HopHead Throwdown (2015)

Publick House is almost unbearably loud on a normal night, can't even imagine what this is like.

 

This will be the final update, minus one more hidden gem, only those that make the event will know about.

 

Below is a post from @noob and myself in the Zwanze Day thread from last year detailing the escalation of lines for popular beer/beer events in the Boston area over the years. And Zwanze Day's list isn't nearly as "tick-worthy" as the one for the Hop Head Throwdown this Saturday.

However this seems to be more of a Boston thing. I went to the Bissell Brothers BBQ event at the Lexington Green and it was much calmer (although the Heady/Sip of Sunshine was done in about two hours still) as are Zwanze events at bars like Novare Res in Portland.

 

im really debating on whether or not i should go to this, but convincing my non beer geek friend to stand in line for an hour or two would be more than difficult haha

 

I can't subject myself to Boston trips both days this weekend so I'm hoping to pick up whatever scraps are left Sunday. Anyone know when PH opens Sunday? I'd like to hit them up before the Sox game for lunch if possible...

 

Sunday : 12 p.m. - 1 a.m.

 

If anyone thinks tehy are going to to waltz right in and not see beers kicked getting there less then 3 hours before opening is playing with fire.

 

3 hours seems excessive. If that's what it takes everyone may as well drive up to Pro Pig.

 

This! And you can also spend the day in beautiful VT rather than waiting in line and listening to people bitch about waiting in line haha.

 

After the OH event at Row 34 and the line at Trillium for Green Street I'd be surprised if there isn't a hundred people in line before opening. My guess would be the beers from TH, HF, and Alchemist will be kicked in less than an hour. JC and the Trillium crew came out in force bringing three beers, hopefully they'll last a little longer.

 

What have we become?

 

This is in Boston, (or area but close enough) and it will attract TONS of people in groups. The numbers alone of people in Boston VS the VT bar areas in general isn't even comparable. I'd plan for the worst, hope for the slightly better.

I remember the Trillium Party I went to a few years back at PH and that line and night was a fucking shit show(but awesome)

 

It's just that craft is more popular now, and is still gaining in popularity.

The bottom line is, the majority of these events need to be ticketed (I realize this is more of a hassle for the bars/venues).

I mentioned how quickly CBC's Saturday night pumpkin festival tickets sold out, but it was easy enough to get them, as they were online for a few hours throughout the day. That event moved to ticketed when there were lines like the one I posted above. When the event becomes that popular, it's time to do something different.

It doesn't help anyone to have to either show up ridiculously early, or show up later and stand in a line for hours to POSSIBLY get into an overcrowded bar.

 

I agree. Ticket events with rare beers/one-offs like this. Save people time waiting. I don't mind waiting in line, the thrill of the chase is half the fun IMO

 

There was a line to get into the Trillium anniversary party at Publick House earlier this year and that was a monday in the winter. The line wasn't big but beers kicked fairly quickly. For events like this I think you either gotta show up early or don't go at all because of how fast beers are gone.

Spending an hour in a line on a nice day is much more reasonable than spending 6 hours in a car plus gas money. That is just simple math.

 

There was a line for the Trillium Anniversary event at Row 34 too. I think everyone was able to get in. Row is a much bigger space though. Especially when the tables are moved aside.

 

At least the people waiting in these long lines will actually drink the beer once they get in, as opposed to hoarding/trading bottles!

 

Row 34 is bigger than the Publick House? I've never to Row when it was packed, but it's never felt particularly large.

 

May be it's not "much bigger" but it's certainly bigger than the Publick House.

 

There are some jokers out there so if focal is being served in cans this may not be true .