FOBAB (2019)

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

 

A keg of Malort Dark Lord has been known to pop up from time to time around those dates....

 

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.

 

Mikerphone announced a week of events including MikerFoBAB on the 6th (MikerFoBAB details follow).

 

Do I have it right that Weldwerks is at Mikerfobab but not Fobab?

 

No, they are listed on the Fobab page as a participating brewery

 

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

 

Does that mean they aren't eligible to be judged if they are releasing that info before hand?

 

No it does not

 

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