That round Clarion is a great place to stay downtown for cheap. Can walk to Glenwood, power station, Fayetteville St.

3/16/2011 12:30:02 PM

yeah i stayed there my wedding night.

3/16/2011 12:33:47 PM

Quote :

"I think this time I'm going to go thru and pick out what I want to try beforehand."

My plan worked out last time so I think I'll stick with it

3/16/2011 12:41:07 PM

i'm a big fan of the wandering method... i'll try whatever i wander by.

3/16/2011 12:43:06 PM

Check out the sad bar at the top of the Clarion if you're bored. Great view, lonely bartender.

3/16/2011 12:48:37 PM

is parking even going to be an option for this?

I mean I live down on Tryon and I could take a bus, but I'd rather my girlfriend who won't drink beer anyone drove.

3/16/2011 1:19:22 PM

^^I swear that would be one of my favorite places to eat/drink but the atmosphere sucks. Desolate restaurant and bar, hardly any customers. The view and food (and prices) are stunning however.

3/16/2011 1:36:01 PM

Quote :

"is parking even going to be an option for this?"

Yes. I always park on the street. Just be prepared to walk a few blocks.

3/16/2011 2:28:12 PM

why do people still think that there isn't enough parking downtown?

3/16/2011 4:15:23 PM

parking will be easy in any of the decks

3/16/2011 4:33:10 PM

parking is the easy part... it's getting your car back home that's tricky!

3/17/2011 10:15:18 AM

less than a week away..

we we we so excited!

4/3/2011 10:07:52 PM

!!!

4/3/2011 10:08:31 PM

Looks like it sold out again

4/4/2011 9:08:09 AM

about time. it used to sell out within hours.

4/4/2011 9:27:21 AM

i really look forward to this, but it gets worse every year.

they should just leave it alone.

4/4/2011 9:29:58 AM

^^true, but it has seemed more crowded in recent years.

Maybe they are selling more tickets.

4/4/2011 9:32:08 AM

^^worse every year how?

4/4/2011 9:42:23 AM

they used to offer glass cups with 8oz fill lines. Now we have plastic cups that have, what, 2 - 3oz fill lines? Each brewer used to have more beers available, now they have less and there are marginally more breweries to compensate for that. Tickets used to be $26 after fees, and they are now, what, $44? They have more people and fewer public portajohns.

that about sums up my frustrations. i'm not saying it sucks, but i just don't want it to continue a downward spiral.

4/4/2011 10:03:36 AM

Still might wind up going to this...people are always selling tickets outside

4/4/2011 10:16:56 AM

PRETZEL NECKLACES

4/4/2011 10:27:32 AM

they never gave out 8oz samples.
the number of port-a-johns has increased every year.

yes, it is more expensive, but that's due to demand.

4/4/2011 10:27:53 AM

Quote :

"they used to offer glass cups with 8oz fill lines. Now we have plastic cups that have, what, 2 - 3oz fill lines?"

so what if they're 2oz? i can't imagine being anything but properly drunk at the end of a session and i LIKE trying different beers...maybe you're a super duper drinker, but i'd rather have more types of beer and not feel like i have to pour out what's in my glass...do you chug 8oz at a time? i like to TASTE my beer (otherwise, i'd drink a budweiser)

Quote :

"Each brewer used to have more beers available, now they have less and there are marginally more breweries to compensate for that."

i don't have any hard numbers to say otherwise, but again...i didn't even make through the second tent last year because there was so much to taste...it'd be a waste of my time to add more beers that i wouldn't have time to taste, anyway (again, my goal isn't to jog through and get as drunk as humanly possible in 4 hours, so maybe that's the difference between us)

Quote :

"Tickets used to be $26 after fees, and they are now, what, $44?"

i don't ever remember them being cheaper than $30 ($34 or $35 after fees), but i could be wrong

Quote :

"They have more people and fewer public portajohns."

i wholeheartedly disagree with the fewer portajohns argument...more people, maybe (they can only legally allow in so many, so...)

4/4/2011 10:31:25 AM

^agree with quag....most all of the negatives spouted by Geppetto aren't true.

By the way, can you imagine 5k drunk people at the end of the night with glass 8 ouncers?

