I live an hour and 30 mins away from FFF in Munster, IN. I have been going back and forth on whether or not to get tickets for this year's Dark Lord Day. Anyone been to it before? Tickets are expensive ($30.00) and that doesn't include the 4 pack of Dark Lord, which people are saying is $15 a piece.
So you're looking at $100 easily and that's not including if you get a chance to buy a Barrel Aged version for $50 if your golden ticket is a winner.
Someone who has been there before, let me know how it all runs down.
I've been to DLD 5 times. 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012.
Each year they do things to attempt improvements. I think 2010 they implemented the ticketing system b/c in previous years people would wait in line all day only to not get any. 2011 they used a fence to keep non ticket holders from crowding the brewpub property, 2012 they split the tickets in to groups to spread out the rush. 2013 they are adding more groups and requiring the purchaser to be present with the ticket to help prevent scalpers.
Despite all this 2007 or 2009 was the best year.
Every year I have gone it has been 4 bottles per person. $15 per bottle. They don't announce the price or allotment until the day of, but so far it is been consistent.
The tickets used to be $15, but now they are $30. Although they may have a better band lineup this year, if you are into Death Metal that might be a pro.
I've always done group A, the first group in the morning. I always show up about an hour before my group time starts and get in line. (Parking is a bitch BTW so be prepared for that) Hang out in line and just drink and bottle share with friends and strangers as you wait. Eventually they line moves fairly fast (compared to previous years), before you can get in the gate you show your ticket and an ID and then go on in. They have at least one station along the line where you can buy drafts. Just before you get to buy beer you get a scratch off ticket, if you win you can buy a bottle of one of the Barrel Aged Dark Lord variants for $50. You buy your beer, then head back out in front of the brewpub. There they have porta potties, food vendors, draft lines etc..
If you buy 4 bottles + a BA dark lord + ticket you are already at $140, plus the cost of drafts and maybe food. You should probably bring $200.
There will be a huge ass line to get into the brewpub itself, last year that was the only way to get Dark Lord on draft. In previous years they had Dark Lord on draft in multiple locations outside, so it was a big disappointment that it was limited to the brewpub behind a 3-5 hour line. If you have all day though, it is probably worth waiting.
They do have other good options on draft outside though. Stuff you cant get in bottles.
There will be lots of people just milling around bottle sharing and drinking. Gotta watch your bottles though as in past years there have been some thieves stealing DL bottles.
It is very crowded and a bit chaotic. But it is a fun time and I think it is worth it. Even if you don't drink all of your Dark Lord, it has pretty good trade value for other beers we can't get around here.
Here my brief breakdowns from each year
2007
One huge ass line, no organization. Got there in the morning and waited in line all day. Lots of people hauling coolers and drinking in line. I only bought 3 bottles, but I don't know what the limit was. Some people were leaving with 6 earlier in the day and I think some people were leaving with cases of 12. Bunch of people with lawn chairs just hanging out in groups and bottle sharing. I didn't stay too long after getting my beer though.
Busy but not too crowded. Plenty of space to walk around after you got your beer. Weather was great.
2008
Didn't make it to this year, but friends did. Sounded the same as 2007 but at the end of the day they ran out and had to tell a huge line of people sorry. My friends were among the last 10 to be allowed in. As the day went on they reduced the allotment per person.
2009
Came more prepared this time. With food and beer in coolers. Participated in a lot more bottle sharing with people in line. I remember they had Dark Lord on draft available from the draft tents. We would take turns sending someone to get drafts while waiting in line. I remember trying Vanilla Bean Dark Lord for the first time on draft, it was amazing. Also tried Bourbon County for the first time at a bottle share. Lots of people with lawn chairs, grills, coolers, and even kegs just staking out spots anywhere in the area. The line itself went in through the main warehouse doors and got super crowded. Waited in line a LONG time but still had a good time.
2010
Now they had a ticketing system, but I missed out on the online sale. Didn't even hear about it until after it was over. Showed up anyway with some older bottles of Dark Lord, was able to trade a 2009 for two tickets (people could get at least 4 per person perhaps more). This year was a bit of a clusterfuck, two huge lines formed from opposite directions, no-one knew what line was what. Eventually we find that the lines merge together into one super line for beer. No-one from Three Floyds was making any attempt to organize the line. People had counterfeit tickets (tickets were not unique with barcodes or anything) and I think they had to reduce allotment because of that, I ended up getting 4 bottles. I think they were selling some 2009 as well this year.
I think they still had Dark Lord on draft available at the draft tents, and some variants but I don't think I was able to get Vanilla again. I got regular Bourbon Barrel. This year the entry ticket also got you a free draft of Dark Lord.
Lots of people setting up circles of lawn chairs in the parking lot, and then leaving camp and getting in line. This caused massing traffic issues with tons of chairs where people needed to walk.
2011
Had 6 people all going for tickets, they sold out in seconds. I think 3 people ended up getting them and that was enough for the 5-6 people who really wanted to go.
Made the mistake of taking my girlfriend, woke up too late to eat breakfast, and she was not in the mood to drink. Whoops. The line was much more efficient this year with the group system, and they re-routed it to go around the outside of the building to reduce congestion and confusion in front. This was a great change. Getting the actual beer was way faster, just a few hours as opposed to 5+ hours in past years. The negative here was that mans less time to socialize and drink in line. They also added a fence to prevent non ticket holding people from getting into the actual brewery grounds. This was good to prevent congestion near the brewery, but had an unintended affect of making everyone want to crowd inside of the fence, where in previous years people spread outside onto other businesses' property (even though they were not supposed to) this year everyone wanted to be inside the fence, so it was still super crowded with people instead of lawn chairs.
I don't recall if Dark Lord on draft was available outside in the tents, but your ticket did not give you a free draft as it did in 2010.
Also it was really wet and muddy around the porta potties, which was kind of gross.
Couldn't say long as the GF wanted to go as soon as we got the beer.
2012
Again sold out in seconds, I didn't get any online but a friend got some tickets at the brew pub the next day. Later found out some friends of friends had extras so it worked out.
Same basic system as 2011. The groups moved fairly quick. No Dark Lord on draft outside was a huge disappointment, that meant waiting in line for 3-5 hours to get into the brewpub so I said forget it. The highlight this year was getting a bottle of Barrel Aged Vanilla Bean Dark Lord. The dumb move was not trading a 2012 Dark Lord for a 2011 Darkness. Had other plans that night so I couldn't stay all day to drink and bottle share, stuck around a bit and tried some drafts. It was better than 2011 overall.
They really cracked down on not letting people setup camps of chairs / grills anymore. The people who did that did so on the property of neighboring businesses so really it wasn't cool, even though it allowed people to spread out.
I think 2009 was so good because it was like one huge party with people just camped out all over drinking. Sadly neighboring businesses complained so they have to prevent that now. They really just need more space.
