Halifax Seaport Beerfest 2014

[GuingesRock]

I think I remember being at the RB last year and they had some special beers on for the occasion. Maybe that's what they are talking about.

[LeafMan66_67]

Virginia and I usually go and have a great time.

[chalmers]

On their site here they have posted last year's "amazing beer list" as an example of what this year could be like: http://seaportbeerfest.com/sites/defaul ... ck_web.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I don't understand. Everyone is there, including RB. Will they all be there this year?

When you say "Everyone", you don't mean every NS brewery, right? Because there are several missing.

I'm sure that the brewery list will not be exactly the same as last year, they are releasing the list as an idea of what has been on previously. I'm sure we'll see some breweries drop off, and we'll see some additions out of the new local ones, and ones from away.

Rockbottom was indeed there last year, but the brewmaster was not in attendance. I don't know their status for this year.

[chicanuck]

I had a good time last year and really enjoyed Galway Hooker as well as some of the Maine brews, but it turns into a bit shit show as the night goes on. I think I will pass this year and could definitely be up for some RB special brew action on Saturday.

- chicanuck

[mr x]

I have a family event per usual at that time of year, so I'll miss any alternate event. [PERSON FROWNING]

[James Skinner]

I had planned on going, even booked time off work to attend, but if the brewers gain nothing from it I won't go.
Which begs the question: If they aren't getting paid, why do they attend?

The local brewers would benefit from the foot traffic they might not otherwise see, so from that perspective, it makes sense.
It has the potential to broaden the base.
But why would a brewery from Maine or Ireland attend if it didn't generate revenue in the long run?

If I were a brewer in Maine, what would I stand to gain from giving away my beer in Halifax?
Beer tourism is now a "thing" as they say, and Maine is close enough that it might actually be a worthwhile investment for them.

Ireland has many tourism draws, and adding beer to the list of attractions probably doesn't hurt.
Who wouldn't love to have a pint of Guiness fresh at the brewery?

Let's be honest.
Very few of the festival's attendees have the resources to take a brewery tour of Maine, let alone any country in Europe.
I'm sure the come-from-away breweries know this.

I suspect a lot of the foreign brewers' costs are covered by their respective governments, either as promotion of their country through ministries of tourism, or as an advertising write off.

I find it hard to believe that a craft brewery from either Maine or Ireland can afford to bankroll a visit to a foreign country that gains them no revenue.
Some government agency, whether tourism or marketing, is paying for it.
They must be.

[chalmers]

I have no insider knowledge, but I can only see the breweries from outside of our region (I'm thinking Maine and Ireland) attending if they are getting paid for their product and/or shipping and/or some other arrangement by the festival itself.

For a brand new brewery, I can see the appeal to attend, as it can be a great opportunity to get your name out there, and have potential customers be introduced to the brewery and try your beer at a low barrier (ie, free once inside the grounds). But for breweries who are established, and selling everything they can make (and struggling to keep up with demand), giving away kegs of beer, and bodies to work the booth, and possibly having to pay for a table, it is a no-brainer not to attend.

[Jimmy]

A little more than a week before the beerfest and still no brewery list. Did Jonathan Brett take over the Seaport beerfest this year?

[mikeorr]

It's supposed to be up around noontime today..

[mikeorr]

It's up: http://seaportbeerfest.com/breweries" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Pretty scarce representation from the Maritimes (I think as expected)

[GAM]

This doesn't look so bad now.

I am assuming most of the beers are bottled not on tap.

Sandy

[mr x]

Maritime content is slim. 5 small operations. There's so much more to be had.

[CorneliusAlphonse]

Bizarrely large showing from Ireland. I'd be interested in trying some of those.

[mr x]

IIRC, Mansour had/has something to do with a beerfest in Ireland.

[LeafMan66_67]

Bizarrely large showing from Ireland. I'd be interested in trying some of those.

If I remember correctly, they had a decent selection from Ireland last year as well.

[pet lion]

IIRC, Mansour had/has something to do with a beerfest in Ireland.

Yep. He dropped into the Quinpool Noble Grape and said hello. He is definitely the reason all that Irish beer was packed on a boat from Ireland.

[mikeorr]

I see that Nash has posted the beer list for NASHFEST 2014

http://instagram.com/p/raNns5l2v3/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm going!

[mr x]

Sad to miss it this year. If I get time, I'll start a new thread so this gets more notice.

[chalmers]

I wrote up something about Seaport for the blog today. Mostly interested in mentioning the breweries and beers than anything, overwhelmingly positive, but I did mention that many local breweries were missing, and said that one major reason was that they weren't getting paid for their beer. I probably should have been more critical of that, I fully admit.

I hope to make it to Nashfest too! I *believe* all of the beers will be tapped Friday at 5, right?

[CorneliusAlphonse]

hmmm i could make tomorrow around 6ish...

[GAM]

I hope to make it to Nashfest too! I *believe* all of the beers will be tapped Friday at 5, right?

Not enough taps/chiller space.

Sandy

[LeafMan66_67]

So, is there anyone heading to Seaport this afternoon? We're doing Seaport and may drop by RB afterwards for a quick bite before Alex gets home.

[chalmers]

So, how was it?

I saw your note on improving the VIP for next year, but am unsure what that means.

[LeafMan66_67]

Beerfest was enjoyable, both for the beer and the people we went with. This was their first VIP session, so it could use a bit more polish next time. The VIP session was a sit down affair, with the owner of Trouble Brewing from Ireland, Owner of Beau's, Nicolas Pashey and one other dude I didn't catch, but he was a festival organizer from away. They spoke for the hour and took questions. Problem was, we were in an open room overlooking the main area, so with setup activity, band sound checks, etc, they were very hard to hear. We tasted three beer in the VIP session - one more may have been better, but all three were solid - Big Brown from Trouble Brewing, a DIPA from another Irish brewer and a Matt's Sleepy Time Belgian Imperial Stout from Beau's. Some big beers to start your day. The volunteers didn't have a good handle on what the beer were, and if they guys had introduced the beer as they were being poured, it would have been better. All in all, it was a good VIP format, interesting and informative.

For the beer session itself, I tried 5 of the 6 casks available - all were good, with both the dry hopped Kitchen Party and the Honey Lavender from Garrison standing out. The remaining beer I tasted were all out of Ireland - some really nice offerings, from an Irish white with orange peel and coriander to DIPA's, browns, porters, American Pales and your typical stouts. Virginia really enjoyed the Fest as well, and didn't go near the macros. We had a great day, starting at 11am at the Stubborn Goat, and my cousin and I finished off with Thulsa Doom at RB around 11pm.

[Brewnoser]

Was Propeller there? Or was it a beerfest without the top selling local micro again?