Northern Lights Rare Beer Fest 2018

Such a great event, can't wait! However, I hope they don't release even more tickets this year. I think it went from 750 in 2016 to 1000 in 2017. It was a little tight in some spaces, especially since Mornin Delight and Ardea Insignia were on tap 20 feet from each other. It's a great space, but not sure it could accommodate many more than 1000 people in that type setting.

 

I have never been to this event before but am planning on buying tickets to this instead of the Winter Beer Dabbler. It's quite a bit more. Who here has been? Thoughts?

 

Like Grave said last year was a bit crowded though I was able to get beer without much waiting to everyone except Central Waters and Toppling Goliath. Whereas the year before there seemed to be no lines longer then 4-5 people. I got Central Waters Black Gold a bunch of times with no wait!

Beer list has some really great variety. Only a few breweries brought something that is easy to get (looking at you Avery!) while many had very interesting stuff: BA Death by Coconut, BA Expedition/Black Note, and Steel Toe's 2012 BA Wee Heavy were my faves.

I was actually surprised at how many barrel aged beers made it to last year's Winter Dabbler. The bad part is you have to hunt down those beers because the Dabbler is so big and spread out whereas the Rare beer is much smaller and easier to maneuver.

So to wrap that up I would recommend the Rare Beer Fest but there needs to be less people so you shouldn't go, because its too expensive, and I need to be able to get more great beer!

 

I heard one of the organizers say there are 750 tickets available this year just like last year.

 

The only issue last year was putting Central Waters & TG right next to each other and basically at the top of a stair case which hosed up traffic for the whole area. Poor planning when both those breweries brought the varsity. Could have easily paired them next to others who brought pedestrian stuff.

Still a good event. Lots of tough to get beers & a great setting.

 

Only problem with living in Australia, we miss great events such as this . Did they ever publish how much they raised for Pints for Prostates?

 

Rare Beer Fest was amazing last year, after the initial rush to get Ardeas/Morning Delight I had almost no problem with any line size and think I only missed out on 2 beers on my list of wants and they were pretty far down the list. Though I definitely wish there were less people it wasn't bad enough to detract me from going again this year since they said it was the same amount of tickets as last.

 

Agreed - no issues with layout, and tried everything I wanted to - with the exception of Magnus. I'm still grumpy about that, particularly as impossible as it has been to get a bottle. I'll definitely be there this year, and really hope to get some Magnus (if they bring it...).

 

We are going for our 5th year mostly due to now just being a night out of town for the wife and I. I will say last year was a major let down due to the lines for TG and CW blocking other booths and multiple kegs had kicked in the first two hours. If it’s the same this year we will not be going to year 6. Two upsides this year is no goose island since if they didn’t bring bcbs everyone would lose thier mind and more small breweries, the big dogs for the most part seem to bring a lot of bucket dumpers.

 

Yeah, last year's showing was a disappointment - Nightstalker and Lolita, if I remember? Not impressive. I was hoping for some VR or OG vanilla or something. Won't miss them this year.

Looking at you, Avery - why would you bring shelfie bottles to a rare beer fest?

 

Its a great event and worth the money. Catering is good, swag is usually more generous than other fests, and a lot of the brewing staff shows up to chat and taste the other beers with everyone. Its one of the few events that I actually attend anymore given the rise of so many over crowed, over hyped, and poorly managed fests. See you boys there.

 

In prior years, $5 from every ticket was donated. I don't know that it was published, believe I either called or emailed to ask.

 

Wife and I have gone to all the previous year's events, but I am not sure this year. Last year, we walked away a bit disappointed as well. Think I will wait to see the beer list before deciding, bummed no Goose, but strong offerings from TG, CW and Surly could make up for it.

 

I’m still a big fan. Been every year and yes last year was a bit of a cluster in the CW/TG corner, but still. It was a lot of fun without much congestion in most areas and good quality stuff all the way around.

If u are only looking for the rarest of rare, u might be disappointed, but if u are looking for some really good stuff in one area - this is it. High quality beer without a huge crowd for $100.

 

Good amount of turn over compared to last year's list of attending breweries.

 

They had been announcing the breweries one by one back in November. I expect they will do the same for the beer, probably in the coming weeks. It is interesting to see many breweries not coming back, but I am excited to see what the newcomers bring.

 

Usually wait til about this time to buy tickets,wont be going this year for the 1st time in 4years.

 

I’m hoping Blvd brewing brings something super rare like 2017 BBQ...but really I’m kind of pumped for a bunch of breweries I have never tried coming this year.