Michigan Winterfest!

Fest was just fine. Lines felt better than in the past. Does anyone know if the older gentleman who fell near the entrance around 1:30 is ok?

One thing that really pissed me off was some jackass who was jumping into ports johns. What an incredible moron. I don't usually advocate violence but I wanted to see him get his ass kicked.

 

Last year, for some reason the Fifth-Third workers loaded all the kegs into Corner/Arbor Brewing's tent before carting them off to the correct tents, and they did not finish moving the last of the kegs until after 11:50. Corner/Arbor couldn't even start trying to set up until everything was moved out of their way. Luckily, their workers were able to get everything ready just in time. Letting people in before noon would probably be a nightmare for most breweries at most festivals.

EDIT: Not to mention that Corner/Arbor weren't the only ones inconvenienced by this; the breweries who didn't have their own kegs yet obviously weren't able to get those ready until they got them.

 

I noticed at least one brewery (can't remember who) had a "Fast Pass" lane for enthusiasts. That seemed like a great idea.

But as a "non enthusiast" I found the lines for us regular folk fast, manageable and mostly well-organized. Sure, I shied away from some of the longer Founder's/Dark Horse/Short's lines for the big rare pours, but I had no complaints whatsover - except for the vileness of the hamburger I bought on site. That was nasty....


Are leftover silver tokens good for future Michigan Beer Fests (summer and next winter?)

 

Kuhnhenn had a fast-pass lane. I didn't find any lines too long; when I eventually went to Dark Horse halfway through the festival, they barely had a line and they still even had BBPT5 left.

 

Leftover tokens are definitely good for future festivals. I've got, as do many folks, a hundred unused tokens that I always take with me just in case. Keep them for sure.

 

Yes. I've been carrying around tokens that may date as far back as like 2006. Bring "last years" and they just mix together with the current year. Even the wood ones are still accepted.

 

Does the 2-day Summer Festival tend to sell out as quickly as the Winterfest?

 

Somehow, between my last pour at Short's just before 6 and the morning after the fest, I lost track of my extra tokens. Still looking around for them, but I'll be mega bummed if I lost them.

BBPt5 was the second to last beer I had. Very surprised they still had it.

 

Nowhere near as fast, no.

 

No, but I don't think anyone expected Winter Beer Fest to sell out in 3 hours this year.

 

Both 2012 and 2013 BBPt5 were on the list, but they said the 2012 was "frozen up" when we got there shortly after noon.

 

For both Summer and Fall, Saturday generally sells out the same day or next (but not in 45 minutes or however long WBF did). Friday tickets usually last at least a week or two (if not longer).

 

A friend from the East side of the state claims that Friday is the better day to attend, so that works for me.

 

I don't own a pair of gloves. I can maybe name 5 times in my life when my hands have gotten cold (I even do snowball fights without gloves). Have been to three WBF without the aid of gloves. The only time my hands get really cold is if it was really dry like it was on Saturday and when I woke up and saw the sun....well you know what comes next.

 

I myself am a huge vagina when it comes to my hands getting cold. That is why i wore really nice ski gloves on saturday, (and was relieved that I had them still with me on sunday)

 

i enjoyed myself saturday. but i found that this festival was my least favorite of the 3 i've been too. I know i am in the minority of it, but i prefer summer and fall. we did motor city brew tours and it couldn't have been any smoother. i didn't mind the 3 hour bus ride at all. if we go again, i'll definitely stay in GR Friday and Saturday night. and like most of you, i found the lines smooth and easily flowing. all in all, a great time.

 

I concur, Friday is the better of the two days to go.

Chocolate Coffee Dragon's Milk won Best in Show for me! What a nice surprise.

 

Jesus, you are a beast. I had huge gloves on and I still had to tuck handwarmers in each of them!

 

Same here, my hands get cold real easy. I had a big pair of snowboarding mitts with e-tip gloves inside. Sadly, I dropped one of the gloves into the blue horizon (porta-john). Had to go with hand warmers.

Sidebar: Big bulky mitts are a benefit when you "drop" a token into the bins for your beer

 

I've never worn anything on my hands and I've been fine. Must be the fatness.