thanks

Haters gonna hate.. ima sit back drink my Baller stout.. stare longingly at my barrel aged Dark Lord w/Vanilla Bean and remember the greatness

Am I the only one that believes this event was over sold? I got there just before 11 and the line was pretty far down Indiana Pkwy by then. When the gates opened after 1, it stretched around the corner and was 4-5 people wide. I left around 3:30 and the line was still that long. I felt bad carrying my purchases and looking at all the people who came from all over the country, knowing they’d be lucky to get just the Baller Stout. I think with a commodity like their rare, one of a kind brews, you can’t turn it into a “hangout.” Just buy the beer and be on your way, no bands or food, otherwise its chaos. The place is too small to handle that capacity.
As far as the special barrel aged brews go, I don’t see why they didn’t do the scratch off winning ticket deal like they did on DLD. In all fairness the web blog said it was first come first serve, but with the amount of people and the number available (mine was No.9 of only 217), I’d be surprised if they lasted past 2:30. I can appreciate what FFF was trying to do, make an event out of their anniversary and give the public a chance to get in on the party, but with their notoriety amongst beer lovers all over the country its just getting way out of hand. DLD 2012 is going to be a nightmare unless you get there the night before.

Just sayin’…..

I was truly disappointed in the way things were run at XV party. When I got home, I really felt like I just wanted to take the $30 bottles of Baller and dumb them in the sink…thankfully I’ve calmed down, but still bummed. The food, which was small and overpriced, was terrible: A pulled pork sandwich that was about the size of a golf ball and a plate of Mac and cheese in the brewpub that was more onions than anything else.

It was sad, considering Dark Lord was such a blast. The A, B, C timeslots to get your beer was a smart, well-organized idea at the last DLD. Why that didn’t happen this time is beyond me!

And the beer: Tiny $5 dollar cups, and at times, most tables weren’t even selling all of the things they had listed. I always forgiven the shortage of 3F all over the Midwest because I believed the ethos I was told: That 3F wants to stay small so that the quality of the product doesn’t suffer. But we were there, at the brewery, as 3F workers with headphones looked at the line and walked away. I figure if you can’t get quality here, then where could you get it? This isn’t Kumas Korner, the metal version of Ed Debevick’s, this a brewery…plain and simple, serve the people. This was exploitation of true fans, all those people who bought posters, hats, pint glasses, hoodies, etc…I felt like the pride of being a microbrewery was lost at this event. Yet you feel it necessary to say, “look at us, we’re badass, the Melvin’s played.” Good for you guys, you make great product, you just really need to refocus the lens on those who are drinking it.

Unless you were in line to buy the Ballers Stout, it didnt appear that you needed a ticket to get in. I was asked for I.D. at the gate, then walked right in to enjoy the bands and beers. No ticket required until exchanging for the Golden Ticket. I dont know if the event was oversold, but i think there may have been many people there who didnt even have tickets.

I had a great time. I wasn’t “promised” anything, and didn’t expect extra beers. I showed up early, got more than I wanted of everything. Yea, it was a ruckus, that was half the fun. Next year, I hope 3Floyds doesn’t sell any bottles. keg only. It’s a party, stop crying.