Goose Island Migration @ Top Hops 9/4/2014

So I'm guessing the Prop is the big draw here? Wondering how they're going to manage the sample pours and sales. Their prior limited release events have been pretty disorganized and/or chaotic.

 

The draw for me is Vanilla. Prop is a bonus for me. I'm assuming it'll be the same format- show up, get handed a raffle ticket for opportunity to purchase a bottle chosen randomly. The bottle pours are free in the back of the bar and all hell will break loose as 9PM approaches. Last year's Migration event I camped out in the back of the bar and was quite comfortable for most of the night. I'm pretty sure I drank a half a bottle of Rare and King Henry all to myself because of the crowd at the front/only bar.

 

Yep, I'm feeling the indifferent about the event. If it wasn't for Vanilla, and the opportunity to buy bottles, I'd probably skip it. I've had basically everything else they're serving, including Prop, so I'm really going to finally try the Vanilla. If it works out where I can get there at open, have a glass of Backyard, try the Vanilla, find out about bottles, and leave before Prop is tapped, I'll be happy.

 

Good couple weeks to be a ticker in NYC with this event, the Bruery event and Zwanzee day. You could really tick off a bunch of hard to acquire beers if you had the time and money.

 

And a liver made out of steel

 

It was both, yes.

 

Basically the only good part of this event happened at 9PM. You walk in and it's crazy packed and almost impossible to get to the bar. Should have probably taken some stools away so people could get in. Then backyard not on tap at 7 which is why I got there at 7. No word of bottles being shared but they weren't. Then at 9 they poured prop and you could have just as easily walked in at 9 as of you were there at 7. Then out of nowhere bottles started getting shared at like 9 30. Great beer but event was just not planned or communicated well. Got to try vanilla and prop but didn't feel like sticking around to get king Henry unfortunately.

 

Did anyone get to purchase any nice bottles?

 

That was another thing - I heard nothing about that and saw no raffle tickets or anything.

 

seems kinda in line with my prior experiences there. the space is just not designed for a lot of people and traffic.

 

Completely agree that a lot of the issues are due to the space which is out of their control. I always liked to think that if I owned a bar and was having an event I would remove all the things that pretty much get in the way of the main attraction which is the beer. That would be removing all those high top tables in the back and front and like 1/2 of the stools to have better access to the bar. Overall, it was worth going to the event and now I know better for next year's.