Update:  Twitter was the most convenient method.

You could also check out the hive mind by searching Twitter for #darklordday and #dld2010

The conditions we’re ideal.  The drive to Munster was fine.  It looked like rain most of the day.  My face did burn a little from the UV via overcast clouds.  I dressed in layers, kept my jacket and light winter hat on the entire day.  It was slightly windy…felt good in the sun.  Driving home was the exact opposite.  Dark clouds rolled in, it started pouring.  Heavy rain and high winds on the journey home.

Folks who parked next to us were setting up chairs behind their vehicles.  They were preparing their bottles and coolers.

It was 7 A.M, time to drink.

Kyle is standing by the black vehicle approximately lined up with the flag.  There were about 30 more people behind us. This panorama was shot about an hour after arriving.

View from my parking space CLICK FOR FULL IMAGE

In the line we were standing behind a group of beer enthusiasts and homebrewers calling themselves The Inebriati. They had matching shirts and were recording video reviews of their beers. All had coolers and were generous a to share samples with us. It seemed they were opening bottles at the pace the line was moving. We tried a lot of interesting homebrews some notable ones were the scotch pine and raspberry rhubarb.

Cooler of homebrews courtesy of The Inebriati

Here’s a shot of spent bottles laid out on the curb at around 10:30 A.M. I dubbed it “The Graveyard” we’ll check back on this at the end of the day. Look at some of these rare bottles!

The Graveyard before

A view of the line while standing on the cooler.

The line with no end in sight but thats OK.

A drunk dude walked up to one of The Inebriati and handed him a fresh 2010 Dark Lord to open and share. Drunk dude tipped the bottle spilling it down his face and neck then gave a short review! I know there’s video, I hope someone posts it. The Inebriati member proceeded to pour everyone in his group a sample. I didn’t get one, but I did get a tiny sip and liked what I had. Kyle is cracking open a bottle this weekend for his birthday.

Pouring some Dark Lord 2010.

Sampling Dark Lord

We approached the “Mosh Pit” this is where the 2 lines converge and the crazy beers start coming out. They were pouring various Dark Lords under the light blue umbrella.

The Mosh Pit

Finally made it inside the loading dock. Going from being packed together like sardines to having space to walk around was a relief. The bottle limit was lowered from 4 to 3 which was kind of bullshit but regardless, Kyle and I exchanged our golden tickets for 9 bottles of Dark Lord totalling $135! Cha-ching! Making sure to hold the case from the bottom we wandered around the dock for a little bit checking out the live band. I didn’t catch the name but they resembled Danzig. Total wait time: 4.5 hours.

The Docking Bay

Finally!

We went back to the truck to drop off the bottles and assess the situation. I realized that we forgot our free sample of Dark Lord! But what was this next to us? A guy was unloading 2 kegs. We asked what was in them he replied, “Topless Witch. I’m trading them for 2 kegs of Dreadnaught” Whoa!

2 kegs of Topless Witch

The folks from the beginning of the day were still there drinking. They were waiting until the end of the day to buy their Dark Lord bottles. Obviously this was not their first DLD. We offered the keg guy and everyone around some Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree and Left Hand Milk Stout which Kyle and I brought with us stored in growlers. This triggered a tasting session from everybody essentially turning the back of my truck into a tasting table.

Yes that is a Black Cat, Imperial Stout Trooper, and a Black Albert

We met some really cool people that we will certainly try to locate next year. Rick (left) had the hookup! The back of his SUV was loaded with all kinds of beer from the Northeast to the Midwest.  You should check his post on the Bayview Beer Blog.  He breaks it down!

Rick (left) texting and not opening a Collaborative Evil

The Magnum is loaded!

We forgot our Dark Lord sample! Heading back to the docks, let’s check back on the graveyard.

The Graveyard after

The Dark Lord samples were gone. Then it started to rain. This place is dead anyway. See you next year!

No more samples for you!

