Lititz Brewfest (2019)

Discussion in 'New England' started by TheBeerThrillers, Sep 21, 2019.

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  1. TheBeerThrillers

    TheBeerThrillers Aspirant (280) Jul 25, 2019 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    Anyone going to the Lititz Brewfest this Sunday? I will be there. My buddy though just bailed on me, last second, so I do have 1 ticket for sale, the 2-5 session (45$, PM Me).

    Who else is going? The lineup looks incredible and so does the tap list.
     
  2. onthebusin03

    onthebusin03 Zealot (611) Jan 11, 2008 Pennsylvania

    So, we went.... and it was the first time out of four or five years that I didn't have only good things to say. Obviously, it was pretty brutal from a weather perspective, which I am aware they can't control. Still, that was tough. Nice move on the cooling fans, though.

    One other thing related to the weather that they may be able to control is the side of the street that people pour on. Seemed like the side of the pours was in direct sunlight all day.

    It felt more crowded than past years, even after they expanded onto the T of the street at one end of Main, near Bulls Head. The name escapes me, but whatever. I'd rather pay ten more dollars and reduce the number of people there.

    Also, maybe another thing outside of their control, but this year I noticed a higher level of places that brought bottles and cans to serve from. Just seems silly to do a fest of that size and try and get away with cans that can get warm fairly fast or bottles that are sensitive to being light struck.

    It wasn't without positives, especially since it took people that long to find out that Fermentory Form and Crime and Punishment actually make really good beer (and were neighbors, again). I just rocked back and forth between those tents for about an hour.

    People were generally cool, save for the two people knocking each other out down by one of the music stages. Craft beer. Serious business.

    Next year will be the first year that I question whether or not I buy tickets. Might just enter the homebrew competition again and let that decide for me.
     
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  3. TheBeerThrillers

    TheBeerThrillers Aspirant (280) Jul 25, 2019 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    This was my second year, I got to go two years ago for the 4th and this year for the 6th. I think the increase in can/bottle was due to WHO it was. Breweries like Pipeworks, LIC, Industrial Arts, and 3 Floyds were all in can or bottle.

    I somehow missed Omnegang and Hidden River, which I was bummed about big time. I had to backtrack to get to Plan Bee because they were having issues originally.

    Missed out on some, like Coxs S'more Beer and one of the two Smoojies from Imprint (got to drink the Blueberry one, loved it). The homebrew event area seemed smaller this year than the one I went to in the 4th annual. Maybe its just my memory though. I got to the homebrew street around 320-330ish and two had already kicked their kegs too.

    Got dropped off and walked into the event at 130 and some tents were already pouring. Got in line to get officially in, which apparently my line took forever, and didnt get in until 5 of 2, but by then, the tents stopped serving and were waiting to serve. I dunno, maybe VIP tickets or something, not sure.

    But there was definitely some pretty good and tasty brews. I did skip a fair amount of tents though, like Lancaster, Appalacian, Stable 12, Tattered (same as they have at the brewery itself), Troegs, most of the ciders, etc.
     
  4. rolltide8425

    rolltide8425 Pooh-Bah (2,470) Feb 18, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    This was my first time going(free tickets from one of the homebrew competitors) and it was possibly the most well organized fest I’ve ever attended. Got there early for parking purposes and checked in right at 1 with barely a line, then got some a lunch at a food truck and hung out in the homebrew area with my buddy until pouring started. There were lines basically everywhere(except Hidden River oddly enough) but they moved fast.
     
  5. onthebusin03

    onthebusin03 Zealot (611) Jan 11, 2008 Pennsylvania

    The organization is fine, but I think people still were confused as to whether you waited in a long line at the "ends" of each lettered group or if you walked to a specific line for each table in a group. I know we waited in what we thought was a line to get into the area behind the fence, only to wonder if we were really just waiting in a long line for Singlecut's table. At that point, we were five people away and just figured we'd wait for that.

    I'd be really curious to see if anybody knows if they sold more tickets than last year. Probably won't find that information out, but....
     
  6. TheBeerThrillers

    TheBeerThrillers Aspirant (280) Jul 25, 2019 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    The line thing was a bit weird, especially later into the brewfest when it wasn't the start, and people were also a little less "sober". That was the way 2 years ago too. Its a great venue to do it, being the town street, its kinda cool, but at the same time, its really limited then in space horizontally, because I don't think they can use sidewalks to serve due to ordinances or something.
     
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