FOBAB

[sherm10161]

Pretzel necklaces are for ******* amateurs.

 

[sherm10161]

Pretzel necklaces are for ******* amateurs.

And dames.

 

[sherm10161]

I gotsta defend my FIB turf.

Are we fighting or what?

 

[stxSS07]

Are we fighting or what?

It was you damnowt! I didn't know who texted me.

 

[sherm10161]

It was you damnowt! I didn't know who texted me.

It was Gonzoillini but we's was lookin for you.

 

[sherm10161]

Very well run event.

Woul bang again/10

 

[BobCobb1]

La Fosse was ridiculous. Best beer of the night for me by far. Raspe was also good. Loved the fact that there was no line for Saison du Ble. Props is the best. Vanilla is meh. Wild Turkey BCS was not good. I missed the Nitro, don't believe they had a randall at all never saw it. GI Clybourn Vainglorious was pretty interesting. Loved the coffee and raspberry together. Nuthulu was way too sweet for me. Off Color Yuzu berliner smelled amazing, but I was let down that the fruit flavor didn't match the explosive aroma. Penrose Wild V and Woodfour Farmhouse Sour were surprise winners for me. I liked the Upland Permission Slip and the Jolly Pumpkin Persimmon Ship as well as Jolly Pumpkin Saison X. Haymarket Clare's Thirsty Ale was as good as it always is.

There weren't lines to get stuff besides GI and Side Project sours, but the whole thing was just overly crowded once the general admission was let in. It was difficult to just move besides the perimeters based on the way they had the tables set up. The aisles were just clusterfucks of fart clouds. The venue itself was fine. As Treebs said the line to get in was very fast and efficient.

If your goal is to drink the rarest stuff there is no point for you to go to the session that has IMBIBE because pretty much all of them were cashed by the time they let in general admission. La Fosse, Raspe, BA Abraxas, Veritas 013 were definitely gone by 6. Props wasn't shortly behind.

The coffee randall BCBBW actually lasted a long ways into the afternoon session (if not the entire time). When you walked up, if you got to the main booth, you had gone too far. It was the first thing you'd see on your left. Not to rub it in, but it was the best beer we had all day for several of us.

Enjoyed Vanilla Rye more than I thought I would, and Prop less so given the hype (but still great). Nitro was decent. Vainglorious was good and very unique compared to most of the other offerings there. dontdrinkbeer vindicated (if that was even necessary) in his #1 Straight Jacket ranking. Nuthulhu had some nice flavors but a bit too hot or something, just not that easy drinking for our tastes, and that's from someone who enjoyed Cthulhu quite a bit.

Liked the Volume 2 by 4 hands which placed 2nd (I think? Sucaba 3rd?) in the barleywine category. Southern Charred wasn't what I remembered, but was a bit too cold in the bottle ice bath anyways (was this last year's or this?). Would've been all over Clare's Thirsty had Haymarket not had it on tap for the past few days. Will think of more if my brain works.

 

[BobCobb1]

My brother in law (lives in Arlington Heights) noticed the guys who run the Foremost on Algonquin and stopped them to say hello and just mention he stops there for beer every so often. The one looked at the other for some kind of confirmation as if they were trying to determine whether he's a regular or not on Black Friday. Reminded me of Jerry trying to get his Friar's Club jacket back from the Flying Sandos brothers.

<mumbles in Russian to others seated> "Hmmm...nyet."

Sometimes it's OK just to say "hey, thanks. Nice to meet you." Good lord.

 

[gtx281]

My brother in law (lives in Arlington Heights) noticed the guys who run the Foremost on Algonquin and stopped them to say hello and just mention he stops there for beer every so often. The one looked at the other for some kind of confirmation as if they were trying to determine whether he's a regular or not on Black Friday. Reminded me of Jerry trying to get his Friar's Club jacket back from the Flying Sandos brothers.

<mumbles in Russian to others seated> "Hmmm...nyet."

Sometimes it's OK just to say "hey, thanks. Nice to meet you." Good lord.

Those guys are dipshits. The one brother keeps every case of Zombie Dust he gets and trades it on BA. Couldn't make this up.

They're in the process of trying to sell the store. Good riddance.

