Tap NY 2005

[NJ Tom]

I'll be there.


http://www.tap-ny.com/

[chazwicke]

That one and this one both sound great:

http://brewtopiafest.com/

I know several Realbeer folk are going to Brewtopia. I'd sure like to. If I do I'll post it.

[thebaron]

I'm stoked about going to this event. I have heard that last year's was one of the best festivals in the county. Me and 3 friends bought tickets a month ago.

[chazwicke]

Which one Baron? Taps or Brewtopia?

[thebaron]

I went to Tap last year. This year I'm going to stay closer to home and try a bigger range of breweries. TAP was good, but this one looks awesome!

[threecb]

I'm going to be at Brewtopia this year, too. Bigger variety and mass transit = great beer fest!

[chazwicke]

I'd like to go to Brewtopia too but we will have to see.

[threecb]

Originally posted by chazwicke
I'd like to go to Brewtopia too but we will have to see.

come on, chaz, you know you wanna...:D

[chazwicke]

I do, I do. Depends on the stone and also if we are having company.:(

[chazwicke]

Well I made Reservations for the Brickskeller tasting today. It is on Sunday 17th. So looks like I'll not make it to NY. I'm Making Reservations for Stoudts Fest in June (11th) on Monday. First session.

[threecb]

Chaz, I'll talk to the missus about Stoudts. What was the name of that nearby campground that you told me about, and do they have tent sites?

And NJ Tom, sorry that we hijacked this thread for every beer festival EXCEPT TAPNY. It really is a great fest. I would've gone, but didn't want the additional expense of a room for this one.

(Speaking of other fests, anyone going to the Vermont Fest in July? We've talked about it for a couple of years and I think we may actually make it this year.)

[chazwicke]

Lake In Wood campground. Yes they have tent sights. It is a great place. I believe Bowmansville is the address. And they do have a web site. I'll try to find it.

[NJ Tom]

I'm going to pass on brewtopia, I've never had a good expierience with a beer festival in NYC.

Don't worry about hijacking the thread, threecb. Btw, I've been to the Vermont Brewers fest and it's a good time.

[chazwicke]

NJTom, would you consider making a trip to Baltimore this summer for a Realbeer attack on the brewpubs and beer bars there?

[chazwicke]

Where are the reports from Brewtopia? I was interested to see how it went and if any of you all who went met up.

[chazwicke]

Brewtopia reports? TAP reports?

Who went ?

How was the FFF at Brewtopia?

We want answers!

[threecb]

Sorry I haven't given my report for Brewtopia. My company is in the midst of a move and I've been a bit busy.

I had a good time at Brewtopia, but there were a few breweries listed that weren't at the show. FFF was one of those. Some people weren't happy with the fest, but I thought it was nicely run, good music and beer, decent food and a nice atmosphere. The highlight beer for me was Southampton Publick House's Impy Stout. It was like a cup of espresso!

There's going to be another one in October. I'd go again.

[chazwicke]

Thanks. I'd like to go to this one too. Was it crowded? Was it easy to get samples?

[threecb]

It was pretty crowded, but I didn't really wait for any samples. Maybe one or two people ahead of me at any one time. It's in a big space, so it never really felt crowded to me.

Others that I liked were Southern Tier, Cape Ann Brewing's Fisherman's Brew (a nice hoppy lager) and Heavyweight's StickeNJab on cask.

[thebaron]

I went to Brewtopia and it rocked. Couple of the major players didn't show, but that didn't slow down the fest. I went first session. Heard the 2nd session got a bit crowded, but the first session was a dream come true for me. Southampton Imprerial Russian Stout, Heavyweight Baltus on cask, Cantilloin kriek, Adnams Broadside cask, Southern Tier, among many, many others. Awesome bands playing as well. Overall, very well organized. I won't miss the next one!

[chazwicke]

How about TAP? How was that one? NJTom?

[NJ Tom]

Didn't make it. :(
I've got way to much stuff going on right now so it was not possible for us to make the drive up. I'm really disapointed but that's life sometimes.

Maybe next year.

[chazwicke]

:( Sorry about that. Something to look forward to I guess.

[thebaron]

I just head they are going to be running this big beer festivala again, this time at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. New, spiffy website too. Check it out:
festival (http://www.brewtopiafest.com)

[ClockworkOrange]

$60 is way too much. No thank you. Not to mention that parking near the Javits center runs at least $30.

[sundontlie]

I've been there 3 of the last 4 years (missed this year) and I usually go with a large group of friends.. its always been very fun for us, we usually get there early and get a lot of the sampling/eating in before the crowds show up... whats cool is that you can sample at least one beer from each brewey and you get a stamp from them to mark in your book, then at the end you hand in your book if you have all the stamps and you get entered in a nice raffle with a bunch of prizes including all the beer you can walk out with... i've always entered, but never won yet..

and then on the drive out you pass "last chance cheese and antiques" in tannersville n.y. which has a great beer selection and food.. great cheese and meat plates.. nice roadside cafe atmosphere, highly recommended

[Thirsty in NY]

Last Chance Cheese is a really fun restaurant too. And a great selection of... Beer!

http://www.lastchanceonline.com/customer/home.php

[NJ Tom]

Originally posted by Thirsty in NY
Last Chance Cheese is a really fun restaurant too. And a great selection of... Beer!

http://www.lastchanceonline.com/customer/home.php

We always stop and have our post-festival meal there. The food is good, the beer selection is excellent.