Q: What? A: Brewfest. Gitchee Gumee Brewfest, to be exact.
Q: Oh, okay. Cool. Where? A: Wessman Arena, Superior, WI.
Q: Huh? A: Superior, WI…that’s Sconie.
Q: Oh, Sconie, got it. When? A: This Saturday, April 10 from 4 P.M. to 8 P.M.
Q: Damn, you’re a bit late posting this. A: Uh…the recession and global warming caused a delay. That wasn’t a question, by the way.
Q: Oh, sorry. How much is this gonna set me back? A: $40 at the door (limited to 1,200). $75 for VIP ticket. VIP’s get in at 3:30 through a separate entrance, have a separate room from which they can look down upon the riff-raff while eating pizza and peeing in a private bathroom. Oh, designated drivers get in free with someone who has paid for admission. Tickets can be purchased….well, check out the website.
Q: Can I buy tickets on-line, over the phone or do I have to hit Duluth/Superior to buy them. A: *sigh* The site doesn’t say anything about buying them on-line or over the phone; only at the door and at select locations. But it might be worth your time to call the Jaycees. I seem to recall my wife being able to purchase tickets from them in past years.
Q: You’re kind of a dink. A: Again, that wasn’t a question.
Q: Sorry. You’re kind of a dink, aren’t you? A: Thank you. Yes, deal with it.
Q: What Minnesota brews will be available? A: I don’t know. I didn’t plan the goddamn thing. Look, Schell/Grain Belt, Cold Spring, Lake Superior, Mantorville/St. Croix, Summit and Surly are all supposed to be there. Figure it out for yourself.
Mag, you seem lonely…
Gotta express my passive-aggressiveness somehow.
Maybe the global warming has cooked my brain, but $40 for ‘Drunkfest North’ actually sounds fun right about now ; )
That’s funny because it was exactly that same sentiment, coupled with a “I need a vacation” feeling that made me think of GG and wonder why the hell we hadn’t posted anything about it. Very, very tempting.
By far the drunkest beer fest I’ve been to, but I enjoyed it… what’s not to love… women in the men’s room, people my parents age all blotto… 🙂 We stayed with friends last time I went and hired a car service that picked us up in a big Lincoln SUV and ended up being cheaper than cab(s). Plus the driver brought us to the Brewhouse AND picked up our Pizza Luce order. Win win!
The first year at Barker’s Island was very laid-back, but boy, has it changed!
If I hadn’t made a day trip up last fall I’d be jonesing for this event pretty bad. I always enjoy poking around Superior’s retailers and watering holes, plus tasting the latest batch of Bo’s brews at the fest.
Now if only I could get Saturday free . . .
Best. Post. Ever. Thanks for the laugh, Mag!
Thanks Dave. As long as I stay away from things like “facts” and useful content in posts, I’m usually okay.
As Fred Eckhardt told me many times…never let the facts get in the way of a good story!
Started going to GG when I was 21 and recall commenting to a friend that we were by far the youngest ones there. Oh how times have changed. Last time I went it was mostly college kids. It was less then 15 minutes into the fest before I saw someone puking thanks to many of them drinking from cases of Busch Light while waiting in line.
Having said that, if you’re the type of person that doesn’t get wound up by this kinda behavior and can sit back, enjoy some great beer and laugh at those fools, it’s an awesome fest. Sad that breweries like Fitger’s are no longer there but they’re just miles away so that’s still OK.
One year we checked into our hotel and I found an advertisement for Custom Cab. Twice as nice at the same price featuring a picture of a limo. Called and what showed up was custom for sure. An older Lincoln with a pig sticker on the door that had plenty of body damage was our ride to the fest. The front seats were too different colors and the transmission snapped your neck every time it shifted. They were nice enough to come and pick us up after the fest with no wait since they aren’t allowed to pickup in Superior technically. Our driver told us we had to pretend to be friends of his if we got pulled over. We left our hotel the following morning to find a police officer kicking a prostitute out of another room. The officer told me not to give her a cigarette if she asked. Always an eventful fest.
I’d love to go this year but I found out that I’d have the weekend free too late to mail in for tickets. Maybe next year.
Went up there for the first time this year. Quite possibly one of the most fun beerfests I’ve been to. More than enough brewers around and plenty of drunk college kids to keep the masses entertained. Made the rounds but wound up spending the chunk of the fest at the Surly booth. Their Four war rockin! I wish there were bar stools…I would never have left. Definitely on my to-do list for next year! 5 beermugs up!