My First Beerfest (VIRGIN)

Drink lots of water. Bring pretzels to snack on. Wash out your tasting glass between pours. And have fun.

 

Agreed. Pace yourself and go with the flow! Remember you have plenty of time to sample anything you are interested in, but if there is something that is potentially limited get to that early doors. Enjoy.

 

Hey OP just an fyi that beer list on their website is from 2014. They're notorious for posting the beer list a few days before.

Word advice: I always b line to the Columbus Brewing Company station for whatever Cask/One time beer they have before it goes 86.

 

Get the rare/limited beers first because they run out fast. I've got in line for a beer and received the last pour for that beer which left over 20 people without a chance to try it.

Columbus Winter Beerfest gets shoulder to shoulder after a few hours, take that into account when trying to get to a brewery table. If you got VIP tickets you can get the beers you want very quickly as well as scope out the whole venue to know where things are.

FOOD!! Make sure you consume a meal before you go, nothing huge because you don't want to feel full but enough to soak up the suds. Most people at this event are pretty well and drunk at the end. Most of the people there are there to get drunk and have fun not to drool over the rare releases. Also take a pretzel necklace with you and drink plenty of water.

Make arrangements for a hotel or a ride home. With the amount of pours they give you it's hard not be intoxicated by the end because you want to try everything. Don't be afraid to pour out a beer you don't like!

I've been to this event a few times and may be pouring behind one of the boothes this year but I have passed on attending in previous years due to the crowded space. A lot of people love this festival so enjoy yourself, make some friends, and taste responsibly!

 

For this being your first beer fest, let me disagree with this. Don't go out of your way for the rare limited pours. Get there early, check out the program (if there is one.) Bring a pen and circle things that sound good to you. Seek out some of them.

See a line? Ask people what it's for. Don't jump into it merely because a lot of other people want it. You could have 3-5 great pours from things people will flock to later after the big lines die down.

There will come a time when those rare limited things are the biggest reason to go to these events. For this being your first event, don't feel like you have to have rare pours just because they're going to be popular.

Drink water. Everyone remembers the beer event/bottle share they didn't drink enough water. You can't do this enough.

Try a beer that has an interesting name even if no one else is drawn to it.

If you can bring your own snacks in, do so. Pretzel necklaces are fine, but some beef sticks or string cheese help too. Get a nice moderately heavy meal before.

Good luck and have a fun time. Drink it all in and don't be put off if someone offers a taste from their glass

 

I like beef jerky
Taco Bell?

 

No problem, what was your favorite beer?