FOBAB

[jmarsh123]

I'm all for new breweries at Fobab, if for no other reason than spreading out the lines. Though with more attendees at each session I'm not sure how much we will notice. Of course if one of those new small guys wins a medal tonight you'd better believe everyone will be clamoring for a chance to try them. Isn't that kind of how it was for Side Project last year after Fuzzy won? Or was their line long to begin with? I know I only first heard of Side Project at the Great Taste a few months before last fobab when I tried the blueberry flanders for the first time.

Side project was crazy last year and the stoned guy pouring poured way too heavy. They were under radar two years ago when I stumbled onto BB Flanders as my first beer of the day and didn't have enough sense to keep my mouth shut and drink it all on my own

 

[middlebrow]

Side project was crazy last year and the stoned guy pouring poured way too heavy. They were under radar two years ago when I stumbled onto BB Flanders as my first beer of the day and didn't have enough sense to keep my mouth shut and drink it all on my own

side project was at fobab in 2012? wasn't his first beer in chicago that saison at zwanze in 2013?

 

[Treebs]

Side project was crazy last year and the stoned guy pouring poured way too heavy. They were under radar two years ago when I stumbled onto BB Flanders as my first beer of the day and didn't have enough sense to keep my mouth shut and drink it all on my own

side project was at fobab in 2012? wasn't his first beer in chicago that saison at zwanze in 2013?

Cory released the BB Flanders under the Perennial name in 2012.

 

[middlebrow]

Cory released the BB Flanders under the Perennial name in 2012.

OK, ya I thought there was a separate one or somethin. I vaguely remember that but don't remember it blowing me away. My brain is all malted hops & bong residue.

 

[mychalg91]

Ok cool, I was unaware that SP dated back to 2012, thanks for that info.

 

[Dunt1]

checking in here with my 3 f*ckin beers. I understand your issues, and dude quite frankly I agree with you on many of the points but it should be noted this will have been about my 10th BA beer but second commercially released one (junta I did with transient back in April). Now I understand the giant rash of new breweries who threw a batch of so & so stout into some barrel they picked up and let it sit behind their psycho brew for three months, but a couple of those are and will be different.

The registration was open to every brewery coast to coast, they let anyone enter, and to my knowledge they turned no one away. Thats why kentucky bourbon water ale was there last year and its why woodchuck reserve hard cider is there this year. But you and most on this board know who to skip, and seriously I know I won't be wasting my ticket on a lot of these new guys only because the style & beer seem boring and I bet a lot of them aren't pulled off well. I understand its grown but those 20 to 30 proven breweries are still there and most have like 4 beers there, it will be OK.

But your right, it will suck with the other 1K people standing in the same line as you and drinking all BA abraxas before you and I do, but what the heck can you do? At the very least that giant diversity of breweries may force those not in the know to go elsewhere so I can stand in line unencumbered for SP.

Price increase does suck and can't figure out how that is justified. New venue? Because there's free volunteers, sponsors, and the breweries PAID to submit beers. Its great if it raises money for the guild which has a legal team and whatnot but ya that price is too steep & unjustified.

I really wish there was a taste screening process because I would have preferred that so I could prove myself to a panel of folks before it goes to the general public and wastes space at FOBAB and statements like this wouldn't come out, but oh well. And I'm not a new brewery wearing my crisp logo'd t-shirt talking about how my new IPA is so f*ckin great forcing a growler in your face. In fact, you've probably seen me at events & bottle shares over the past 7 years and have never mentioned brewing beer. I'm the hardest judge of beer especially regarding the **** I've done, but what is going to be poured at FOBAB from middle brow is pretty damn good and think it should be there next to some second tier breweries. Now seriously don't waste your own ticket on it, but tell someone else to waste one and take a sip at least. I tried to make a less acidic fuzzy with more spice-abbey notes and I think I pulled off what I set out to do, maybe you agree, maybe you don't. Either way, price increase sucks, some new breweries beers will suck, new venue looks like it will suck and has no character but FOBAB will still be a pretty awesome event.

Peace & Love, Peace & Love -
Nick (burica2020 on BA)


Also why have I not fully moved over here, BA is dead, how did I forget about this place? so look out for me & my ****** jokes all over this board from now on.

