SLO LIFE Magazine Jun/Jul 2019

friends is not the way to learn about, nor appreciate beers. If the pourer is from the
brewery they’re representing, it’s always appropriate to give them a compliment if
you like their beer or let them know you support them with your wallet, or have
visited their tasting room. If you want to take a deeper dive then stand to the
side and have a brief chat while others can still make their way up to the jockey
box and get a taster, too. It’s a fine line, however; they’re not your local friendly
bartender and if they’re trying to work then come back when it’s not busy.
Lines can be an issue at some of the larger festivals that pull in-demand breweries
sharing limited-release beers. My strategy is to go one of two ways when you
see a huge crowd vying for that Aquavit barrel-aged barleywine variant brewed
with rare merciless peppers of Quetzalacatenango and a hint of cinnamon. This
is a great opportunity to slow down and have some water while you pace yourself
to enjoy the next few hours. Or, this means that all the attendees are clumping
together while some great brewery booth goes empty. Avoid the brew queue and
discover a lesser known brewery sharing their crisp and clean pilsener or session
IPA. It’ll also help reset your pallet, too. Festivals have their own momentum
and being slightly off this crowd surge can mean less lines and more free time.
The best way to do this, in my opinion, is to opt for a VIP ticket. These typically
entail an early admission and maybe some other perks. This is how you get the
rare beers without the hassle, but most importantly you are free from the time
constraints that most people feel. Four hours can go by fast and it gets faster as
the fest comes to a close. That extra hour can mean a break in the middle to sit in
the shade, have a proper lunch, or take the extra time to chat with friends.
Here are some other pointers that I could ramble on about for days: don’t drive;
eat a meal beforehand; never “pre-party;” it’s okay to pour out a beer you don’t like
(just be respectful and walk a few feet before you do); don’t take every piece of
swag just because it’s free (you’d be hard pressed to use twenty bottle openers at
once); keep an eye out for special pours and releases at a specific time in the fest;
unless there’s a Greek wedding taking place, keep your glassware
intact; if you’re slurring or stumbling you’re done—go home.
I could go on forever about what not to do, but in the interest
of not being a downer, here’s what you should do: Be respectful.
Understand that a lot of time and planning went into this event
and it might not be here next year if you are not considerate of
the venue and staff. Treat the beer with reverence and appreciate
the unique styles and variances as if you could find yourself
eyeballing them on the shelves the next time you’re picking up
a six-pack. Most of all, treat yourself with dignity and avoid
over-imbibing to keep the hangover demons at bay and your
reputation intact.
Beer festivals are a fantastic way to
spend a day with friends trying all sorts
of new beers that you might not have
considered or purchased otherwise.
They help raise funds for local nonprofits
and showcase local musical
talent, all in an open venue, all for the
price of a dinner out. Appreciate that
we have so many options to choose
from and, just one last tip from me,
make sure your fridge is stocked and
your grill is clean because reminiscing
with friends in all that excitement you
just experienced as you head into the
evening can be just as fun as the day
was itself. SLO LIFE
BRANT MYERS is a 14-year
veteran of the Central Coast
craft beer industry who
enjoys sharing his passion
with anyone who doesn’t
put an orange in their
hefeweiezen.
94 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | JUN/JUL 2019