Great ******* Taste 2018

[jeblikesbeer]

I love where all of this is going y’all

 

[BobCobb1]

What's been the scene in recent years for some of the bigger Eve events? Lines, crowds, etc. Haven't been since 2015 when CW event at brickhouse was pretty bad.

Mainly looking at FFG, maybe Brasserie V to tick that BA Vermillion finally. Barleypop for TG seems like a bad idea though would like to try term oil and have some of their IPAs.

Also looking for top thin crust pizza recs around town!

 

[yeahnatenelson]

Here's my old man method of Great Tasting: drive up Saturday morning, get pleasantly buzzed at the event, relax/re-soberize at the hotel room, get dinner at Brasserie V, get a good night's sleep.

 

[sjstraub]

2015 CW Brickhouse was historically bad.

FFG was busy last year, but tolerable. Heard TG at blue moon a few years ago was nuts. Also when they had it a Dexters before that it was always swamped.

Never made it out to brasserie v, nothing else really around there.

Will do release at FFG and then NG. will try and hot Maduro around lunch. Then I'll be at FFG starting around 3, but early night for me. Playing with the kids at the hotel around dinner.

 

[ChaQuiseman]

Brasserie V was a mess last year when they tapped BA Abraxas, I would expect no different for Vermillion. If I remember correctly, they had advertised BA Abraxas as tapping at six but had neglected to tell anyone that it was a ticketed tapping and that they gave the majority of tickets to friends/family - the remainder went to patrons on a first-come-first-serve basis and were long gone by 2PM.

As much as I'd love to try Vermillion, I know there's realistically no way I'd actually get my hands on a pour, so I'm planning on doing a low-key Friday night starting at Funk Factory and ending at Salvatore's Tomato Pies.

 

[yeahnatenelson]

If I remember correctly, they had advertised BA Abraxas as tapping at six but had neglected to tell anyone that it was a ticketed tapping and that they gave the majority of tickets to friends/family.

'Sconnies: Hate FIBs....are FIBs.

 

[BobCobb1]

Brasserie V was a mess last year when they tapped BA Abraxas, I would expect no different for Vermillion. If I remember correctly, they had advertised BA Abraxas as tapping at six but had neglected to tell anyone that it was a ticketed tapping and that they gave the majority of tickets to friends/family - the remainder went to patrons on a first-come-first-serve basis and were long gone by 2PM.

As much as I'd love to try Vermillion, I know there's realistically no way I'd actually get my hands on a pour, so I'm planning on doing a low-key Friday night starting at Funk Factory and ending at Salvatore's Tomato Pies.

Oof, that's bad.

I'd have to think it will be a bit calmer if BAA isn't on again. I know BA Vermilion is supposed to be great, but I bet a lot of those people will go elsewhere.

 

[trickytunadicky]

I would tell you where I go, but then everyone else will go there and it will be ****** crowded like everywhere else.

99% positive operation Wisconsin State Fair is a go.

 

[yeahnatenelson]

99% positive operation Wisconsin State Fair is a go.

"It's crazy!"

"Just crazy enough to work..."

 

[ThatJackOC]

What's been the scene in recent years for some of the bigger Eve events? Lines, crowds, etc. Haven't been since 2015 when CW event at brickhouse was pretty bad.

Mainly looking at FFG, maybe Brasserie V to tick that BA Vermillion finally. Barleypop for TG seems like a bad idea though would like to try term oil and have some of their IPAs.

Also looking for top thin crust pizza recs around town!

The only important thing is that you not be a fool, like I was last year, and attempt to show up at FFG 10 minutes after the event ends think you're on time. It's a bad look, v. embarrassing, and also MOSQUITOES.

Ian's makes thin crust pizza, is good, and popular.

Will be trying for FFG Redux: On Time Edition this year.

Also looking forward to the Rev Block Party at Essen Haus/Come Back In/Up North this year. Hoping that'll be the most laid-back.

 

[Marksy]

Who else is pouring this year aside from jeblikesbeer for Surly and myself for Imperial Oak?

Looking forward to the following things based on a first look at the program

2nd Shift Blueberry Katy
August Schell Berliner Weisses (really all of them look / sound tasty)
Central Waters Old Fashioned Aged In Orange Curaco
Civil Life Vienna Lager
Crane Brewing Tea Weiss (my cousin raves about this beer, time to find out what it's all about)
Dangerous Man Tawny Port Peanut Butter Porter
Forager Brewing Methode Push-Pop
Half Acre Fully Saturated Double Daisy Cutter
Indeed Mexican Honey Imperial Lager
New Glarus Kriek
Perennial Owen
Revolution Raspberry Bottom Up Wit
Right Brain Gin Joy Ale
Surly Cherry Infused Darkness
Working Draft Ain't Bad

Late notice but I’m driving up right meow, pouring for Une Année / Hubbard’s Cave. Dropping beer and gear at the fest and hauling ass to FFG - already running late. Been so crazy busy lately that I haven’t even had time to browse the program - so thanks for this list haha.

 

[jeblikesbeer]

Oh Ps a heads up our Cherry Darkness isn’t a timed tapping and we only have a 1/6tl....

Sooooo hustle up and come visit fast

 

[Gretlawn]

Brasserie V was a mess last year when they tapped BA Abraxas, I would expect no different for Vermillion. If I remember correctly, they had advertised BA Abraxas as tapping at six but had neglected to tell anyone that it was a ticketed tapping and that they gave the majority of tickets to friends/family - the remainder went to patrons on a first-come-first-serve basis and were long gone by 2PM.

