Great Lakes Brew Fest

[brewcrew76]

There are several numbers (low to mid 40's and upper 50's) that are on the map but do not have a brewery listed below?

http://www.greatlakesbrewfest.com/brewers.htm

Anybody know if there are going to be last minute additions to fill these spots or were they just left off for more room in those areas?

[Osh]

Don't know the answer to your question but I counted 50 brewer's and 2 homebrew clubs. That's more than enuff for me. Maybe the rest are t-shirt or glassware vendors.

I'll be the guy with the Arrogant Bastard Ale t-shirt on.

[steveh]

Originally posted by Osh
Maybe the rest are t-shirt or glassware vendors.

There were a few non-beer vendors last year, food vendors included.

S.

[YamahaXS]

some mighty fine breweries on that list

[brewcrew76]

Originally posted by steveh
There were a few non-beer vendors last year, food vendors included.

S.

Makes sense. I was just curious. I am more than satisfied with the list of breweries that are going to be there.

[brewcrew76]

A question for any one that went last year. It says 50 breweries 150 beers. Obviously more than enough but do any breweries bring out rare specialties or with only about 3 selections per brewery is it just their 3 base/popular beers? Just curious.

[steveh]

There weren't a lot of specialties or surprises, as often happens at the Great Tatse, but last year was the inaugural event - who knows as it progresses?

Of note is that the 2 home-brew clubs who help out with the fest had many good home-brews that they shared with the crowd - a definitely unique aspect of this fest.

S.

[brewcrew76]

Originally posted by steveh
Of note is that the 2 home-brew clubs who help out with the fest had many good home-brews that they shared with the crowd - a definitely unique aspect of this fest.

S.

I noticed that. I am hoping to get into home brewing this fall so I am actually very interested in checking those 2 booths out.

[brewcrew76]

Steve and IL Hophead - Any tips on how to pick you guys out of the crowd on Sat.

[steveh]

Hah - I look a lot like Robert Redford, only taller and better looking! ;)

Actually, many people tell me I look like Keefer Sutherland, for what that's worth! 5'11", 183-4, goatee, strawberry blonde hair, dunno what I'll be wearing - but look for a Sox cap if it rains!

How 'bout you? I already know what HopHead looks like...though he said he shaved his beard...

S.

[chazwicke]

If you peruse this thread:

http://www.realbeer.com/discussions/showthread.php?threadid=6027&highlight=realbeer+guys

you will find some picts of Steveh.

And I still want to see picts of Bruno with haircut and beard shaved. Where has he been anyway?

[brewcrew76]

That was an interesting thread. It was nice putting faces with the names on here. I see both the Kiefer Sutherland and Mark McGwire resemblance for Steve.

Chaz looks like the friendly/jovial guy you come off as on the boards (don't think that can be percieved in a bad way but I obviously mean it in a good way). The angle in your avatar and the thick beer mug make you look like a futbol/rugby hooligan you see portrayed in movies though. I like that avatar.

[chazwicke]

I'm just hiding my double chins?:D

[steveh]

Originally posted by brewcrew76
I see both the Kiefer Sutherland and Mark McGwire resemblance for Steve.

Never been as big as McGwire, but bigger than Kief - and now I'm about 12 pounds lighter than those pics, so...who knows? ;)

Maybe we can plan on a meet at the home-brew area around 4:00 - or say, at Capital at the same time? We can pummel Kirby with questions! I hope he comes back again this year.

S.

[brewcrew76]

Originally posted by steveh

How 'bout you?

S.

Sorry, I forgot in my last post. I feel like I am filling out some dating service form.:o

I am 6 ft 230lbs. I will either be wearing my old school Brewers hat with the yellow/blue glove logo or my red Wisconsin Badgers hat and a Goose Island t-shirt.

[brewcrew76]

Originally posted by steveh

Maybe we can plan on a meet at the home-brew area around 4:00 - or say, at Capital at the same time? We can pummel Kirby with questions! I hope he comes back again this year.

S.

I keep hitting the submit button before I am done typing.

4:00 at Capital works for me.

[chazwicke]

Take pictures!

[Bruno_78]

Heading off to the fest now. I get to be a steward for the homebrew competition. Gettin' my foot in the door, ya know. (thanks steve)

Looking forward to another great festival this year, more breweries, more beer! yeah!

So 4 o' clock at Capital? is that the plan? See you then.

[fretlessman71]

Bruno, didja ever finish that bathroom?

[chazwicke]

Take some picts!

[BluesHarp]

Wish I was going...but then again, today is our annual family Oktoberfest party with a 1/4 Barrel of O'Fest from Fox River Brewing in Oshkosh and a corny of "Blauharfe Marzen".;)

Poor timing, I guess.

[Ill hophead]

Brewcrew, don't know if you'll see this post before you leave but I'm wearing green pants, a green Rogue Brutal Bitter shirt, and my Simple Life camouflage mesh hat. I'll be lookin for the Badgers hat and Goose shirt. I'll also look for everybody at Capital at 4.

Oh and Steve, the beard is back so you should recognize me.

