First, let me go on record by saying this: I love beer festivals. They’re awesome. I love being able to try different types of beer side-by-side with others. It can be an afternoon of wonderful education. Just a great time. I was really excited to learn, when we first moved down here, that there was a yearly beer festival in Durham. The first year I went it was fantastic. Big, but not overly large. Crowds, but not overly crowded. Good food, good beers, music on a grandstand and all that - just generally a good time. The following year they started one up in Raleigh which, while a long drive to and from my place (especially after an afternoon in the sun tasting beer), was still worth going to. The past few years it was pretty clear that every frat boy in the area had figured out that there was a beer festival because the prevailing aura at the WBF: Raleigh and WBF: Durham has really been turning from, “Awesome day about beer.” to “LET’S GET HAMMERED!”

This year? Wow. Nothing but irritated.

1) Ticket prices have been escalating sharply. Like 100% over the past 2 years. I’d like to think that it’s because they’re adding in all kinds of new stuff, or maybe more port-a-johns. I hope they’re recompensing the brewers for all the free product they’re giving away because I’m certainly not seeing any added value for my dollar. So, with me and S going together, plus gas, plus food that day, we’re probably looking at dropping well over $100 for the WBF in Raleigh this spring. Which… okay.. it’s a good time and all.. but that’s a big chunk of change for something that I’m going to pee out by the end of the day, and in the meantime, I get to be stuck in a tent over-crowded by frat boys pounding samples instead of appreciating them? Greaaaat.

2) Tickets went on sale at noon on a Wednesday. I got the e-mail on Tuesday, said, “Oh, I need to remember to do that.” Then I did this crazy thing called “work” on Wednesday, and didn’t really think about it. Now? Sold out. Okay, fine. They’re usually pretty good about putting tickets out at a few bars in the area so that you can grab them in person. Usually there’s some at Top of the Hill, maybe some at Milltown. This year? Let’s see… Raleigh, Raleigh, Raleigh, North Raleigh, Cary (might as well be Raleigh), Holly Springs (really?), Durham, and Winston-Salem. Honestly. You put some in Winston-Salem and not in Chapel Hill? Eff you, too. I mean, thanks for the location in Durham, but since every working person between Greensboro and Durham will be heading over there for tickets how long do you suppose those will last? I’d put money down that they’re sold out by the time I get out of work today. … Winston-Salem?

3) They’ve been over-selling like crazy the past couple of years. It has been NOTHING but over-crowded. At Raleigh last year I remember getting there about a half hour before the start of the festival and being lucky enough to find the back gate as it was opening and got in relatively quickly. I noticed, however, that after being there for 2 hours there were STILL people waiting in line to get in through the main gate. How is that gonna feel at $40/ticket? I guarantee that there are people there waiting to get in hours before the festival starts just so that they don’t have to watch people having fun through the fences while they wait for their turn to get in. I might be one of them. I can only assume that one of the reasons behind the price increase is that they’re selling fewer tickets, but I just can’t imagine that that’s true. Why would they sell fewer tickets when they can sell the same amount at twice the price?

So, maybe I’m just bitter about it because I wasn’t on the fast track to get a ticket. I don’t know. Maybe I’m like that kid who grew up loving this obscure band, and now they’re really popular and I can’t go see the concerts anymore because instead of playing at the local bar for a $5 cover, it’s a huge shitty arena show at $200/ticket. That’s kinda what it’s feeling like.

I really enjoyed being the guy who could ferret out beer festivals and bring my friends to them, and they would be full of people who love beer because it’s this amazing beverage. It was personal and fun. You could talk to brewers and try a sample and compare tastes with other people. It was subcultury and cool. Now, I’m waiting in line and getting shoved around by frat boys slamming down samples for $10/hr. I can get a better experience at the local beer bar, now. I won’t get to chat with any brewers, it’s mostly volunteers. In fact, to talk to brewers I might have to buy the $75 “VIP” ticket. Seriously? No.

Why go to a festival? Meh. Because I love beer and I can’t pass it up.

Now all I have to do is find tickets.