Cleveland Winter Beerfest 2016

This past weekend was the 3rd Annual Cleveland Winter Beerfest. This year, there were over 100 breweries present and over 350 different beers to sample. The ticket sales go towards the Music Education Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping music programs in underfunded elementary and junior high schools.

We’ve attended this beer fest every year.  In our opinion, its one of the best, if not the best beer fest in Cleveland. It’s in a very huge space, the new(ish) Cleveland Convention Center, so it does not feel very crowded even though there are thousands of beer drinkers present.  The brewery booths are spread out and easy to maneuver to and from. There is virtually no wait time for a beer sample. Many of the booths have a rep who is from the brewery and who can answer questions about the beers. Some even hand out swag including bottle openers, stickers, coasters, etc.  Also present are snack and food vendors because no doubt, after an hour or two of sampling, you will get the munchies.

They also offer many different ticket types. You could get a ticket for regular admission for drinking from 7:30-10:30; early admission from 6:30-10:30; the connoisseur ticket which gets you access to a speical VIP reception area with appetizer bites and access to premium/rare beers. They also offer a designated driver ticket which includes free water and soft drinks.

GAME PLAN

You should have a game plan when attending a beer fest as it can be overwhelming and the day may end short if you aren’t prepared. Here are our steps for a successful beer fest.

PRE-FEST PREP

Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!  Try and drink as much water throughout the day as possible so your body is geared up for what you’re going to unleash upon it.  Beard used to swear by Pedialyte, but has recently found a new method for hydration called Drip Drop.  They’re little powder packets that contain more electrolytes than Pedialyte, and they taste better.  Once it starts getting close to zero hour, it’s snack time:

First: prepare your pretzel necklaces. Broad prefers the smaller or skinny pretzels and Beard prefers the large sourdough pretzels. You’ll be thankful about an hour into the beer fest that you have a tasty snack around your neck when those munchies kick in. Pretzels are the perfect salty counterpart to a nice cold beer (it’s science).

Second: Eat a large greasy meal beforehand and drink lots of water. If it’s an early beer fest, we usually eat a big breakfast full of fats and proteins, usually sausage, gravy and biscuits. You won’t get tipsy too soon and you’ll feel better later. This was an evening beer fest, so we ate a large early dinner at our favorite taco joint, Barrio. We meant to take a pic when our food came out but we were too hungry and ate too fast. We did take an after pic.

Third: Make sure you have a designated driver or call an Uber/Lyft. No one should be driving after a beer fest.

ARRIVAL

Fourth: When you arrive, take a look at the map and plan your route. Locate the bathroom and water stations. Some beer fests provide water bottles or they have water stations where you can fill your taster glass. Be prepared to hit the water stations a few times each hour. Hydration is key to avoid a hangover.

Fifth: Keep a steady pace, this is not a race! Beer fests, large ones at least, last for hours. You will have time to try a lot of different beer.

Sixth: Try new beers! You may be inclined to stick to your favorite breweries and beers but a beer fest is the perfect opportunity to discover new favorites. We like to use our Notes app on our phones to keep record of new beers/breweries we try. Then when you see the beer out at your favorite watering hole or bottle shop you can remember what you liked.  Usually your taster is 4 oz or 5 oz, but you can always ask for a half pour if you are unsure if you will enjoy it, or you can be like us and ask for half pours everywhere so you’re able to try more beers without getting too inebriated.  Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions if there’s a brewery rep present. They’ll be more than happy to talk to you!

DEPARTURE

Seventh: Go home! After the beer fest is over you may be tempted to go out and keep drinking but don’t. You really should go home, eat something and drink water to avoid the next day hangover. Maybe even cap off the night with more Pedialyte/hydration powder, you’ll thank us in the morning.

As long as you follow our tried and true beer fest tips, your time promises to be a memorable one…even if those memories might be a bit blurry.