VT HopJam 2016

The facebook page says the initial beer list will be posted tomorrow.

I'm going to VT with buddies this weekend and we're still debating whether or not to hit this up, or just go to bars instead.

 

Heading to Hop Jam soon. If anybody interested in doing a limited IP trade for some great Florida beers, let me know. I have Huna 16, Goodnite Nightmare Mekong, Zhukov, Cafe Americano, El Cat beers like Trousseau, Lorem Ipsem, Endless Nameless, French Toast, Last Snow, Sticky Treats, etc. I like barrel aged stouts, sours and hops. Cheers.

 

That's a convoluted mess of a poster. Anyone care to split out exactly what BIP can pour that GA doesn't?

 

It appears that the first half (roughly) of the BIP side is just BIP. After Wormtown Be Hoppier, the list starts to repeat what was on the GA side.

 

Based on the poster, it appears there might be a separate pouring area for BIP instead of one mass pouring area which was a cluster last year.

 

They have mentioned several times that they are learning more from each year and they're constantly working on improvements. Last year the tight quarters inside the beer tent contributed to the cluster-f, and allowed assholes to cut lines altogether since there was little to no differentiation between an established queue for a beer and groups of people just hanging out in the only shade offered on a hot day.

From an Instragram (Facebook maybe?) post a few weeks ago, it appears that this year's layout places the event on the north-western side of the parking lots right next to the Sports Center, rather than inside the resort on the ski slope itself. I'm not familiar with the new terrain, but I imagine there will be more flat(ish) areas to place multiple tents if they so choose.

 

Does anyone know if this is an indoor event? An outdoor event? Or both?

 

It is an outdoor event.

 

If you didn't make it this year, congratulations. Absolute Shitshow so far.

VIP early entry didn't get in until almost GA tickets. One beer line for VIP, one for VIP + GA. 15-20 minute wait for pours, and the lines are just getting longer.

The people working kick ass and I feel bad for them, but this wasn't organized well.

 

This is in the running for the biggest shit show I've been too

Forty five minutes and lots of beer sold out

No signs, nobody knows what they're online for. Sucks.

 

Worst beer event I've ever been to. BIP waited 45 min to get in. Beers they advertised gone before we walked in. Double pours of Headroom to people so others got nothing. Everyone needs to get a refund. Do not go to this event. Completed BS.

 

Also very prevalent; Assholes getting to the front of a line and if whalez aren't available, simply waiting for the next rar beer to get tapped, then flooding the front of the line. 10-20 people easy doing this. Some beer people are dbags eh?

 

Yup. People camping out in front for the beers. This is horrible.

 

Overheard two guys at Alchemist who had paid for BIP tickets, went, saw a 400 person line and left. Sounds like they made the right decision.

 

It blows my mind that this deteriorated even more from last year, at least from what I've read so far (have not yet seen a single positive review). We had no issues getting in on time for BIP last year, but the issues with beers kicking quickly and people camping out/cutting lines were significant. You think the organizers would have learned after '15 and made improvements for '16 but it doesn't sound like it...if anything, it sounds much worse.

 

This really sucks to hear. I was hoping they'd pull it together this year, because last year was such an unorganized mess. The fact that they're doing double pours is absolutely ridiculous! There's already so little good beer to go around. Sigh. The idea of this fest could be so great but it sounds like this may be the last year of Hop Jam.

 

My boy GSull is too optimistic. It is a mess. Food was Good. But we are lucky to be staying on site to get away from the mayhem.