There is no Saturday night VIP so if you are relatively near the front of the line Saturday night you're basically starting off even with everybody else. Friday night there is a VIP hour so there is a greater chance of being out of a beer by the time non-VIP's get in. Having said that I have seen occasional attempts made to keep some beer back for the non-VIP's, pouring very small pours, cutting off pours for a particular beer after a certain time in VIP, etc.
I was the volunteer last year responsible for pouring Three Floyd’s Chemtrailmix, it was gone shortly after general admission folks made it in. It was one of the two or three whales pouring non stop the first hour, I helped out with other offerings after my keg was tapped, a few better than Chemtrailmix though they were not as hyped and this where available across all three days. There are so many offerings, I am not certain the VIP price difference to be worth it, especially since you will not know what specific pours are available until Friday afternoon at the earliest. I do agree it’s nice to have a partially crowded hall to scout out the layout, but most entrants spent the hour circling through the same three or four pours, spending a good deal of time waiting in line. The other factor is four hours for regular admission is more than enough time to responsibly sample the 300+ available offerings. There were many passed out or puking with two hours to go in the two sessions I attended. As always, controlling the FOMO nearly always works in the Beer Enthusiast’s favor.
It's funny, Chemtrailmix was one of the beers I remember getting a very small pour, I'm assuming so more people could try it. Might not have been you pouring though. It might even have been two years ago. I'm glad I tried it but I don't think I'd want to drink a lot of it at once.
If it was last year Friday, it was me or my co-volunteers. We were told to provide smaller pours (1-1.5 ozs) based on the strong ABV and the desire to spread it broadly. We also ran into a very foamy pour before adjusting the keg a few times to pull more per draw. Beyond the "Whales", people can get as much as they prefer throughout the evening.
Apart from the fest itself, has anyone seen any events announced? We're just over 3 weeks out but I haven't seen anything yet.
Was wondering the same thing. I haven't heard anything yet. Side note, your avatar makes me laugh pretty much every time I see it.
Are there any events that take place every year before/after FOBAB? Coming for FOBAB for the first time, very excited
Events are starting to get announced. Beer Temple has a big BA beer event with several great breweries the Thursday before. Wouldn't shock me if Mikerphone does something as well
Well last year henna was one of the first to kick and I got some. Waited in line for maybe 45-60 minutes before doors opened. So you don't really have to be VIP you just have to get in line early enough.
No, Weldwerks is listed on the FOBAB site. Toppling Goliath isn't, but they do not donate kegs to these types of events, which is why you'll see them at Mikerphone but not FOBAB. Barn Town, Cigar City and Windmill Brewing are the other three Mikerfobab participants not listed as participants on the FOBAB website.
Missed them when I last looked. Thanks for the correction. That’s great news after their year off last year. Peach Climacteric and Medianoche Reserve were stellar beers in past Fobabs so I’m excited to see what they come with now
This seemed relevant to FOBABs air quality issues: https://www.beeradvocate.com/commun...unich-oktoberfest-greater-than-boston.625870/
Per The Beer Temple Beachwood Blendery takeover event: Beachwood - Bourbon Barrel Sadie (FoBAB Submission) Beachwood - Come in Grape, Your Time is Up -Zinfandel (FoBAB Submission) Lambic-inspired ale fermented and aged in oak barrels with Zinfandel grapes
Just got my volunteer email confirmation for Saturday day, 1st time able to make it with the earlier date, can't wait
Breweries have always been able to promote their submissions before the event, but the event has a policy that they will not promote the submissions before judging has taken place.
Lucked into a brewer’s pass for Saturday.(whatever that means) Does all of the big hype stuff kick on Friday?
No, most have multiple pours over Friday night and Saturday, though some are not available for Saturday evening. PACE yourself and keep hydrated and you will enjoy FOBAB!
I believe that the breweries need to provide a keg/ equal number of bottles for each session, but some kegs might kick in the imbibe vip hour for the Friday and Saturday afternoon sessions.
With the brewers pass you can go up to the brewers area where they have some food available, and you can skip the insane line the goose island has for their pours and go to the side where brewers can get pours
It's basically an all access pass. Just don't get so drunk you embarrass whatever breweries name is around your neck.
Or if you do, put a "Phase Three" tag on there so people start going "Maybe Phase Three is made by people who are a bit too honest."
So any tips for first time Fobab visitor? I have vip tickets for Friday evening and Saturday afternoon. Do I have to get in line early, do I need to pick up a wristband (or is the qr code on the ticket all I need to get in)? Do they have some kind of food, and water?
Go fast, then slow, then fast again....sorry did you say FoBAB? Oh. Yeah. Anyways. Get in line as early as you want. There are 200+ beers on the floor. If you miss something oh well you're gonna try lots of amazing beer. They will wristband you before you get inside. They don't have food. For the love of god eat something before you arrive. There is plenty of water.
This Beachwood on draft is incredible. Amalgamator was billed as on par or better than PtE, I would like to drink both side by side but have to agree there are merits for either. Working on this Hops of Brixton which is also great, and will close out with Mocha Machine before scurrying away with fresh Amalgamator cans. I will most certainly hit this brewery next visit to SC. Plenty of cans available in the bottle shop (everything in stock on their Instagram except the retired beer). I shouldn’t even be drinking pre FOBAB but alas I am. It’s great to be alive!!!
