I couldn't make it this year, unfortunately. For those that did, how was it? Weather looked awesome. Any highlights from the local MN contigent? Any favorites? Anything cool from out of state breweries?
Weather = awesome Lines = ridiculous Hangover = smaller than expected Lines for the local breweries were the longest of all, so we didn't even sample them all. Love Dangerous Man but never stood in their line. Most pourers were happy and fun, which was cool. Stone was out and gone, then showed back up with a bunch of beers, including Imperial Russian Stout, which was awesome of them. Enjoyed talking to the guy from Ovalde, among others. I really enjoyed this fest for years as I hate winters in the Midwest but it gives something fun to do in the winter. But I think I've had enough of the ever increasing lines so I am probably done going to it.
Luckily I don't mind standing in mud, because that's where the shortest lines were. I got to sample a few Brewers I hadn't tried yet, but my mindset quickly became just get in the shortest line. I was still sober enough to take car2go home. I don't plan on returning, I can get enough beer for $40 on my own.
For advertising about how they were going to limit the number of tickets to make a more enjoyable experience, it sure didn't feel like it. It felt like every tent on the west side had about a ten minute wait to get a pour. Guess those folks didn't want to trek it through the mud in all the other tents. Every year it feels like that will be the year they get everything figured out and then every year something comes up that dampens the experience. From the top of my head it's been half of the tents being right in the middle of a snow pack to too small of space to too long of a wait to get in to it being so cold the draft lines freeze up to this year being too muddy. Cant wait to see what pops up next year!
I enjoyed it. Tried all the new breweries I have not had yet. Except for Eastlake, who was a no-show. A lot of hot chicks. And a lot of hipsters, as expected.
Like Atom 13 said, after a while I was just looking for the shortest line. Lot of hipsters taking selfies. Indeed Peppermint Haywire was a highlight, along with the impressive array of delicious cheese samples in the Hippodrome. And kudos to Hammerheart. They always fill a full glass at every event I've been to.
I always feel weird taking pictures of my beer, but how else would Google point out every year with their "Year in Review" that I may have a problem? I don't do selfies though, just beeries.
I saw Lupine won best brewery there but have never had them. I recently heard they were opening up and was wondering the same thing - what did people think?
Stopped by Lupine early on and they had a Cranberry Oatmeal Stout that was one of the highlights of the day for me.