 

[stxSS07]

It was Gonzoillini but we's was lookin for you.

I was in the coat check line/readying to leave. Our duelo (predator handshake) is moved to black friday!

 

[BobCobb1]

I hope someone in ICBG is marking up an old apology letter to a significant other and sending to Bridgeport Arts Center.

Babe...I know I did you wrong...

Everyone in our group found it to be quite a cluster f. Any time I had to go down a row that wasn't on the perimeter, had to gather myself as if I were making a technical dive.

 

[SecretSquirrel]

La Fosse was ridiculous. Best beer of the night for me by far. Raspe was also good. Loved the fact that there was no line for Saison du Ble. Props is the best. Vanilla is meh. Wild Turkey BCS was not good. I missed the Nitro, don't believe they had a randall at all never saw it. GI Clybourn Vainglorious was pretty interesting. Loved the coffee and raspberry together. Nuthulu was way too sweet for me. Off Color Yuzu berliner smelled amazing, but I was let down that the fruit flavor didn't match the explosive aroma. Penrose Wild V and Woodfour Farmhouse Sour were surprise winners for me. I liked the Upland Permission Slip and the Jolly Pumpkin Persimmon Ship as well as Jolly Pumpkin Saison X. Haymarket Clare's Thirsty Ale was as good as it always is.

There weren't lines to get stuff besides GI and Side Project sours, but the whole thing was just overly crowded once the general admission was let in. It was difficult to just move besides the perimeters based on the way they had the tables set up. The aisles were just clusterfucks of fart clouds. The venue itself was fine. As Treebs said the line to get in was very fast and efficient.

If your goal is to drink the rarest stuff there is no point for you to go to the session that has IMBIBE if you're not in IMBIBE because pretty much all of them were cashed by the time they let in general admission. La Fosse, Raspe, BA Abraxas, Veritas 013 were definitely gone by 6. Props wasn't shortly behind.

LOL, LaFosse was garbage IMO... AC Golden Kriek which to me was straight up Sour Cherry from Casey's won the show for me...

 

[sherm10161]

LOL, LaFosse was garbage IMO... AC Golden Kriek which to me was straight up Sour Cherry from Casey's won the show for me...

AC golden kriek was delicious.

 

[SSTroller]

Manny's for lunch. Hnnnnngggg.

So much this. My group hit it for a late big breakfast but chilled there till about Noon. Very convenient!

 

[SSTroller]

LOL, LaFosse was garbage IMO... AC Golden Kriek which to me was straight up Sour Cherry from Casey's won the show for me...

Garbage? Nah, but not as good as the hype warranted. Liked Raspe so much more. The AC Kriek was good though too. That Lake Effect Cerise though that won Gold....not sure wtf the judges tasted. Thought that was garbage.

EDIT: Lake Effect Cerise actually won Silver, not Gold.

 

[SecretSquirrel]

Garbage? Nah, but not as good as the hype warranted. Liked Raspe so much more. The AC Kriek was good though too. That Lake Effect Cerise though that won Gold....not sure wtf the judges tasted. Thought that was garbage.

and that's why I don't buy into any of the hype one mans garbage is another mans dinner...

 

[SSTroller]

Top 3 (for me; no particular order):
Raspe
Vanilla rye
Vainglorious

Honorable mentions:
Papillon
KDS
Wild VII
Wild Turkey Betise
Nuthulhu

Overall, I had a much better time than I expected, mostly due to the group I was with. The only problem was the table set up. It really created some nasty masses in the middle. I'd still like to see some more established breweries represented, for the price of admission. Even though middlebrow was hard on their beer, the nose and taste was great. And the sole Transient was fantastic. Otherwise, the other "noobs" I tried were fairly meh.

Anyone else with a Top 3?

 

[SecretSquirrel]

I don't drink many stouts so usually stay away but my top three

AC Golden Kriek
Papillon
Prop

 

[air]

Top 3:
Off Color Yuzu
Raspe
Prop

 

[tinypyramids1]

off color yuzu was the best beer i had today. dat nose. la fosse was not nearly as good as hyped. raspe was good but not up to the level of coolship red, atrial, or rose de gambinus. prop was quite tasty. veritas 13 was nice but did not deserve best in show, wtf.

