Beer Fest Etiquette

If you’re a beer fan, I’m sure you attend a beer fest every now and then. 

It’s a fun way to meet up with other beer connoisseurs and get a chance to sample many different kinds of beer.

It’s not uncommon to find 35-plus different brewers with a variety of what they make at any beer festival. 

The concept is simple: a ticket gets you in and as you enter the fest gates, you’re given a sample cup or glass. 

With this vessel, you can try as many brews as you can safely consume. Volunteers will fill your sample glass with 2-3 oz. of whatever beer you’ve chosen. If you like it, great! 

If not, dump it! However, be courteous as to where it’s dumped, look for a dump bucket or a spot of ground that’s out of the way.

As beer fests usually last 4-6 hours, you have plenty of time to shop what’s available and try what you want. Don’t feel obligated to try everything, pick out beer you haven’t had before or return to ones you haven’t had in a while. Usually the fest will have a beer list available online in advance and printed fest maps are easy to find upon arrival.  A little homework goes a long way in making your beer fest experience the best it can be.

I went to the Atlanta Summer Beer Fest last Saturday and had a great time talking with other beer fans, brewery reps and the masses of volunteers that man the countless beer taps.  

While I was in people watching mode I remembered there is a code to behavior at beer fests, part common courtesy, part simply learned… call it beer fest etiquette. If you’ve got a beer fest in your future plans, you need to know. 

Let’s review:

Get tickets early:  Beer fests often have limited tickets, some sell out within hours of going on sale.  Those that do not limit tickets may still offer price breaks for being among early purchasers.
 
Eat a good lunch or early dinner before the fest:  This should be common sense, it’s not wise to drink on an empty stomach. Food vendors are always at beer fests, so be sure to bring along extra cash. If you like pretzels with your beer, make a pretzel necklace – string small pretzels on a piece of yarn and wear around your neck– they’re commonly seen at beer festivals. Regular breaks to feed and/or hydrate are probably the smartest thing you can do at a beer fest.  Trust me on this.

Drink water:  It doesn’t matter if it’s hot weather or not, alcohol dehydrates your body. Alternate beer and water when you can. Many fests have free water available, don't be shy to ask.

Move along: Get your sample and move along, discuss the beer with your buddies or update Facebook/Twitter away from the serving table. Come back if there’s something else you want to try.

Know your limit: Selections at beer fests may range from 2.5% to 10% alcohol, so know how much you can handle.  Where high gravity beer is being poured, you’ll only get a taste, appreciate what you receive.

Pace yourself:  In addition to knowing your limit, pace yourself on sampling.  Sure, it’s great that you can sample this, that, and all the rest, but don’t try to do it in the first 60 minutes. You’ve still got to get home or wherever you’re sleeping off your revelries. Take the time to enjoy the live music, visit the non-beer vendors, do a little people watching, wait the required 10 minutes to log another beer into Untappd. 

It’s hard to enjoy the unique taste of craft beer if you’re slamming samples one after the other.  Take. Your. Time.

Don’t be the guy/gal who gets trashed at a beer fest: I think you understand. Be responsible.

Prepare for the weather:  These fests are held rain or shine. I’ve attended fests in 38 degree temps with sleet and also on blazing summer days… all in Atlanta. Check in with your favorite meteorologist to get the scoop a few days in advance. Dress appropriately and be sure to wear comfy shoes.

Plan to arrive alive:  Whether you’re headed home or elsewhere after the fest, make plans to get there safely.  Bring a designated driver, sometimes they get in to the fest free or at a discount (but are not allowed to drink).  Cab companies often dispatch extra cabs to the exit gate area for fests, use them if needed. Call someone if you must! Again, be responsible. 

Say “Thank You!”:  There are scores of volunteers at beer fests, be sure to say ‘thanks!’ when they hand your cup back with your nectar of the moment. These folks brave the elements for hours to share the world of craft beer with you. 

Happy July 4!

We’re coming up on one of the biggest BBQ holidays of the year, so from me and mine to you and yours, have a safe and tasty holiday! The next blog will be mostly about BBQ, so stay tuned!