The Bistro -Bals Fest 2012

This one was pretty tasty....aged in their own Three Sheets rum barrels. It was one of the beers I was pouring, and it was the first to kick.

 

I know I wasn't the only one who thought Unity tasted like straight diacetyl. I guess people want their sour beers to taste like movie popcorn.

 

Sorry to hear that you didn't enjoy the Unity, as in Edward. I was there and didn't pick up any diacetyl in the beer. I was actually surprised to see a few comments on Untappd stating the same. I am now wondering if anyone else here, who went to the fest was able to perceive any diacetyl in the Unity?

 

I got an unusual toasted note from the beer, though nothing like out-and-out diacetyl.

 

We really love the toasted malt finish of our sours. We credit the use of oats.

 

Honestly, I don't think the people at the Bistro were always pouring the right beers. I'm pretty confident that I asked for a number and then had them pour an adjacent beer. However, I will note that I was there late and pretty much everyone serving was incredibly drunk. I'm surprised some of them could still stand up.

And I don't remember any diacetyl in there. I will note, in all honesty, that I wasn't really blown away by it either. A good beer, but nothing spectacular. Really the whole lineup was underwhelming for me, last year's fest was definitely better. I'm wondering if part of that was being there late, maybe everything had been sitting out in pitchers too long...

 

Not buttery, but I and other folks I was with agreed that it had an odd aftertaste--one of them described it as tasting like uncooked pasta, which I thought was nicely put. I thought it was delicious other than that, but that aftertaste was a pretty big turnoff for me.
Edit: Just saw your note about the toasted malt finish, maybe that was it! I can understand that people enjoy different things, just didn't work for me and some of my tasting buddies. I'll definitely keep trying your stuff, since there were other parts of it I enjoyed, and maybe that flavor note will click for me with other combinations of flavors. Thanks!

 

Thanks for the feedback. Running a brewery and pushing the envelope is not always easy, and it's always good the hear honest feedback, whether it be positive or not!

 

I happen to love the Unity, as in Edward. Can I buy this in bottles or growlers at your brewery?

 

^^^^ This could not have been said better.
It was a flat out joke as to what was going on mid way to the end.
The guy pouring at the end (numbers 54ish to the end) was absolutely out of line in every way possible. Hitting on women, pouring wrong beers, yelling at people because they liked certain beers more than he did, etc.
This next statement actually happened:
The guy asked to see my glass; I gave it to him. He then drank the beer that was in there (about 2oz) then gave it back. He then told my wife she had the nicest boobs, yes he he said boobs, he had ever seen followed by a "take your shirt off".
I guess he was in a good mood because he then said "I owe you a beer."

 

This was my impression as well, and I was there first thing in the morning. There were a few really good beers, like Ballast Point's 3-sheets Rum Victory and Lagunitas's Gueze. There were a ton of OK, but nothing special beers, including a somewhat surprising number of "shelf" beers (Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron and Russian River's beers spring to mind), and a few unpleasant beers.

 

Yes I agree. After only being to the DIPA feet and hearing so much about this festival I was very disappointed. I was 50/50 on the people pouring, some rude and some very friendly. Thankfully the 2 girls that were working inside we're very nice and I was really enjoying #42. But overall the whole thing was disappointing, list, space for event, however food was good. Really wanted the Frickle guy to be there though

 

Russian River never brings anything interesting to these beer festivals, though - at least not the ones in NorCal, with the sole exception of the opening night event for last SF Beer Week, when they had the bigass lines for PtY and the 3L Temptation bottle.

 

Damn...looks like I missed all the action. I stopped pouring round 4:30, and left shortly afterwards.

It was great meeting you and your wife. Hopefully the two of you can make it to Jim's party.

 

Yeah, "fun" was one of the words I was thinking. haha

We hope to make it. It sounds like it will be fun.

 

Sante! Sante! Sante!

That's all I got.

 

Wow! That's way out of line. The management at the Bistro needs to know about that I would think. $50 for some dude to be a total jackoff is unacceptable.

 

I guess i should call and complain about the "service". Yeah, I definitely should.