[YamahaXS]

how was it?!?!?!?

[Osh]

Well worth the $25. Brewcrew76, Il Hophead,Bruno plus thier ladies, steveh and myself were there. 3F's was a noshow. Bell's Expedition Stout was memorable and Moosedrool was at the bottom of my list. Everything in between was great, not that I had everything in between but the beers I had were worth having again. I'm sure that everyone else will chime in soon. Hope you all had a safe ride home.

[brewcrew76]

It was nice meeting everyone in person. I actually liked that the festival seemed smaller and not extremely crowded. Most breweries had their regular 3-4 beers so there were not many gems like at the Great Taste. I actually liked the Moosedrool. Founder's, New Holland & Bell's had 7-8 selections a piece including Breakfest Stout. Definately worth the $25. The 1 brewery I heard good things about but was disappointed in was Titletown. I spoke to the new brewer and he made it sound like he was left with a mess that he is trying to fix.

[chazwicke]

Did you guys take pictures?

[brewcrew76]

You are not going to like my answer but I had my digital camera with me and did not take a single picture the entire festival. I am afraid my priorities were elsewhere.:D

[Ill hophead]

I had a great time and it was nice meeting up with everyone who was there. Sorry we didn't make it to the Yardarm with you guys. Brewcrew, it was good to meet you and Sarah (is that right?). We should get together at Firkin or Goose sometime. Maybe even have a brewday together. Sorry Chaz, I don't remember taking any pictures either, although I think I might have been in a couple. I don't have a digital camera anyway since my camera phone stopped working with my computer.

I was a little disappointed that alot of the companies, especially the big ones like Rogue, DFH, and Bell's but even smaller locals like New Glarus and Capital, didn't have anyone from the company there. It was just a distributor or someone the distributor got to pour bottles of their beer. Many of them didn't really know much about the beer they were pouring. Also there weren't really any special bustouts like at the Great Taste. The beer still tasted good though.

I think Tyranena was the highlight for me. The Bourbon Barrel Brown and Bitter Woman IPA were both really good and I enjoyed talking with the brewer while I drank his beer. I thought Great Dane's APA was really good. The Cyser Rose mead from Appletreow was very tasty. I actually liked Titletown's Hopasaurus Rex but the brewer seemed a little geeky. I also enjoyed talking with Art Steinhoff from Flatlander's over one of his Octoberfests and Andy from 2 Brothers over a Heavy Handed IPA. Oh, and the guys over at the Kenosha Bidal Society. I guess that's why I like to go these beer fests, to talk with the brewers and kind of get a look into the brewing scene, since I would like to be a brewer myself someday.

Hope everyone else made it home safely and I look forward to the next time we get to meet up again. There will be a small tasting at Dicarlo's Armanetti in Vernon Hills on Oct. 1 and that same day Flatlander's is tapping their Octoberfest with a free 1/4 barrell at tapping time till it runs out. Not sure about times of either one but I'll probably be at both since they're so close. Let me know if anyone else wants to go.

[steveh]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Did you guys take pictures?

I have a few, as soon as I can get running on a familiar system I'll get 'em up.

It was a great time, even if some of the breweries didn't show or only brought bottles. Word will spread after a successful second year - and the home-brew competition was terrific. Anyone enter an Oktoberfest, Bock, Stout, or Mead?

S.

[BluesHarp]

Originally posted by Ill hophead

I think Tyranena was the highlight for me. The Bourbon Barrel Brown and Bitter Woman IPA were both really good and I enjoyed talking with the brewer while I drank his beer.

Glad to hear it...I've been touting their brews for some time; good brewery and nice people!

[steveh]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Did you guys take pictures?

Okay, let's try this...

Kewl - from left to right: me, IllHopHead, IHH's GF, Osh, Bruno - sans beard and long hair. Dunno where Brewcrew was...

S.

[chazwicke]

Thanks for the pict Steveh! Man! I would not have recognized Bruno! Good to put better faces to Osh and IllHopHead too.

Bruno that is quite a change. What prompted it?

[steveh]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Man! I would not have recognized Bruno!

It was a good thing I recognized his truck!

S.

[Stodbrew]

That is quite a change, Bruno. I wouldn't have recognized you, either.

[Ill hophead]

I must have had a leaky stein cause there's beer running down my shirt.:p Angela loved Osh as you can see. Unfortunately that stein dangling from her fingers disappeared on the way out.

[BluesHarp]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Thanks for the pict Steveh! Man! I would not have recognized Bruno! Good to put better faces to Osh and IllHopHead too.

Bruno that is quite a change. What prompted it?

...so is that the human head we have heard so much about??:D

Quite a change, Bruno!

[chazwicke]

Maybe he had to shave & cut his hair......hiding from an angry husband maybe? Rob a bank? Maybe he is now in the federal witness protection program.:D

I'm not sure if that is his human head or not....

[steveh]

bump

So, did anyone enter a beer in the competition? I'm just interested since I judged Bocks, Stouts, and the final for Meads. Anyone, anyone - ?

S.