Good post and I'm happy that we have pretty similar views on this entire thing. As I stated in my previous post, I am all for people getting exposure for their breweries, I enjoy trying new beers and having the forum to do it in. I just worry that the general direction that they are taking isn't one I'd necessarily follow. If this is open to breweries near and far, isn't it somewhat disconcerting that there seems to be a lack of interest to enter from larger name breweries? Im worried that it is viewed around the industry as something that is becoming more localized and, therefore, we may not be getting the exposure to new breweries that we use to. That seems like an odd argument considering the number of breweries has increased, but I think you understand what Im saying.

The line thing is a concern of mine if I'm being completely honest. Selfish as it may be, I hate wasting time standing in a 20-30 minute line for a beer I can get much easier by trading or around town. So that basically forces me to avoid getting pours of stuff I know will be good e.g. Goose, Side Project, etc. Which is fine, but the price of the ticket is only magnified to me in that situation. I've always had a great time at FOBAB because FOBAB is a great festival that always brings a bunch of great beer, but last year was the first year I noticed a stark difference in my enjoyment of the event. I still had a blast, but my interest in bothering with lines waned significantly. I think I got 8 pours or Radlersnake because there was no line and it was delicious. All bitching aside, I am ready for tomorrow. I will stop by and say hi and try your stuff and give you my honest opinion. Look forward to meeting you. Cheers!

 

[middlebrow]

Good post and I'm happy that we have pretty similar views on this entire thing. As I stated in my previous post, I am all for people getting exposure for their breweries, I enjoy trying new beers and having the forum to do it in. I just worry that the general direction that they are taking isn't one I'd necessarily follow. If this is open to breweries near and far, isn't it somewhat disconcerting that there seems to be a lack of interest to enter from larger name breweries? Im worried that it is viewed around the industry as something that is becoming more localized and, therefore, we may not be getting the exposure to new breweries that we use to. That seems like an odd argument considering the number of breweries has increased, but I think you understand what Im saying.

The line thing is a concern of mine if I'm being completely honest. Selfish as it may be, I hate wasting time standing in a 20-30 minute line for a beer I can get much easier by trading or around town. So that basically forces me to avoid getting pours of stuff I know will be good e.g. Goose, Side Project, etc. Which is fine, but the price of the ticket is only magnified to me in that situation. I've always had a great time at FOBAB because FOBAB is a great festival that always brings a bunch of great beer, but last year was the first year I noticed a stark difference in my enjoyment of the event. I still had a blast, but my interest in bothering with lines waned significantly. I think I got 8 pours or Radlersnake because there was no line and it was delicious. All bitching aside, I am ready for tomorrow. I will stop by and say hi and try your stuff and give you my honest opinion. Look forward to meeting you. Cheers!

agree....but the lack of national exposure is probably due to the events lack of national exposure. As much as it is our Christmas here in chicago, and a thousand nerds from everywhere come to chicago for it, it isn't GABF or some other crazy large event that national TV's cover. Its still a very niche part of the market (that is growing crazily) that we think is much bigger than it really is. At the end of the day 3K people at an event is like the capacity of the Riv for some concert on a Thursday, not earth shattering.

Also those larger or more respected brands that aint there, they are probably looking at the bottom line. Lots of em aren't distributed to chicago, they figure the knowledgeable folks there already know them and trade for them or travel to visit them, and they would rather not spend the hassle and 1K to send beer to a niche event where everyone already knows their brewery. So what you're seeing is a bunch of nobodies trying to submit to break-out from the crowd (like perennial, sun-king, surly did before). So yes, it is a lot more newer, smaller folks and that sucks but lets reflect.

Bourbon barrel aging beers is about what 18 years old or so. ****, half the barrels used for aging are older than that. Its still a young game that people stateside are still trying to figure out. It was this amazing thing 7 years ago when like the only 30 breweries that were aging beer submitted, but now that there are thirty in the city alone, the game changed. And the lines and increased interest goes hand in hand with the amount of new breweries. So from being here from the beginning of the increased interest (well kinda unless Bob or that lil guy who's into anime is on here) circa 2008-ish, i.e. dark lord ticketed, fobab start, stout fest, etc it certainly sucks now due to a lot more bodies & bro's but that's the consequence of growth, ****** folks come along.

