Dark Lord Day 2015

[biglobo8971]

No longer have my truck, but will be in the same spot as last year

 

[ChicagoGuy]

Any chance there are two spots open on this fabled Lansman bus I'm hearing so much about?

 

[biglobo8971]

only lap seats. And yes, it is a bumpy ride.

 

[Farnsworth]

Aside from the Hampton, what other Hotels are you guys staying at?

 

[willseph]

I'm wearing a name tag. Make fun of me if you will.

 

[jlwalker20]

Here's my big list of tips for the newbros. I believe most will hold up for 2015, but there's always the chance for some of this stuff to change. Let me know if anything looks amiss.

Friendly reminders/tips for the uninitiated/already inebriated:

CASH ONLY:
- $80 for Dark Lord (maximum 4 bottles* at $20/apiece)
- $50 for Barrel Aged Dark Lord (pending your scratch-off)
- $50 for beer on tap (most run $5, select are $10)
- $20-30 for food (though you can leave to eat and re-enter)
- So basically, bring $200+, or $150 at the least if you sell your scratch-off.

WEAR APPROPRIATE CLOTHING:
- Check the weather forecast and dress for the temp/precipitation expectations.
- Wear something comfortable that you don't mind getting muddy.
- Wear COMFORTABLE shoes you don't mind getting muddy.
- Bring a small towel to wipe yourself/your stuff off in the event of spilling.

ARRIVE EARLY:
- Doors open at 10 a.m. but the party starts long before.
- People will be cracking beers in line around 7:00 a.m as the sun rises.
- The line is always half of the fun - meeting strangers and sharing beers.
- Tickets are checked and armbands are given in line to let the entry process occur smoothly.
- Last year there were food trucks to make your early inebriation in line a little slower.
- Dark Lord was on tap as soon as we walked in last year, the first round was gone before even 1/3 of the people had made it into the grounds.
- Re: re-entry: From what I recall last year, you can re-enter freely once you have a wristband. You have to be together to get your wristband as you stand in line. From there, it's free for all.
- If you have a guest that can't be in line with you early in the morning, it is fine as long as the person whose name is on the ticket leaves (with wristband/hand stamp) and re-enters with the guest at a later time.

SHARING BEER:
- It is recommended you bring a handful of cool beers to share.
- Beer should be brought in a SOFT cooler - I use a backpack cooler that I got for cheap on Amazon.
- Bring a plastic cup to drink out of that you're not afraid to break.
- Beer on tap is served in flimsy cups, so the cup you bring is vital.
- A good bottle opener is crucial (some recommend a pocket knife, too, but I don't know that you'll get it past security or what the rules are).
- Pro-tip: Water is vital to your survival. Bring it, drink it, and freeze a couple bottles to keep the beer in your cooler nice and cool all day long.

YOUR HAUL:
- Parking at the event is the easiest way to handle ferrying beer to your car after your group, but it will cost you a pretty penny.
- If you don't park nearby, you can cab it, but that's likely even more expensive.
- You can park in Centennial Park across Calumet. I don't remember what it was last year, but it's usually around $15-$20.
- If you get boxes for your haul from the brewery, they are known to be crap boxes that will come unglued at the bottom. So bring tape, or only carry the box by the bottom, not the handles.
- To expand on that, have a plan on how you are going to carry your beer. A related tale from last year: "I saw a guy a few years ago try to re-arrange his backpack and accidentally drop a DL onto the cement floor in the brewery. It immediately shattered. To top it off, it was his barrel-aged one. I was heartbroken just watching." RIP.
- I transport beer in knee-high white tube socks. Usually one will cushion the beer quite well, but you can double-wrap for extra protection. They're cheap and can be compacted down quite easily, and they do a great job.
- Be prepared for people to accost you on your way out, offering all manner of beers for trade to get their hands on a Dark Lord.

YOUR EXPERIENCE:
- Everything above is subject to change. This is the third event company running the event, you just never know what is going to happen.
- You can get a shuttle from the Holiday Inn for not too much. We left one car there overnight. The bottle share there the night before is the best place to be if you don't know any locals.
- Watch out for theft! Do not leave you bottles alone. It has been bad in the past, and could only get worse with GA tickets. Now there will be people there who have no chance of getting DL, so they could be looking to grab yours.
- Dark Lord Day is what you make it - you can show up for your group, buy your beer and go home, or you can trade, share, drink, chat, meet and do all manner of fun things, surrounded by like-minded beer zealots. Just make sure you have a ride home.