4/4/2011 10:44:36 AM

gotta love the cynics

4/4/2011 11:00:11 AM

Yeah, this is my 6th time going. They never gave you 8 oz.

4/4/2011 11:18:49 AM

What a bunch of sellouts.

I remember back when there was only ONE kind of beer and it was FREE. You could bring your own glass and get as much as you could carry! You didn't need a portajohn, there were public restrooms every 15 feet. The women had large breasts and everyone walked around naked.

Those were the days.

4/4/2011 1:47:36 PM

Quote :

"they never gave out 8oz samples. "

The glass cups they gave were capable of holding 8oz. The fill line was 6oz. I stand corrected.

Quote :

"the number of port-a-johns has increased every year. "

Notice I said public. They have more portajohns but that is only because they have VIP access sections. The ones for the crowd have been limited due to the space required to house these separate tents and to fill more vendors in order to pull in more revenue.

Quote :

"so what if they're 2oz?"

You can barely even taste it at 2oz. I suppose with 2oz I can make it through both tents twice, but I preferred slowly enjoying the brews and drinking good beer from a selection of tents. 2oz at every station, including the shitty ones, is not as attractive as a prospect to me.

Quote :

"i didn't even make through the second tent last year "

my girlfriend made it through both tents and then some.

Quote :

"i don't ever remember them being cheaper than $30 ($34 or $35 after fees), but i could be wrong"

In 2005 they were $26.00. The issue now is that you have to spend more time waiting to pee and more time waiting for less beer. Just doesn't sound as appealing. I didn't say I hated it, or that I wouldn't go, only that I hope it remains at least reasonable.

Quote :

"Yeah, this is my 6th time going."

2005.

4/4/2011 2:06:50 PM

I agree the ticket price has gone up throughout the years, but for the chance to sample 100 beers it seems well worth the expense, especially for something I only go to twice a year. How can you barely taste 2oz? You realize that's large than a typical shot. You can also camp at any station you like and get refills and eventually they'll start filling it higher, especially toward the end of the event.

4/4/2011 2:36:47 PM

Geppetto

don't go to beerfest

problem solved

4/4/2011 2:48:50 PM

Quote :

"Notice I said public. They have more portajohns but that is only because they have VIP access sections. The ones for the crowd have been limited due to the space required to house these separate tents and to fill more vendors in order to pull in more revenue. "

we're just going to have to agree to disagree, then...because they DO have more "public" portajohns than in 2005 (and 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and possibly 2010)

Quote :

"You can barely even taste it at 2oz. I suppose with 2oz I can make it through both tents twice, but I preferred slowly enjoying the brews and drinking good beer from a selection of tents. 2oz at every station, including the shitty ones, is not as attractive as a prospect to me."

you can't taste 2oz of beer? does your tongue work? are you drinking budweiser? i'm sorry that's not enough for you...maybe you could steal a second glass and beg?

Quote :

"my girlfriend made it through both tents and then some. "

whoop-de-fuckin-do...you've really emasculated me now

250 beers * 2oz per taste = 500oz (about 42 bottles of beer, or more than 10 beers per hour)

okay, so let's say between lines, vendors running out, and beers you just don't care about, you have half that...you're really telling me your girlfriend drank 21 bottles of beer (more than 5 per hour "and then some" for 4 hours straight)? i call bullshit, kid

which just goes back to my point...i like to enjoy what i'm drinking, not run from vendor to vendor to see how much i can force myself to drink

you're just bitching to bitch

Quote :

"100 beers"

i'm fairly certain there are closer to 300 different beers (100 vendors)...i'm just pointing this out because it makes a big difference in my calculations above

Quote :

"Geppetto don't go to beerfest problem solved"

[Edited on April 4, 2011 at 2:55 PM. Reason : .]

