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We have a trivia question in order to register to prevent bots. If you have any issues with answering, contact us at cass@bartowel.com for help.
Introducing Light Mode! If you would like a Bar Towel social experience that isn't the traditional blue, you can now select Light Mode. Go to the User Control Panel and then Board Preferences, and select "Day Drinking" (Light Mode) from the My Board Style drop-down menu. You can always switch back to "Night Drinking" (Dark Mode). Enjoy!
Volo Cask Days Rumour
Volo Cask Days Rumour
I've heard this crazy rumour that Ralph will be moving the Cask Days festival to another location for 2009.
- Torontoblue
- Beer Superstar
- Posts: 2136
- Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2004 6:12 pm
- Location: Edmonton via Toronto via The Wirral
I thought the same thing!Bobsy wrote:For the love of God, don't post a title like that! I immediately thought that Volo would be closing or changing hands!
So I've used my Magic Admin Powers to change the subject from 'Volo Rumour' to 'Volo Cask Days Rumour', to make sure no-one else has a mini heart attack.

I read it first thing in the morning (5am) and I didn't want to open up the post. I too thought that it was going to be about a possible change. Thank god it wasn't.For the love of God, don't post a title like that! I immediately thought that Volo would be closing or changing hands!
As for the relocation of Cask Days, as TorontoBlue mentions, Ralph has been toying with the idea for two years now but has said he loves hosting it at Volo because of its initimate atmosphere.
denguy wrote:Um... the title is "Volo Cask Days Rumour" not "Bar Volo Rumour".
Besides, this was a more serious idea this time. There were too many left-overs this year and the tight space is a tad limiting.
I'm telling ya, he's going to move it next year.

- Torontoblue
- Beer Superstar
- Posts: 2136
- Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2004 6:12 pm
- Location: Edmonton via Toronto via The Wirral
Hee-hee, he's arguing about his own post. This board just gets better & better 

- Jon Walker
- Seasoned Drinker
- Posts: 1899
- Joined: Fri Jul 27, 2001 8:00 pm
- Location: Wherever you go there you are
Ralph is in England at present learning more about the great British brewing tradition first hand. Ralph would tell you at length about the pros and cons of this event moving to a different venue. He always seems to end up deciding Volo is the place it should stay. Perhaps you should give us some idea of the source of this "rumor" or are you simply speculating on your own hunch?
IMHO a different venue implies a larger one. Therefore it would mean an expansion of the event...not necessarily it terms of beer variety but rather in terms of patron quantity. I'm really not keen for the event to get bigger since each year it's felt like our own private jewel that I'm really not keen to share with Joe Sixpack. Bigger events mean greater need for revenue which means more marketing and, all too often, lowering the bar somewhat in terms of quality. I'll use the Buffalo Brewfest as an example...from all accounts a shadow of the glory it was in its first few years.
No, until the event sells out entirely for all sessions I don't feel there's a need to grow it by switching venues...and even then perhaps it should remain small and intimate. But ultimately that'll be up to Ralph. We'll see.
IMHO a different venue implies a larger one. Therefore it would mean an expansion of the event...not necessarily it terms of beer variety but rather in terms of patron quantity. I'm really not keen for the event to get bigger since each year it's felt like our own private jewel that I'm really not keen to share with Joe Sixpack. Bigger events mean greater need for revenue which means more marketing and, all too often, lowering the bar somewhat in terms of quality. I'll use the Buffalo Brewfest as an example...from all accounts a shadow of the glory it was in its first few years.
No, until the event sells out entirely for all sessions I don't feel there's a need to grow it by switching venues...and even then perhaps it should remain small and intimate. But ultimately that'll be up to Ralph. We'll see.
I don't always piss in a bottle but when I do...I prefer to call it Dos Equis.
- cannondale
- Bar Fly
- Posts: 747
- Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2006 1:58 pm
- Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada
I disagree with this for 2 reasons:IMHO a different venue implies a larger one. Therefore it would mean an expansion of the event...not necessarily it terms of beer variety but rather in terms of patron quantity. I'm really not keen for the event to get bigger since each year it's felt like our own private jewel that I'm really not keen to share with Joe Sixpack. Bigger events mean greater need for revenue which means more marketing and, all too often, lowering the bar somewhat in terms of quality. I'll use the Buffalo Brewfest as an example...from all accounts a shadow of the glory it was in its first few years.
No, until the event sells out entirely for all sessions I don't feel there's a need to grow it by switching venues...and even then perhaps it should remain small and intimate. But ultimately that'll be up to Ralph. We'll see.
1. If growing this events means more revenue for Ralph, then we should support that wholeheartedly. (Naturally, there may be a dip in quality, but I'm certain that he will make every effort to keep it to a minimum)
2. Bigger events equals increased craft beer awareness. Unless I have completely misunderstood, increased craft beer awareness amongst the public at large is a win win. No?
It was awfully close to a sell-out this year. I think the bulk of the unsold tickets were for the friday afternoon session, which is un surprising, since most people would have been at work. To get tickets for the most popular session, people had to line up more than an hour in advance.Jon Walker wrote:No, until the event sells out entirely for all sessions I don't feel there's a need to grow it by switching venues...and even then perhaps it should remain small and intimate. But ultimately that'll be up to Ralph. We'll see.
-Josh
Holy shit, John, maybe Ralph should just move this event to your house?Jon Walker wrote:IMHO a different venue implies a larger one. Therefore it would mean an expansion of the event...not necessarily it terms of beer variety but rather in terms of patron quantity. I'm really not keen for the event to get bigger since each year it's felt like our own private jewel that I'm really not keen to share with Joe Sixpack. Bigger events mean greater need for revenue which means more marketing and, all too often, lowering the bar somewhat in terms of quality. I'll use the Buffalo Brewfest as an example...from all accounts a shadow of the glory it was in its first few years.