Well, exactly like last year, I didn't realize this fest was coming up until the week of! Here's the beer list - http://holidayale.com/the-beers.php Stoup/Horus collab, Gigantic BA quad, and Winter Wookus are the more tempting ones for me, I'd probably try the Ft. George cinnamon IPA too. Anyone going?
I've pretty much given up on this event. Over the years it's gotten steadily more expensive (especially as increasingly very few beers only require a single tasting ticket), and increasingly less interesting (no limited release or special release beers). The last time I went I think I dropped around $75, and concluded afterwards that there were better events and beer venues for me to spend my money on.
Do you remember how many beer tickets you got in the past? I couldn't recall but advanced tickets are $40 and come with 15 beer tickets. I was surprised that the Stoup and Gigantic beers (fairly high ABV BA stuff) are only 1 ticket tasters while the brut IPA from Crux is 2.
Last time I didn't get the advance ticket, as I think it ended up being a better deal to buy your ticket at the door (given the handling fee for the online purchase). So I think the tasting kit I got came with just 12 tickets. Once you get in (and pay the initial fee), the cost isn't too bad. As you know, additional tickets are only a buck a piece. It's really the initial $40 hit that I feel makes this such an expensive event now. At one time I attended this event religiously, and thought it one of the best annual events in PDX. Back in the day, HAF offered things like a separate Belgian tent, along with all kinds of special release and older vintage beers. When I take a look at the beer selection this year, it's hard to believe this is even the same event.
I like the event. It is definitely spendy, so check the beer listings to make sure it’s worth it. The “standard” lineup looks interesting this year, but I’ll wait to see if anything on the special list pops up. Over the years, they have had some kick ass special taps 2011 Jim Parabola vertical 2008 Ten Fidy Cascade 2012 Manhattan More than likely I’ll skip it this year. Too much great beer on tap and available in this city and I’ve done this fest enough times that the novelty has worn off
I confess I'm a bit puzzled by the delay in posting the limited release line-up. Just checked the site, and see they finally posted the limited release selection for today (yesterday afternoon the site was still showing the line-up for last year), but not for any of the other days. I don't know. Just seems a bit odd that they wouldn't post the entire limited release line-up for the rest of the weekend. Anyway, it appears they're tapping a number of pfriem BA beers today. The smoked maple syrup porter looks intriguing, but everything else consists of beers I've already seen around town from pfriem. It's all good stuff, but isn't anything someone needs to visit the HAF to sample.
I'll miss it this year for the first time in a while. It snuck up on me but I'm not sad about it. I had so much fun at the 25 anniversary at HotD. Who needs it? Just go to Growler Guys or Upper Lip or a number of other places anytime
Went this year, and have to say I was overall disappointed. Volunteered so I didn't have to deal with the $40 fee. There were a couple of great beers, missed some of the special releases. Overall, felt underwhelmed this year. Had fun during the day, but man way too crowded once the evening hits. Also, biggest pet peeve is people who hang out right by the where people are forming a line. Just makes things more confusing, and chaotic. Depending on what the list looks like next year, it may be a skip.
In a nutshell, this sums up my experience pretty closely the past couple of years that I went. Always had an ok time, but just couldn't justify going any more. Too many other better options (I felt) that were cheaper.
It seems like this has been a common sentiment among many of the 'fests over the last year or so... are there any that still tickle everyone's creative juices and seem hands and toes above the alternatives to merit the broad hassle that festing can implicitly carry?
Brews for New Avenues and Zwanze are the only two that I get genuinely excited for any more. Most of the other ones are either overpriced (Peche Fest, Farmhouse Fest), or I look at the beer list and think "there's only a few I care about, and most of them will pop up around town afterwards, so meh."
I still like Fathers Day Fest, Belgianfest, and Caskfest here in WA. Although, if the restrictions applied in this years Fathers Day Fest remain in place going forward, I could see it falling from my list.
Yep, the Fathers Day Fest was renamed the Nanny Fest. I have to agree on the changes in the fests, have mostly been negative, moving them from must-go to pretty well must-avoid. Too many admission tickets sold, too expensive, long lines for everything, including toilets, no seating. Music loud to the point of distortion and drink tokens often $2 for 4 ounces. For special beers ok, but for your average grocery store shelf beers, that's equivalent $8 for a tall-boy can!