The folks at Hoosier Beer Geek posted a good primer.  Here are the notable items:

CASH

This is a cash only event.  I plan on bringing $80 – $100 and trying not to spend it all.  According to the Post-Tribune A bottle of Dark Lord will set you back $15 IF you have a golden ticket.  Still no word on the bottle limit.  If you don’t have a ticket, open sales start at 5:00 p.m.  Good luck!  Also, there will be guest taps with crazy and/or rare beers from around the country at $5 per pour.

COOLER

Keeping a large cooler with ice in the truck.  For the beers I bring and take home, also water.  You got to have priorities.

SEATING

Bringing a standard camp chair in it’s carrying case (if I can find it).  Another good idea is to rock a cooler with wheels.  Fill it up with some cold microbrews to share.  Using this to sit on will allow you to combine the COOLER and SEATING item.

CAMERA ETC.

Of course this is optional, but if you’re a blogger looking for content, this event could be good for at least 2-3 posts maybe more depending on how many reviews I can get.  I’m bringing my iPhone, digital point and shoot camera, and my Flip cam.  Also, batteries.

FOOD

Three Floyds Brew Pub menu looks fantastic.  But there will certainly be a long waiting line to eat there.  That is an option.  Supposedly there will be random food vendors floating around.  I’ll already be waiting in line for my Dark Lord.  Waiting in another long line for food seems like a waste.  Bring snacks.

WATER

Fortunately there’s rain in the forecast.  But I don’t plan to pass out from dehydration.  And I don’t drink water via skin absorption.  I’m bringing 3 gallon jugs and maybe a refillable bottle,  I’ll keep these in my truck along with the beers I may purchase/trade along the way.

BEER

There a great post on BA about Beer Table Etiquette which, along with the comments, turns into a pretty good primer.  I’m bringing a mixed sixer of semi-local beer and a shot glass with the ounce markers.  Small plastic cups will work also.  I anticipate opening my beer, placing it on a “Beer Table” and proceed to pour myself a few samples of another beer that someone has placed out.  Review, rinse, repeat.  Again, this is my first DLD things could be totally different.  All I know is if you bring a Bud Light prepare to get the business end of an Ommegang bomber to the skull.

Bonus:  Here is a parking map with our driving directions planned out.  This parking spot should be optimal.

Serving Type:  22oz bomber/tulip glass

Full size (Flickr)

Style:  India Pale Ale

Location:  Ohio, USA

Quick Specs:

8.5% ABV

81 IBUS

Serving Type:  22oz bomber/pint glass

Style:  India Pale Ale

Location:  Colorado, USA

Quick Specs:

6.60% ABV

60 IBUS

Seasonal Release

Featured on EPISODE 1

Green wax. One is for sale on Ebay.

Gratuitous Ebay link!

Collaborative beer between Rogue Brewmaster John Maier and Rogue Spirits Master Distiller John Couchot.

Serving Type:  22oz bomber/pint glass

Style:  Maibock

Location:  Oregon, USA

Quick Specs:

Whiskey Barrel-Aged

6.40% ABV

Limited Release

First review

Featured on EPISODE 1

Beer Reviews

Rogue – John John Dead guy

- Cool graphic of the production process.

Left Hand Brewing Company – Warrior IPA

Kyle talks about seeing Puscifer and Uncle Sratch’s Gospel Revival in Chicago.  Kyle also mentions visiting the Map Room but actually goes to a Goose Island Brewpub instead.   Wes mentions Gary V’s show with Maynard.  Special Guest Eric is a domestic beer drinker.

iTunes

http://www.kegworks.com/company/insta-beer

Saturday, April 17th: the 9th Annual Black Party “A Celebration of Black Beers”…all your favorite dark beers will be on tap! Entertainment provided by Oracle, Motown Revue, and the Total Blam Blams.

Tap List:

-Breakfast Stout
-Imperial Stout
-Oatmeal Stout
-Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout
-2009 KBS
-2010 KBS
-2010 KBS Nitro
-Porter
-Black Biscuit
-Canadian Breakfast Stout
-Cherry Porter
-Imperial Black IPA
-Citra-Black

plus…a rumored beer simply called ‘Death’??