Front Street Brewery

The weather is getting warmer. People are out and about more often.  The birds are singing. I’m brewing more beer.  This must mean only one thing.  Beer Festival season is upon us. 

For those that have never been to a beer festival allow me to explain.  Most beer festivals happen in the Spring and the Fall.  This allows for nicer weather and less of a chance of falling over from extreme heat exhaustion during the stifling summer months.  With most festivals you pay a fee to get in(Usually $25 bucks or so), you’re given a small taster glass, a wristband and you’re unleashed in to the crowds to go sample beers.  Sounds like fun huh?  It most certainly is!!!!

I usually have fun at festivals, but it is still work for us brewers.  Allow me to list a few Do’s and Don’t’s of beer festivals to make it much more pleasurable for both the people working the event as well as the people attending the event.  Here’s my top 10.  

1. Have fun, but don’t be a troublemaker.  It will likely end your beer fest experience prematurely.  It booth workers see a troublemaker they usually alert the calvary and you and your friends will probably be escorted out. 

2. Remember that chances are the people pouring your beer are the ones that made it.  If you don’t like the beer you just sampled then that’s ok, but try to keep your negetive comments to yourself until you’re away from the booth you just sampled at.  We as brewer’s know that we can’t please everyone, but having someone drink your beer right in front of you and saying “that’s terrible and dumping it out” is a bummer.  We’re out there pouring beer while you’re having a good time.  Cut us some slack.

3.  If you want to talk to the brewer then ask him/her to step aside for a second.  Holding a 15 minute conversation with the brewer while 20 people are in line behind you can easily lead to you being taunted, yelled at or even tarred and feathered.  We don’t mind talking to you.  That’s why we usually bring staff members from the restaurant to help us pour.  Just ask us to step aside.  Maybe we’ll enjoy a few samples with you if you’re really nice.  It doesn’t help to bring us food either!!

4. No we won’t fill up your pint glass that you just bought.  It’s illegal.  Most festivals are required to pour 4 to 5 oz. samples.  If we fill up your pint glass then we’re breaking the law and both the brewery and you will be kicked out.  We’ll probably get a fine and have to go home with our tails between our legs and much poorer.  Enjoy the many samples that are offered!!!  That’s what a beer festival is all about.

5. If we have attractive girls with us at our booth helping us pour(many breweries do) please do not treat them badly.  Most girls helping pour are in fact bartenders from our breweries.  Trust me dude you, you don’t have a chance with her and you’re not the first guy to think that.  Don’t be a drunken buffoon and maybe she’ll laugh at your joke next time you’re up for a sample. 

6. Remember that most of the brewers there are friends.  We know each other, have hung out with each other and generally get along with each other.  So don’t bad mouth any other breweries beer in front of us.  It’s just bad Kharma.

7.  If there is funnel cakes at the festival please bring me one. You may get a pint glass or a shirt. 

8. Drink lots of water.  Sometimes festivals can run 4, 5, 6 or more hours.  If you’re sampling beer all day make sure you hydrate yourself.  Noone wants to go the hospital.  Trust me. 

9. If you’re really excited about trying a bunch of beers and are truly passionate about craft beers then get there early.  Typically when the gates open the crowd isn’t as bad as later in the day.  This will allow a bit more one on one time with the brewer’s if that’s what you want. 

10. Have fun and enjoy the opportunity to sample a wide range of beers that have been provided for you at the festival.  It’s a great chance to try beers from breweries that you may not have had a chance to visit yet. 

Our first festival is the Hickory Hops Festival on April 18th.  It’s always a good time and we hope to see you out there.  There’s a great brewerers party the night before so forgive the brewers if we’re a bit slow in the morning. 

Cheers,

         Kevin Kozak