 

[stxSS07]

Had another great time, although the layout of the even was soooooo dumb. Why did they go away from the outer-ring table setup?! So many times I got caught in a nutfuck line for Choco Rain or some other ******* beer and everyone thought I was trying to cut or something. UGH.

Also, ticket dudes seemed way more diligent this year. Then again I saw so many groups of people not get tix taken, then I would walk up and have to give one up before even getting a pour. My buddy and I called a few guys out on it (once after a large group and once after a girl came up and the dude said "looks like you need a beer") only to receive "uhhh uhmmm well..." yeah get ******. Not that I didn't get my monies worth, but damn show some ******* solitude you cocks.

Also could have been because I had that stupid ass DLD hoodie on that I had to buy because I was super cold this year. Who knows.





All in all, enjoyed seeing everyone I normally run into -- but in one giant room instead of 3-5 different tastings. sherm1016 I WILL SEE YOU ON CLYBOURN YOU SON OF A CHURCH.

 

[sacrelicio]

My only complaint is the damn tickets...15? I got away with more pours than that but still, ********.

 

[lb304854]

Where to start.

TL;DR? I won't go back unless I get this again:

So Pasta and I are waiting outside in the cold 45 minutes before 6-10 session about 150 people back because beer geeks are dumb. Dude walks up to us rocking an Against the Grain hoodie and beanie on and says "Who knows Against the Grain?". Silence. So I casually reply "Yeah, I do".

"What do you think of their beer?", he asks.

Fully aware of the situation I answer back, "Eh, it's okay."

"COME ON MAN".
"Hey man, I see what you're wearing. I have to give you some ****."

Dude hands us 4 brewers/vip passes. IllAllowIt.jpeg

It wasn't that the layout was poor as much as they oversold the sessions. Every single row not on the outside was jammed. Even the outside was pretty jammed. So yea, the layout was poorly planned and they oversold the sessions. Thanks Maynard...

My favorite part of the night was finding the longest line, then walking to the front of it and getting a pour of whatever ****** adjunct stout all of the plebes were fawning over. Fosse, Raspe, All the BCBS. I VIP'd the **** out of all of those lines.

The free VIP food was pretty killer too.

Top 3:
1. Papillon
2. La Fosse
3. Glacier Buffalo Trace Eisbock. Surprise of the whole fest for me.

Special Mentions:
Off Color/Yuzu collab - Could drink gallons.
Kentucky Mountain - This batch was spectacular
Either Persimmon Ship or Permission Slip - I don't remember which. Too drunk to recall. I think that was the point in naming these beers as such.

 

[SecretSquirrel]

I agree on the tix, luckily enough I knew people with a badge to get a pour here and there but I think they hand out this VIP and brewers badges like candy and yes that middle aisle set up needs to change you get stuck in there and it's forever to get out...

 

[air]

Oh yeah totally honorable mention to Papillon, really it was a toss up between that and yuzu for me.

 

[sherm10161]

Top 3

Clare's Thirsty
Off Color Yuzu
AC Golen Dark Kriek

Honorable mention

Dino'snores
Nuthulhu
Manhattan Barrel Aged Might Meets Right
And all the Bourbon County beers

 

[sherm10161]

Also liked how the GI booth devolved into a free for all sometime around 4pm as long as you didn't want the coffee Randall bcbw.

 

[SSTroller]

Also liked how the GI booth devolved into a free for all sometime around 4pm as long as you didn't want the coffee Randall bcbw.

What happened? I went thru the line at least 4-5 times thru the session and it seemed pretty mellow. Or are you talking about the groups who camped out on the sides of the booth all night?

 

[ClCardinal84]

AC Dark Kriek was unreal. Their Peach Colorambic was one of the best beers I had at What the Funk? in Denver. However, I believe these might have been Troy Casey's beers from before he left which is why they are great.

Raspe was heads better than La Fosse.

 

[SecretSquirrel]

What happened? I went thru the line at least 4-5 times thru the session and it seemed pretty mellow. Or are you talking about the groups who camped out on the sides of the booth all night?

yeah it certainly seemed people hung out on the one side and kept getting pours without login back in line, but it is what it is...