OEC, Oxford CT

About time someone gets a thread going for OEC! I'm very tempted to go to the Anniversary, but wouldn't be able to arrive until around noon. Anniversary bottles will be long gone. Might be worth it for some of the taps and vintage bottles being released later in the day, but OEC isn't the most organized brewery when it comes to releases. Might be too crazy.

 

I'm planning to go. First time though for a release. Can someone explain how the tickets release system works? I'll be in line before 10 am but the bottle releases are at 12. Do they hand out the tickets early enough so I can get the 10 am taps to try before I buy at 12?

 

My understanding is there is always a fantastic beer share in the line. Not sure there are pours available before noon (or no one seems to care from what I have seen)

 

Copy/pasting my post from reddit's ctbeer forum:

Buddy starts handing out the tickets around 8-8:30. They're numbered sheets with a little flap you rip off with the number printed on it.

You write down what you want on the slip and hand it in when they start collecting them a bit over an hour later.

When bottle sales start, you wait until your turn (or thereabouts) and claim your boxes with the little numbered corner/flap. For whatever reason, two dozen or so people like to stand near the sales table as if they're going to get their stuff any faster this way.

Then you either leave or stick around for a while until someone steals a bottle of Sump from your cooler bag and a bottle of Oudilis from your chair.

Definitely don't put any of your bottles in the recycling bin because people will want to take photos of them all lined up instead of actually helping to clean up the mess they've made.

 

Pro tips, Adam.

 

There are enough Anniversary bottles for roughly 150 people, if everyone in line maxes out. From my experience, the line starts really early. I've gotten there by 9 and been 70-something in line. It will probably be worse for the Anniversary. I would get there as early as possible. The bottle share alone will be worth it!

 

If you want the new bottles that are dropping (and your full allotment) I would try to get there in line early. Like before at or around 8. There are 150 full allotments, but most people don't get the full thing because it is so expensive, but that's still not room for a lot of people.

Once you are in line you will fill out an order ticket and then someone will collect them and give you a number. Once you have your number you are free to move about and drink your own beer or whatever they have on tap.

They will start the ticket sales around 12 and then once your number is called you will be able to pick up your allotment.

I'm not sure why they are not doing ticket sales for the secondary release at 4:00. Even with ticket sales it is very unorganized and I can't imagine what it will be like if there is just a mob lining up or when people will start lining up etc. I frankly think it's a crazy idea to do a double release because I imagine a lot of people will stay the entire day which will be nuts.

My initial plan is to stay all day and hopefully get lucky with some vintage bottles at 4:00 but if it's an absolute unorganized shit show (like it very well might be) i might not bother.

I love OEC, but the problem with these releases is people get there WAY too early and start drinking WAY too early and by 12:00 everyone is sloshed - unfortunately, this also usually includes members of the staff who are trying to run everything. If people are hammered by 11:00 I can't imagine what those people will be like by 5:00pm.

 

Yep, will not be easy to survive from 8 am till 5 pm. I like the double release idea, it gives the late day folks a fighting chance at some good bottles for a change, and as one brewer pointed out, while it's awesome, it's not all about the bottle share. Although this one will be an all day share. I'm going try to split the difference and get there at 10 or 11 and make a day of it. Based on recent crowds, I don't think all new beers will be gone by then (tho experimentalis might). I'm more interested in the vintage bottles anyway, though it may be a bit of a circus. It's such an awesome time and place though. I remember opening day well, which was also like 80 and sunny and had a great day trying tons of new amazing beers. Soooo looking forward to Saturday, bringing some serious vintage OEC bottles along to enjoy...Cheers

 

Cerasus blend 1, Aeris, maybe figtasma since I missed that release, bouquet de fleur (3) will be gone so I'm bringing my last one. Early lemons were great but not sure how they held up. Need to check the list again. Lot of choices that I think folks will be pleased.

 

LOL Aeris- that should of course say Aeris singularis.

 

Any reports from the line yet?

 

I have a few bottles from 2014 I haven't gotten to yet. I'll list them here to see if anyone has interest.

 

I'd be interested.