Art Center wasn't in a particularly great area, logistically, had critical flaws (shortage of bathrooms, necessity of freight elevators that were inconsistent, etc.) When FoBAB was done this year, you could get an uber in less than 10 minutes. Last year you couldn't get an Uber at all (unless you were ok with paying for a black car)

I went to GABF in Denver this year, a world class beer event if there ever could be one. It's in a giant sterile convention hall (picture the space where Auto Shows are held.) It's a blank canvas and the beer is the star. No one should romantically long for an inefficient space that was poorly set up from a logistical stand point.

With that said the event is probably too big already for the UIC forum and needs a larger space next year. Such a great problem to have.

 

not if you knew about the secret elevator and the bathroom on the first floor, watch the vomit and broken glass though

 

Correct, but not everyone did and also it was a on toilet show.