That's what I've got for now, I'm sure I'll edit this at some point with a few things I may be forgetting.

 

[jlwalker20]

Also, here's a big old IP trade spreadsheet for those of you planning to get your Pokebeer on.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1wPhwAvawKTHixve9ztsFqq_GxWEEha_wIDuP2edREGs/edit#gid=0

 

[NYCBUCKEYE]

Does anyone know if GA tickets come with a golden ticket? Thanks

 

[jlwalker20]

Does anyone know if GA tickets come with a golden ticket? Thanks

Seems unlikely as there is no regular Dark Lord allotment for GA tickets. They were able to purchase everything but '14 Dark Lord last year (including old bottles of Dark Lord, if memory serves?).

 

[ClCardinal84]

Does anyone know if GA tickets come with a golden ticket? Thanks

They do not. GA tickets are entry to the grounds only. You can buy guest taps, food, merchandise and any other bottles FFF has for sale EXCEPT Dark Lord and BA Dark Lord if you have a winning ticket.

They were the only tickets I could get last year and I still had a freaking blast.

If you are going to DLD for the Dark Lord, you honestly are doing it all wrong IMO.

 

[stxSS07]

Didn't even get on the site on my phone...saw "server error" and said **** it while drinking many stouts.

Someone sell me a GA ticket pls. Just want tap access.

 

[stxSS07]

Residence Inn room booked for the weekend.

Doing it wrong.

 

[gtx281]

Someone sell me a GA ticket pls. Just want tap access.

Or you could buy your own when they go on sale Tuesday night.

 

[stxSS07]

Or you could buy your own when they go on sale Tuesday night.

Just got that text. I don't even social media. -2000 newmoney score.

 

[NYCBUCKEYE]

Didn't even get on the site on my phone...saw "server error" and said **** it while drinking many stouts.

Someone sell me a GA ticket pls. Just want tap access.

They are going on sale on Tuesday. If I have an extra I'll let you know

 

[stxSS07]

They are going on sale on Tuesday. If I have an extra I'll let you know

Thanks mane.

I guess we have like 8 people going to try on Tues since everyone I usually go with got shut out. Hoping the "no DL" factor makes it an easy one.

 

[beachstrength49]

Flight and hotel booked today. Can't wait!!!

 

[stxSS07]

Flight and hotel booked today. Can't wait!!!

 

[gtx281]

If you are going to DLD for the Dark Lord, you honestly are doing it all wrong IMO.

Majority of the reason I go is for the Dork Lard. Everything else is a bonus.

 

[ApocalypseZombie]

If you spend 50 on taps you did it wrong.

 

[gtx281]

Hate-read some of the DLD stuff on BA and Facebook. One girl asked, "what's a bottle share?"

#newmoney watching is going to be fantastic this year.

 

[lb304854]

Struck out. Oh well.

 

[biglobo8971]

Struck out. Oh well.

we will still get to do our yearly check up of each other, yes?

 

[mjohnson171]

Didn't even get on the site on my phone...saw "server error" and said **** it while drinking many stouts.

Someone sell me a GA ticket pls. Just want tap access.

I might have an extra group D ticket. I won't know for a few weeks so I suggest still trying for GA.

 

[tallpaul071]

Hate-read some of the DLD stuff on BA and Facebook. One girl asked, "what's a bottle share?"

#newmoney watching is going to be fantastic this year.

My favorite thing is all of those people who don't know what a bottle share is always seem to show up with a tasting glass.... Weird how that works.

 

[stxSS07]

I might have an extra group D ticket. I won't know for a few weeks so I suggest still trying for GA.

I will remain cautiously optimistic.

 

[injuredreserve]

Wife and I both managed to get 1 ticket each for group C while at Hunahpu's day.

 

[biglobo8971]

Yep, yearly check up for you as well

 

[Dicers]

different strategy for maximizing DLD this year:

Sleeping in Sat/ getting there later
Attempting to purchase 0 "rare glassware" i have to line up for
Less Black Tuesday
More lambic friday

i'm finally growing up?

I'm going this year and not giving you my ticket!

 

[Dicers]

Got 'em, group A *******!!

Me too!