As much as I'd love to try Vermillion, I know there's realistically no way I'd actually get my hands on a pour, so I'm planning on doing a low-key Friday night starting at Funk Factory and ending at Salvatore's Tomato Pies.

At Brasserie now. Not anywhere near as packed as last year. I actually have a seat at the bar. And they still have Vermilion, which is AMAZING and I typically dislike barleywines

 

[sjstraub]

At Brasserie now. Not anywhere near as packed as last year. I actually have a seat at the bar. And they still have Vermilion, which is AMAZING and I typically dislike barleywines

If I was there, i would buy you a beer. Cheers dude!

 

[Gretlawn]

Find me tomorrow! I will be with the tall guy with glasses wearing a green Play-Doh shirt!

If I was there, i would buy you a beer. Cheers dude!

 

[SAISON FUCK]

So, did it Taste Great?

 

[Gretlawn]

So, did it Taste Great?

As a matter of fact, it did!

Big fan of Mikerphone and Transient. Thought Pulpit Rock was the best Rookie.

 

[trickytunadicky]

For anyone who was following along, I did make it to/from the state fair last night. It was great!

 

[yeahnatenelson]

So, did it Taste Great?

It did! Didn't get to everything I wanted (because lines) but Civil Life was a pleasant surprise, as was the Rev Bottom Up Wit Reserve.

That said, it was so ******* humid I got a sunburn despite putting on sunscreen every 45min because I kept sweating it off. Also, lines seemed worse somehow.

 

[yeahnatenelson]

Srs tho, were lines worse this year than last year? Will also accept that I'm old and washed.

 

[trickytunadicky]

Srs tho, were lines worse this year than last year? Will also accept that I'm old and washed.

I didn’t really wait in any, but only because I cut in the Cherry Rye VSOJ line with Ed (sorry, when your friend who moved to Hawaii a year ago hails you down for a catch up chat, you stop), and plenty of things I wanted didn’t have lines.

 

[sjstraub]

Srs tho, were lines worse this year than last year? Will also accept that I'm old and washed.

I thought lines were actually better this year. But I generally only wait in a line if I feel like I need a break from all the drinking.

Double Barrel wolf from 3 sheeps was fantastic. Raspberry eisbock from kuhnhenn also a standout.

 

[trickytunadicky]

I sat down in the shade talking to strangers and friends a lot this year for breaks. Had some great convos with complete strangers, including I think my future self. Lady roughly my mom’s age stopped me to ask me about my Garagiste shirt, told me she and her spouse just got back from visiting meaderies in Copenhagen. They said they also drink barleyine, that they had been doing GTMW since 2002 and that they came from Maryland. I asked them to check out my parents brewery when they got home and went on my way.

 

[Gretlawn]

Srs tho, were lines worse this year than last year? Will also accept that I'm old and washed.

I thought they were shorter. Except for the huge releases. We also found that if we waited 30 minutes, there was typically no line and beer left in most of the timed tappings we wanted. Probably why I got hammered this year.

 

[yeahnatenelson]

I thought lines were actually better this year.

I thought they were shorter. Except for the huge releases. We also found that if we waited 30 minutes, there was typically no line and beer left in most of the timed tappings we wanted. Probably why I got hammered this year.

I guess I should clarify: I felt like there were more long lines.

When I first went in 2012 there were two serious lines: Three Floyds and Goose Island. Then it was Floyds, Goose, and Perennial. Then Floyds, Goose, Perennial and Toppling Golliath. Even outside of timed tappings there were at least half a dozen continuously long lines.

Don't get me wrong: there's plenty of beer to go around at GTOMW, and if you didn't get enough you are either an idiot or too picky. But I was kinda struck by the number of big lines.

 

[trickytunadicky]

I guess I should clarify: I felt like there were more long lines.

When I first went in 2012 there were two serious lines: Three Floyds and Goose Island. Then it was Floyds, Goose, and Perennial. Then Floyds, Goose, Perennial and Toppling Golliath. Even outside of timed tappings there were at least half a dozen continuously long lines.

Don't get me wrong: there's plenty of beer to go around at GTOMW, and if you didn't get enough you are either an idiot or too picky. But I was kinda struck by the number of big lines.

I think you might be misremembering some lines of years past. Kuhnhenn used to have lines, Dark Horse used to have lines, Goose Island used to bring more and have bigger lines. It's maybe spread out to some of the newcomers, so I saw a few more places with lines that weren't quite as long (as it should be, imho), but there were more lines than you are remembering back in the day, too.

 

[lb304854]

I was drunk very early on. GREAT day.

 

[ThatJackOC]

Agree that lines were more prevalent this year. But everything moved pretty quickly, from what I saw.

Standouts: Fat Head's Headshrinker on cask; Raspberry Reserve Bottom Up Wit; Dangerous Man Tequila BA Imperial Gose w/Lime; Pulpit Rock Church Salad; and Schell's Noble Star Basin of Attraction; Pipeworks BA Abduction.

 

[lb304854]

Misbeehavin won on my scorecard this year. Off Color's blueberry wild/gin cocktail was the best thing I had all day. Mikerphone's chicken and waffle beer was surprising pretty good. I really wanted to hate it.

 

[maximum12]

Hailstorm's mix your own Vlad variants was easily the best thing we had all day. About nine times. Pipeworks BA Port Abduction came in second. It's seriously insane that beer sat around at the Dojo for months earlier this year.

The lines didn't seem any physically longer, but were mentally impossible for us. I found standing out in that 163 degree sun for more than four minutes unbearable.