Spring Craft Beer Fest Nassau Question

Usually this is not available. Ive been the last 3 years and always have a good time.

 

I see that they recently added a few more breweries, including Founders, Victory, Bear Republic and Ithaca. The last two times Founders were there they did a limited time release of KBS (2012) and Red's Rye IPA (2013). I'd expect them to potentially make an announcment for a timed release within the week. Maybe since KBS release is so soon they will bring a keg? Haha wishful thinking.

Goose Island also has been known to do timed releases and they will be there this year as well.

 

After reviewing the updated list from today, it's safe to say you will not be disappointed. The beers will be plentiful.

 

Does anyone know what Shock Top, Blue Moon, and Third Shift are bringing??

 

Okay so I have been to the spring craft beer fest at the Coliseum for the last four years and have always walked away happy and content. This year was a total different story.

I opted for the night session. Second time doing the night session. Last time I will do the night session (or even attend for that matter).

Let's see...where to begin...

All the breweries I went for (Ithaca, Troegs, Lagunitas, Sixpoint, Founders and DFH) were total crap. Besides DFH, all of these breweries RAN OUT OF BEER before the night session. Who comes to a beer fest totally unprepared. DFH didn't even have a sign up. Founder's was pouring beer out of cans. It was basically like they told some random guy on the street to pick up 4 15 packs of All Day IPA and Centennial IPA and stand there for a few hours. No effort whatsoever. Three years ago they had 4 taps and a keg of KBS. The Ithaca stand wasn't even set up.

What a total disappointment for $50. I am seriously pissed off that I paid that much money to walk around drink from the same 5 tables all night. They even stopped pouring all beer at 9:00PM FLAT even though we paid to stay there until 9:30PM. I don't know whether to be mad at the distributors for these breweries, the breweries themselves or at the entire corporation that threw together the beer fest.

Despite being turned off by this event and leaving a half hour early, there were two positive takeaways from the fest yesterday:
1. Brewer's Collective IPA is absolutely wonderful. I am glad they will be moving to Farmingdale soon and be open for growler fills. I spent most of my time near their stand.

2. Great South Bay's Dirty Deeds RIS was another winner. Must have had 5-6 pours of this stuff. Wish I could get this in a bottle without driving out to the brewery on a weekend.

 

Maybe you've enjoyed it in the past. I dk. But I think anyone visiting the website for that festival could tell you that it most certainly would not be worth your time and money to go. Sorry you had a bad time though. Still shitty.

 

Yea in the past it was definitely worth it for me to go since I live only 10 minutes away and if I were to go out to a bar instead I would wind up spending upwards of $40-50 anyway over a few hours. Not anymore.

 

Did they hit u for parking too? Uniondale ain't what it used to be

 

I've never gone to this festival but it has never looked all that exciting. These split session events far too often have breweries run out before the second one even begins (like last year's Savor Craft).

The Blue Point cask festival and the North Fork craft beer festival seem like better events (albeit further east). Last month the event at the Cradle of Aviation museum was surprisingly good. Goose Island had the 3 sisters, Founders Imp Stout, Allagash Grand Curieux. Just a better event than Nassau.

Live and learn. I'd save the money and do one of the other events.

 

I got dropped off but of course they were charging for parking. Also charging designated drivers to get into the event.

 

Looking @ the website for the fest it says it ends @ 9pm. Even if your ticket says 930, it is not uncommon for a beerfest to have a 15-30 last call.


You also have to realize that this is a business. It was run by starfish junction. In my experiences w them they will by 2 kegs. 1 for each session. Lets say 1 of those kegs lasts until 730pm of the 2nd session. They will not tap the second keg b/c the majority will go to waste. It makes more of a business sense not to tap that keg and return it to the wholesaler anf get the money back for it.

 

Completely agree with all of this. Granted I went to EBF over the weekend...but, I stopped going to this one last year for the same reasons. It's crap. There are so many better, well run festivals out there.

 

Okay I'll admit that I was a bit disgruntled and hungover this morning...not the best recipe in the morning. I didn't mean to trash the entire event, since there were many breweries that showed up well prepared with the intent of keeping the customer happy. However, still very disappointed and will be spending my money elsewhere, like ACBF in Boston in May.