Winterfest 2015

The price didn't go up 20% this year. That is a big, awesome change!

 

Damn, didn't read that far, that's horseshit.

 

Tickets go on sale sometime in January.

I wonder if each brewery will be offering more, since the will be more space. The guild hasn't gained that many member breweries, have they?

 

Anyone heard if they will be doing the seasonal 6 pack (or now 8 pack) again this year?

 

I'd guess there's 5-10 new ones from last years. it was also pretty crammed in there. Not much room for new ones and was pretty cramped for those that were there.

that said, I'm not sure about this move to two nights. waiting to see the schedule tho..

 

I recognize that by making it two nights this is a way to get more people involved into a festival that always ends up selling out in seconds. I also see splitting up the brewers into different nights is a way to avoid the fiasco that was ABR 2011 for those on the serving side of the tables.

That all being said, I'm willing to bet there will be a number of folks who still snag tickets for both nights. Especially if they split up the brewers equally (ex: Surly, Steel Toe, & Lift Bridge Friday, Indeed, Bent Paddle, & Dangerous Man Saturday)

 

Tickets for the four-pack (both winterfest nights, all pints, and abr) are on sale now: http://www.tempotickets.com/mcbg

The single tickets for Winterfest don't go on sale until the 19th.

 

Also, I am looking for another Saturday ticket. I am willing to trade my Friday and All Pints tickets for one Saturday ticket.

 

Skipping Winterfest for the first time. No thanks on the 2 night deal, they've basically doubled the price with half the breweries there each night.

 

This is plain stupid. Screw it. I was looking forward to my first Winterfest but no longer. Might as well just go to the tap rooms of the breweries I actually like.

Anyone ever do the math on what the MN breweries make from this, APN and the fair? What the hell do they do with all the money?

 

You asked so I'm just gonna throw some numbers out there*. I believe last year's Winterfest it was something like 800 tickets sold and let's just say it was at $75 a ticket (knowing some went cheaper as part of ticket packages) which gets us to $60,000. Now, never having been involved in any type of large-scale event planning, I've got to imagine by the time facility rental, catering, and entertainment are booked and paid for that leaves them what, around $15,000-$25,000 maybe? Then there's still some of the smaller costs like signage, logistics, coordinators, programs, ticket enforcement, sample glasses, etc. I know of elaborate weddings around these parts that can run $30,000+

I'm going to guess by the time all the costs are broke down, the money brought in by this event may not feel monetarily it's worth it to the people putting this on. Maybe I'm way off base on what the true costs are here and if so, someone please point out the error of my ways. Sure some of the stuff could probably be scaled back to save on costs like no food or music but for me those touches help put this event above and beyond the Shock Top Sample Fests at the Mall of America Parking lot. Keep in mind, this is supposed to help showcase the best Minnesota has to offer each year!

It's a good thing these folks actually like beer to put on something like this! As for what they do with that extra money, I'm going to trust they will put it to good use. Not sure what they're doing today but judging by the growth we've seen on the brewery and consumer side, I'd say they're doing all right for themselves. As far as I'm concerned, go take the cash and buy a lobbyist for the legislature so I can have my Sunday Sales!

*don't hold these to official, just going from memory and estimates here.

 

Winterfest Two Day ticket packs are up for sale now along with the daily line ups.

Pouring Both Nights:

Best of Fest 2014 Winners:
Barley John's Brewpub
Bent Paddle Brewing Co.
Surly Brewing Co.

Brewers' Choice:
August Schell Brewing Co.
Dangerous Man Brewing Co.
Fitger's Brewhouse
Indeed Brewing Co.
Steel Toe Brewing
Summit Brewing Co.
Town Hall Brewery

Night 1: Friday, February 27

612Brew
Badger Hill Brewing
Blacklist Beer LLC
Boom Island Brewing
Borealis Ferementery
Carmody Irish Pub and Brewing
Castle Danger Brewery
Day Block Brewing
ENKI Brewing
Fair State Brewing Cooperative
Insight Brewing Co.
Jack Pine Brewery
Lucid Brewing
LynLake Brewery
Mankato Brewery
Olvalde Farm and Brewing Company
Red Wing Brewery
Rock Bottom Brewery Minneapolis
The Freehouse
Third Street Brewhouse
Tin Whiskers Brewing Co.
Vine Park Brewing Co.
Waconia Brewing Company

Night 2: Saturday, February 28

Bang Brewing
Bank Brewing Company
Bauhaus Brew Labs
Bemidji Brewing Company
Bent Brewstillery
Big Wood Brewery
Brau Brothers Brewing Co.
Burning Brothers Brewing
Canal Park Brewery
Excelsior Brewing Company
Finnegans
Flat Earth Brewing Company
Fulton Beer
Great Waters Brewing Co.
Gull Dam Brewing
Hammerheart Brewing Co.
Kinney Creek Brewery
Lift Bridge Brewing Co.
LTD Brewing
Northbound Smokehouse & Brewpub
Northgate Brewing
The Herkimer Pub and Brewery
Urban Growler Brewing Co.

 

I have two tickets for each night that I can no longer use, just looking for face.

 

I can't make it Friday's session so I have one ticket available. Just looking for someone to make me a decent offer.

 

I have 2 tickets for Friday if anyone is looking. Looking for face.

 

Anyone know when the program will be up? Thinking about tickets for Saturday, never been before.

 

Saw Herkimer is offering bus rides to and from the event:
http://mnbeeractivists.com/events/bus-to-winterfest-2015

Anyone know of any other rides being offered?