Snallygaster 2018

It was that way in 2015 (my first Snallygaster). Some people weren't even bothering to stand in line. Security was so lax, people could just walk around the entrance since there were few barriers. Security got much better in 2016 and 2017. Of course, in 2016 and 2017, we had the entertainment of watching eager drinkers (many who looked like they haven't run since high school) race to the Cantillon booth as soon as they got through the gate. We will have to see how security works this year if they need to allow public access to places like the Newseum along Pennsylvania Avenue.

 

Yeah, I haven't been since 2015, and the main reason I skipped it the last two years was because I was still pissed off about how poorly it was run, especially given the high price tag. BA Abraxas was my #1 priority in '15, and I whiffed on it when it kicked in under 5 minutes due to many preventable fuck-ups by the staff. Wondering if I need to line up early this year to finally get to try it, or if I just need lace up my running shoes and outrun some fat people.

 

What do you mean by "preventable fuck ups"? Staff and volunteers hitting the keg early? I might be right there with you with my Brooks on.

 

I've vented (bitched) about this before on these pages, but essentially:

-As it relates to BA Abraxas in particular: (1) not instructing the staff that this beer was limited to 4 oz per person per trip through the line (they were doing full mugs); and (2) not instructing the staff that this beer was limited to one pour per person per trip through the line (they were filling as many glasses as people could carry). I have no reason to suspect staff drained half the keg before the event started. To be honest, the people doing the pouring genuinely seemed to have no clue what it was or how rare/coveted it was. It seems to me that this kicked in under 5 minutes because staff at that booth was clueless, given no instruction, and violating every posted pour limit.

-As it relates to the 2015 event in general: (1) trusting some of the most highly-sought-after beers to people who had no clue what they were doing (see BA Abraxas discussion above; also, note that they had to literally make a crack in the Rose de Gambrinus keg and pour it through the crack because one of the volunteers fucked up the tap so badly, and that was after VIPs had been standing in that line for over 20 minutes with no one getting a drop because they didn't announce the problem); and (2) not making anyone go through the line before heading to beer tents at opening (getting there early and waiting for hours did you no favors if the end of the line was closer to your top priorities, because people at the end could just run straight to those booths without filtering through the line).

There's genuinely no excuse for charging these prices while running this kind of clown show. I'm still pissed about it three years later, and that's why I haven't hadn't considered going back in so long.

 

My own Barrel-Aged Abraxas experience at last year's Snallygaster. It was the first beer I sampled. I had a VIP pass and arrived about 30 minutes early. The line was already several hundred feet long -- nearly two sides of the site. When the gates opened, the line moved reasonable fast. Once in, I stopped at the merchandise tent to buy a hat because that sun was BRUTAL last year. Then my friends and I strolled over to the Perennial booth. There were about 20 people in line. I believe they were doing 6-oz. pours in 7-oz. Dixie-style cups. I guess enough attendees had crossed off BA Abraxas in previous years to reduce the demand.

 

I see on the cheat sheet that sizes can be 4, 7, and 14 oz depending on the beer.

It would be nice to know in advance the size availability and prices for each beer, so that one doesn't get too wasted and/or drunkenly spend too much money.

Are the price and specific pour size info available before you want through the gate?

 

If anybody is interested I am selling my 3 VIP tickets for Snallygaster. Unfortunately a death in the family and cannot attend. I can only sell them as a group as there is only 1 QR code. I am only asking face value, $65/ticket. Feel free to ask any questions.

 

No, they don't post the oz/ticket prices of the beers beforehand. It's basically Churchkey pricing, and can get even more expensive. Your paying a premium to have access to some of the best breweries across the world in one centralized location. This is how I think of it anyway, so that helps ease the inevitable wallet **** after you go through your first 30 tickets in 30 minutes.

A full pour of a Veil IPA is most likely going to run you 9 tickets. I'm sure BA Abraxas will get the 4oz serving size, and I wouldn't be surprised if that will run 8-10 tickets. Last year, some of the "rare" beers were 12 tickets for 6 oz. That should give you a good idea of what to expect.

 

Tickets sold. Disregard

 

Festival map has been posted on their website.

 

I will share my two cents on how the event is run. I have been to all but one of them, including its predecessor when NRG did Oktoberfest at Rustico in Alexandria. There were a couple of years at Yards Park when I agree with the criticism that the few beers everyone wanted were gone really early and the day amounted to a very expensive waste of money. However, the list is now deep enough that it should be worth attending if you don’t have a VIP ticket. Last year I couldn’t arrive until a couple of hours before it ended and still had no problem finding some phenomenal out of market beers and using all of my tickets.

The location change will be interesting. I assume it is because of development in and around the parking lots in Navy Yard, but I hope that there is enough space to move around freely and not have people packed in like sardines.

 

Are you allowed to bring in your own glassware, so you're not drinking Cantillon out of a Dixie cup?

 

When I last went, they gave you a special glass mug to use.

 

They aren't giving out glass mugs this year due to the new location. I'm sure they will let you bring in plasticware though.

 

The rain will be a non-issue. It's supposed to stop around 9am.

 

FWIW, my girlfriend brought a fairly large purse last year and they looked at it for approximately half a second then let her in

 

Here now. Safe to say they fixed all of the entrance problems.