4/4/2011 2:54:43 PM

Quote :

"i'm fairly certain there are closer to 300 different beers (100 vendors)...i'm just pointing this out because it makes a big difference in my calculations above"

That's true, but I'll sample 100 at most, some of which I'll pour out. Point I was trying to make is there will be 100 beers which I'd like to sample. i.e. a pretty damn good value even at $40 a pop

4/4/2011 3:04:09 PM

Quote :

"there will be 100 beers which I'd like to sample. i.e. a pretty damn good value even at $40 a pop"

4/4/2011 3:07:37 PM

negative

4/4/2011 3:20:58 PM

to each their own

an equivalent of less than $2.50/bottle of beer is pretty decent for craft beer

4/4/2011 3:25:28 PM

Quote :

"250 beers * 2oz per taste = 500oz (about 42 bottles of beer, or more than 10 beers per hour) okay, so let's say between lines, vendors running out, and beers you just don't care about, you have half that...you're really telling me your girlfriend drank 21 bottles of beer (more than 5 per hour "and then some" for 4 hours straight)? i call bullshit, kid "

BOOM

4/4/2011 4:43:39 PM

i going to have to disagree

4/4/2011 4:46:06 PM

of course you are going to disagree, troll.

4/5/2011 8:10:44 AM

FYI it sounds like mellow mushroom still has some as of yesterday afternoon.

4/5/2011 10:26:40 AM

100 tickets for both sessions were opened up today

4/6/2011 1:35:06 AM

Goddamnit I need the money for this.

4/6/2011 2:00:40 AM

Anyone have two extra tickets?

4/6/2011 9:33:29 PM

^So I take it they sold out again already?

4/6/2011 9:36:54 PM

Can't edit, bah.

As for the argument above, how come no one puts any kind of value on the event itself? That's a bit part of it for me--evaluating beers that could aid me in future decision making, socializing with friends and strangers over booze, like a super bar of sorts, and it's in a great location.

Dunno, it would be like evaluating Bonnaroo based on the price-per-band you see alone--if the idea is being relayed at all.

4/7/2011 12:12:46 AM

you won't remember any of the beers you like by the time you're completely hammered, and everything I really like turns out to be unavailable in this part of the state.

4/7/2011 12:34:03 AM

to deter people from getting drunk they:
(1) changed from 8oz to 2oz and why not sample more!
(2) moved food to one side and drinks to the other so ppl won't drink and eat and drink
(3) each vendor is required to sell at least one cheap food $3 or less
(4) strategically placed the various brewers apart...and if the pourer recommends another brewer, it will most likely be the one farthest away
(5) created longer lines

during one session one average people will sample 16 beers, that's 32oz, that's appx 3 bottles

4/7/2011 1:26:31 AM

Quote :

"to deter people from getting drunk they: (1) changed from 8oz to 2oz and why not sample more! (2) moved food to one side and drinks to the other so ppl won't drink and eat and drink (3) each vendor is required to sell at least one cheap food $3 or less (4) strategically placed the various brewers apart...and if the pourer recommends another brewer, it will most likely be the one farthest away (5) created longer lines during one session one average people will sample 16 beers, that's 32oz, that's appx 3 bottles"

1.) it's been said that it was never 8oz, but even if it were, i have no problem whatsoever with this
2.) how does separating food from alcohol keep people from getting drunk?
3.) i've never noticed this, but that's probably because i'm nomming on my pretzel necklace
4.) i've never once had one vendor recommend another
5.) how did they "create" longer lines? they've got more vendors than they did several years ago...i guess you could argue that there are more people, but i've never once been in what i considered to be a "long" line...they move fast

16 beers? seriously? i'm glad i'm not average, because it sounds like the average person stands around with their hand in their pants

i guess some people are really bitter about this whole beer festival thing...i'm glad i'm not one of them

4/7/2011 7:43:51 AM

^^what the fuck are you talking about woman?

and as has been stated before, the samples have NEVER been 8 ounces... i wouldn't want them that big... that would be like half a beer every sample and it would be very hard to sample a large variety and still be able to walk to the next booth.

4/7/2011 8:15:01 AM

and you bitter people... 45 dollars is not that much money... i typically spend about that or more when i go out on a typical weekend night. If you don't want to participate in a fun event with a great crowd, then please don't come. I'm so fucking pumped. I'm even going to make a pretzel necklace this year... i've never made one before.

4/7/2011 8:17:30 AM

Quote :

"during one session one average people will sample 16 beers, that's 32oz, that's appx 3 bottles "

we typically averaged 100 samples per festival. you need to step your game up.

4/7/2011 9:59:49 AM