Belgian Beer Fest in So Cal

[calidrunky]

http://www.pizzaport.com/httpwww.pizzaport.combelgianbeerparty2005.html

I went to the the 2004 Strong Ale festival and it was awesome. If you've never been to pizza port its a MUST! So who wants to be the designated driver?

See ya there..

~CaliDrunky

[MiScusi]

I'm going with my friend and my sister is designated driving us. We're meeting a friend from SD there so it should be really fun. It's very entertaining making someone who hails from UCSB your designated driver LOL!

[eppie]

looks like a good selection of beers. I'd steer clear of the Stella and De Konnink, but there are some good ones in that list. I saw a lot of Xmas or winter beers on the list. Be sure to give us a report of the winners and losers.
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[beerguy101]

The Pizza Port Fest is awesome.. Great beers all day.

[TrojanAnteater]

is there a certain time to plan on getting there before? Does it get really packed at any point? I hope to be there around 12 or 1. As someone who has no experience with belgian beers I did a little research along with the advice given to me on this board and here's what i'm goin for first......

Chimay Trappist
Trappistes Rochefort
Trappist Westvleteren Special 6 (maybe work my up to the bigger ones but you gotta crawl before you walk huh)
Leffe Blonde
Duvel

Any other suggestions?

[studentofbeer]

try the cantillon if you've never had a lambic. it might blow your mind (in either a good or bad way). Similarly, the hansen's gueze and cuvee de rene are different.

Also i highly recommend whatever fantome they have. That would be near the top of my list. the saison de pipaix is also a crazy beer (they age their beers a long time--the last 2 bottles i had were almost 10 years old--which lets out all sorts of weird flavors). Dupont winter might be tasty-- i have a bottle of that im waiting to drink.

man, that is a lot of good beer. some i've never even heard of (vapuer cochenne for one). even the north american belgian-style brewers will be yummy (see what russian river is serving).

[TrojanAnteater]

thanks sounds good. I have read about lambics and I'll have to try one there, I've also read some stuff on the saison style too so thanks for that recommendation.

[hopjack13]

westvleteren is gunna be a hard one to get out here, are they going to have it at PP?
im hoping i can go but i may end up in vegas that weekend.....

[TrojanAnteater]

hm, thought for sure I saw it on the few that they list on the PizzaPort website but now that I look I guess not. Maybe I just saw how high it was ranked BA and figured they'd have it.... oh well... always hard to turn down Vegas....

"you think we're gonna get there by midnight?"
"baby we're gonna be up 5 hundy by midnight!"

Oh and remember, always double down on 11 :D

[calidrunky]

While you're in Vegas scope out the better brews for me. I'll be there the first and second week of April.

[L.H.H.H.Brown]

I'm still deciding. Yes, it does get full in the afternoon. In fact I noticed that this last strong ale fest was fuller than usual so it may get packed quickly. They always have a great selection.

[hopjack13]

im still not sure im even going to make it to vegas.
i lived there for a while, so it's nothing new to me , i just like shooting craps, sounded like fun.....we'll see , proly won't be able to find a baby setter anywayz. stomboli from the four kegs is always a must when i go out there, but i couldn't tell you where to get beer.....i know the monte carlo has/had a brew pub and there is a gorden beirsch (sp?) a little ways off the strip in south vegas. but othere then that ...i just don't know. you may wana check the beerfly directory @ BA.

[L.H.H.H.Brown]

Heard the Hofbrau is happening. Even has a shuttle to and from the hotels. Sounds fun, if ya like Vegas.

[TrojanAnteater]

dammit there's no way I can make this thing, i've had it marked on my calender for 2 months, so excited to see my friends and try belgian beers and now I get sick. If it was a little sick then there'd be no question but no I have to go and get it bad. Maybe might have to make a roadie to boonville......

[Wolf359]

If anybody needs some Vegas brew info give me a shout and I'll steer you in the right direction...cheers

[calidrunky]

That sucks that you're not gonna make it TA. I don't know if I'm goin now cause my friend bailed on me at the last second due to a sprained ankle, and I'd be tasting alone with my sober girlfriend watching me haha. Not to mention its gonna be a shitty day and even though its under a tent you'll be getting wet. Someone better go and report what we missed out on.

[calidrunky]

Wolf I'll be going to Vegas the first and third weekends in April. Where should I be going/staying clear of?