Take solace in the fact that while there's a ton new folks clogging beer lines, new breweries taking space, and idiots racing to the store at 2pm on a tuesday to get beer that sat on shelves for months, that also means there's gonna be new breweries that end up making the artisanal stuff you & I dig. but I'm with you, the future is scary and filled with bro's lookin for barrel aged this and high abv that and sour anything (who doesn't love lacto to the point of acetone?).

 

[Treebs]

I hate you all. Best I could do.

 

[stxSS07]

I hate you all. Best I could do.

Only saw Bourbon Ed and hnnggg'd.

Also:

I bitched and bought a 2nd session off ticketbastard for tomorrow.

See u fux there. I'll be the beligerent guy who refuses to give up any tickets for pours.

 

[lb304854]

I hate you all. Best I could do.

You are a king among men.

 

[SSTroller]

I hate you all. Best I could do.

As I promised...and thank you

 

[SSTroller]

Excited to get my first taste of some Fremont KDS... and LOL at Founders only sending bottles of Curmudgeon and BWB.

 

[stxSS07]

Treebs is it true you ******** drank all the BA Abraxas and V013 before the pleebs could even get in?!

Also, reports on setup pls.

 

[user 306237]

How's the ambient temperature inside? Hot enough where neckbeard sweat is overwhelming or just in the background? Will the place air out by tomorrow morning?

On a scale of 1-10 with 1 being, "No dudes have been thrown out for using the women's room yet" and 10 being, "You have got to be ******* kidding me and, yes, there's a bottle share in the bathroom line", how woefully insufficient are the bathrooms?

How's the coat check? Is there a coat check? Is there a line for the coat check? Does the line move quickly? Is there a bottle share in the line?

 

[Treebs]

Treebs is it true you ******** drank all the BA Abraxas and V013 before the pleebs could even get in?!

Also, reports on setup pls.

Yes? Idk. I split two bottles of Backyard before I came here. I'm blasted.

 

[Treebs]

How's the ambient temperature inside? Hot enough where neckbeard sweat is overwhelming or just in the background? Will the place air out by tomorrow morning?

On a scale of 1-10 with 1 being, "No dudes have been thrown out for using the women's room yet" and 10 being, "You have got to be ******* kidding me and, yes, there's a bottle share in the bathroom line", how woefully insufficient are the bathrooms?

How's the coat check? Is there a coat check? Is there a line for the coat check? Does the line move quickly? Is there a bottle share in the line?

Shut up. Will answer tomorrow morning.

 

[stxSS07]

Yes? Idk. I split two bottles of Backyard before I came here. I'm blasted.

Shut up. Will answer tomorrow morning.

This is the quality reporting I've come to love and expect.

Fight on, young man.

 

[daniel1]

 

[middlebrow]

Wait the carb fell on middle brows beer and the brett ain't punchy. Dunt was right, ****** amateurs. I think it just might be this keg, but I ain't insanely proud of it. **** me. Please skip, sorry for the confusion.im goin home to lick wounds.

 

[stxSS07]

Well that looks cold and turrible...

 

[Dunt1]

I hate you all. Best I could do.

ALL THE GIN. MOAR GIN BARRELS! (Yes I'm being serious)

 

[Dunt1]

As I promised...and thank you

God bless the Internet

 

[mychalg91]

Quit stalling and tell us the winners!!!! I need to know which lines to stand in with everyone else

 

[Treebs]

Quit stalling and tell us the winners!!!! I need to know which lines to stand in with everyone else

Shut up. I hate you.

 

[Treebs]

Shut up. I hate you.

I didn't stay for the winners. I'll tell you mine. If I remember.

 

[stxSS07]

I didn't stay for the winners. I'll tell you mine. If I remember.

THE WORST.

EVARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

 

[user 306237]

Shut up. Will answer tomorrow morning.

Did the elevator break?

How many pretzel necklaces were there?

How were the lines? If I get there an hour late, will I still get BA Abraxas? Will I miss Finch's barrel-aged beers?!

 

[user 306237]

Taken from the other site:

Not sure what to really make of it. I just want to know if the GI booth took tickets this year - if not, I'll just stay in that line ad nauseam (literally! get it?! Latin humor!!).

I'm also confused where this pic came from.

 

[BobCobb1]

and LOL at Founders only sending bottles of Curmudgeon and BWB.

Hopefully someone has a mind near end of session 3 to just tip that table over.

 

[BobCobb1]

Or I can start a collection hat for shipping and we just send them all back to GR.