 

Read your post again, and this disturbs me. I never really made it down that way, so I'm not sure what guy it could have been. Plus the later crew came in to relieve us round 4, and I only know a few of them. The majority being volunteers.

I know the owner Vic a little, and he definitely would have done something if he had known.

 

I meant complain about that one guy in particular. He was very loud and was only on the very end (55ish to the end). I'm sure he could be easily identified. By no means did I mean all or even more than that one particular guy was out of line.

 

I wouldn't mind trying it again. Is it on tap anywhere? This was right at the start so it could have resulted from dirty lines or pitchers and washed out as the event went on. Anyways, if I could find Unity elsewhere I would like to try it as it seems odd that some of us could be so far off I. This beer compared to others.

 

I really enjoyed Dueling Pipers for what it's worth. One of my favorites of the afternoon.

 

Yeah, I understood. Looks like 1-30 was the better section...lol

 

We will be doing the mass release this February in bottles during SF Beer Week, I hope that you get a chance to try it again, we will have it on draft at the brewery then as well.

Thanks! We are pretty happy with that one as well!!

Again, thanks everyone for the feedback, it's great to hear unbiased opinions.

 

I'm surprised you didn't hit the guy. I don't know I'd have as much self-control especially at a beer festival. I mean disrespectful and vulgar to you and A is one thing, but drinking your beer? I would've been tempted to put that guy to sleep.

Did you get bottles when they released it a couple weeks ago?

 

I know exactly who you're talking about. He's the one who was so drunk he could barely stand up, couldn't understand anything anyone ordered, and just poured whatever beer he wanted, whether it was right or not. He should absolutely not be working any of their festivals from now on.

Sadly I expect that he'll be at all of them, because I've seen him every time. I recall him being less of an ass during previous events, but I'm also typically there before there's time to get that shitfaced.

 

Yes. 3 with one already consumed. They still had some at the brewery as of Sunday. I know St. Vincent in SF just got a case so it will be available there for a limited time as well.

 

Absolutely, Love's Armor was a fantastic addition to the festival and very deserving of People's Choice.

 

Tempted, yes. Being the "bigger" man has it's rewards...I'm having a hard time finding them though.

 

This hasn't always been the case. On Sunday I was over at my buddy's place and he pulled out some of the old beer-sheets from the Barrel Fest in 2007 and 2008. WHALES ABOUND!

2007 had Yellow Bus, original batch of Angel's Share, and a bunch of other stuff that made my jaw drow.

2008 had 50/50 Eclipse 2007 Old Fitz Eclipse, Veritas 006, Beatification, Firestone XII, etc. It was truly the best festival in the west.

Now, I notice that Russian River doesn't really bring anything too special, and the participation from the Southern California breweries seems almost non-existant. I guess that this festival has been supplanted by bigger, more local ones.

 

"Local" like Bay Area or "Local" like SoCal? The people I was with were saying this years' lineup was pretty weak compared to years past but these guys are all whale hunters which I am not. It's amusing to me when people are "let down" by Consecration and Supplication as if they're just hohum.

 

It's a let down to go to an "epic" festival which is filled with beers I can (and have) bought without any trouble at local bottle shops and liquor stores. Nobody's claiming that Consecration and Supplication are ho-hum beers, but they certainly are let down beers for an event that was billed "the best festival in the west" by previous attendees.

I personally did not find the beers at this festival worth the effort it took to get to the venue.

 

Yeah, I hear you. $50 is pretty steep and I guess it's been better in the past. I thought the beer was great but yes it was pretty regional and no there were not epic whales flowing out of every pitcher.

What kind of "effort" did it take you to get there? Did you travel by covered wagon?

 

Came from Redwood City via Caltrain, BART and bicycle. Took a better part of 2 hours each way. Not quite covered wagon, but it wasn't convenient. Had heard great things about the bistro fests though, but would be hesitant to return, even with a DD shortening the travel time.

Luckily I was able to stop by Drakes, The Trappist and Beer Rev on my way back, so the trip home wasn't _that_ bad