The ABBBP in New England

Do you have your tickets in hand or are you picking up Ten Club tix at the window? People on the PJ message boards seem to be pretty worried about those lines, plus others have commented about security lines to get to your seats. As others have said back on the Trillium post, they'll go on at 7:30 which is much earlier than their normal start times due to the 10:30pm local curfew.

 

Why don't you cut out the cooler stop? It's not going to be so hot on Friday evening that a few hours out of a cooler will ruin the beer. If you really want a cooler, pack an insulated collapsible bag in your luggage. That stop seems to be an easy one to cut out and should save you ~30 minutes.

Edit to add that my plan doesn't actually help that much, since you're still getting to Treehouse quite early; big problem is that you can't leave TH until they open after 5. Carry on, and good luck!

 

They should open before 5pm, but look to the TH forum for commentary on when they've been opening up.

 

I don't recommend doing that TH run. It's going to be a mad house in and around Fenway to park/walk/get through security, and that's all assuming you have no issues on the Pike. Seems crazy to me for 8-12 cans pp (especially since you can essentially buy whatever you want at Trillium and you are also going to VT) but good luck if you give it a bid.

 

Trillium: Exceptionally fast. And at 2pm on a Friday, there will be zero line. Since there are no limits and no samples, leave the driver in the car curbside, and have one person run in.

Tree House: As you mentioned, this is dependent on what's available. TH posts canning updates on Twitter between 10-11am. When this doesn't happen, it is going to be something "special". This could range from "Curiosity X or Single Shot w/ Vanilla" to "New Double Shot bottles" to "King JJJJJuliussss or Very Hazy". If they haven't posted anything by the time you land in Boston, the regulars and line waiters will already be on their way there. If you arrive by 3:30pm with a "regular" release (Eureka, Green, etc...) you'll probably be around #100 in line and out by 5-5:15 depending on when exactly they open the doors. Special release, and all bets are off.

 

As mentioned on the other thread, you will never make it. Honestly I would be surprised if you were in your seats by 8:30 if you attempt this. SO do you want to miss a 1/3 of the show just to pick up a few beers at TH? I say just stock up at Trillium and be done. It's PJ, come on man, WAY more important than a 6 pack of beer.

 

Well, it seems your mind is made up. And while I would hate to see you miss any of the show, best of luck. I hope it works out for you but odds are extremely against you getting there and in the stadium before 830, IMO. At 330 you most likely won't even be in the top 50 in line. Traffic, parking, navigating the herds around the stadium, security...it's just insane. Also, every bar will be packed after the show since you can hear it perfectly outside the stadium and it's Friday night.

 

Another option would be to go to TH on Saturday. I'm guessing that screws up your Saturday plans, but you could go early to TH and still make it up to Alchemist before they close. You wouldn't get Crusher, but probably would still get Focal Banger.

 

Don't bother going to Tree House and just trade Alchemist cans for it back in Boston.

 

There have to be folks that will do this. Throw up a post in the FT/in-person forum, tell your story about coming in town to cheer up a friend, and offer Alchemist cans for TH cans. Even if you have to give more cans on your end, has to be worth it to save the money on gas and ensure you don't miss the show!

 

Yeah, trading will more realistically work for you. Also, consider saving Trillium until monday. They open at noon. Cutting out that whole chunk on friday could at least put you as potentially the first people to leave Tree House, potentially getting you on the road back to boston at 4:50.

 

Forget TH. If you hit any kind of accident you will be F'd getting back to Boston. Treehouse is VERY far from Boston. All of the following junctions and areas going East will be a mess. Also if there is a major accident on 90 W which I almost guarantee there will be it can pretty much close both sides. That is THE riskiest part of the pike since there are hardly any exits.

90 E / 84 - Shit show
90 / 290 - crappy
90 / 495 - Slow as shit and a mess if not stopped for a minute
90 / 95 - You're f#%ked getting to this for miles of slowdown
90/95 TO next tolls - You will crawl at best and most likely encounter an accident(could close 90)
Tolls TO Brighton tolls - San Diego Zoo without the zookeeper. A complete shit show.
Getting off the exit to ANYWHERE near Fenway, your kinda f@$ked

The moral of the story is just throw up an in search of. Someone will surely hook you up given your situation. Just skip TH and go to the bar and sip on some Trillium at Row34....literally next door. Enjoy the city and your time. This is a trip for your buddy who's having a shitty time in his life, not for you. Don't add stress and f&&k a concert just for a few cans. Have fun

 

I 100% agree that that kind of distance on the Mass Pike on a summer Friday will not be enoyable and potentially ruin your experience. If you are looking for a second brewery that doesn't hit TX, there are options. Jack's Abby is great and has food but honestly at 20 miles from Fenway that might even be a stretch on the level of stress you want. Maybe some of the ones a little closer might be more do-able. Honestly, I'd consider getting your Trillium and then popping over to Cambridge and hitting Cambridge Brewing. Great brewpub that would be worth the stop as a nice middle point before strapping into Fenway. Can knock out your late lunch / early dinner there. As mentioned above, 7 would seem late to plan to "arrive Fenway" ... parking, traffic will be an issue as well as security, grabbing a beer once inside etc.

The Trillium limits are insane (provided you have the money) so you and your crew should be able to buy more than enough beer to last you the weekend (and then some). Cambridge will have stuff to go, as well, if you want.

 

Also if you go to Cambridge Brewing you can walk to Lord Hobo(NOT THE BREWERY BUT BAR) or meadhall. Both only about 5 minutes away from CBC. Lord Hobo should have some Trillium.