The Bar Towel

Gedge wrote:Just heard from a friend who is waiting to buy tickets that punters started lining up at 9 a.m. this morning.

Wouldn't be surprised, we were there at about 10:30 and ended up about the same place in line we were last year when we showed up 30 minutes beforehand.

-Josh

I spoke with Ralph at the end of the sale. The sessions on Saturday afternoon and evening were sold out. Friday night sold well but had some tix left, the plowman's event had a few tickets left and Sunday (both sessions) and Friday first tasting were fairly wide open.

There were over a hundred people who showed up to buy tickets. While some bought the six ticket maximum many folks only bought two (or in some cases one). I think Ralph said they sold around 250 tickets which is close to half.

Further, Ralph reassured that Sunday will have just as much beer available as the previous days as they are stocked with fifty odd firkins that will be rationed out over the three days.

My only gripe from today had nothing to do with Ralph or the event...there were several folks who showed up about 11:30 who, rather than do the polite thing and join the back of the line, joined friends who were about twenty from the front. Whoever you people were it was pretty disrespectful to those who arrived well before you. I didn't end up with my first choice session but I'm guessing they did. It's always sad to see that kind of behavior.

Regardless, hats off to Ralph and the team at Volo. Looking forward to a great event and for Ralph's sake hopefully a sell out.

Just heard from a friend who is waiting to buy tickets that punters started lining up at 9 a.m. this morning

A slight exagerration. At 10:00 a.m. there were five people in line (including me). Between 10:00 and 11:00 it really filled out.

Jon Walker wrote:My only gripe from today had nothing to do with Ralph or the event...there were several folks who showed up about 11:30 who, rather than do the polite thing and join the back of the line, joined friends who were about twenty from the front. Whoever you people were it was pretty disrespectful to those who arrived well before you. I didn't end up with my first choice session but I'm guessing they did. It's always sad to see that kind of behavior.

I noticed this as well - at one point it seemed like the line was growing quicker ahead of me than behind me. The culprits seemed mostly to be one group of friends, two or three of whom turned into six or seven.

I was lucky enough to get the session I was after, but people close behind me who'd waited for over an hour didn't.

-Josh

there was some joining of friends and no way their staff can police that, but it clearly looked like Ralph and staff were running a fair "first come, first served" plus with trademark hospitality, his son and staff were serving people in line for pints.

northyorksammy wrote:there was some joining of friends and no way their staff can police that, but it clearly looked like Ralph and staff were running a fair "first come, first served" plus with trademark hospitality, his son and staff were serving people in line for pints.

Yeah, not the kind of thing that Ralph should have to deal with. It's the kind of thing that people shouldn't do 'cause it's obnoxious and rude.

(That said, maybe the whole lot of them bought no more than the number of tickets the folks who were already in line could've bought within the 6-ticket limit. Who knows.)

-Josh

I was in the line about 40 people back. I didn't notice a single person around us that jumped the cue. There were a number that went for sandwiches, coffee, and I for instance crossed the street to sit in the shade (as I'm a red-haired ultra-white man). I did however notice some stares from behind. Strange how perception comes into play. Of course there well could have been cue jumpers, but I didn't notice any.
Steve

The reason it was clear they were line jumpers is due to the fact they greeted each other upon arrival like they hadn't yet seen each other and turned up without anything (coffee etc...). Some DID then leave to get supplies and when they returned they lined up again with their early bird friends.

As for the idea that nothing can be done about it...I mostly agree. There could be a numbered wrist band sort of system but this means more hassle and annoyance for Ralph and company. I think the only thing that stops this is greater awareness on the part of late comers and a less polite Canadian response by those of us bumped by such people. It bothered me but I said nothing.

Jon Walker wrote:
My only gripe from today had nothing to do with Ralph or the event...there were several folks who showed up about 11:30 who, rather than do the polite thing and join the back of the line, joined friends who were about twenty from the front. Whoever you people were it was pretty disrespectful to those who arrived well before you. I didn't end up with my first choice session but I'm guessing they did. It's always sad to see that kind of behavior.

That's the problem with this country. There is no 'shame'. You have got pseudo-shame like if one neighbor wants to subtly pressure the other to keep up the appearance of the street (more a positive shame)... but when it comes right down to it, the same pseudo-moral 'good neighbor' types will revert to being complete selfish assholes concerning their own immediate interest. I put it down to a lack of cultural shame in a society of rootless, disconnected peoples. There's no unity, and the idea of giving a shit about 'our' collective is short-circuited completely.

So instead of the idea 'of course I would not compromise another person', our way is 'of course I would do exactly that because it would be foolish not to snatch something that is right in front of my greedy snout.'

Just to add some anthropology or whatever you like to call it... cheers!

Jon Walker wrote:My only gripe from today had nothing to do with Ralph or the event...there were several folks who showed up about 11:30 who, rather than do the polite thing and join the back of the line, joined friends who were about twenty from the front. Whoever you people were it was pretty disrespectful to those who arrived well before you. I didn't end up with my first choice session but I'm guessing they did. It's always sad to see that kind of behaviour.

There was a person close to the front of the line who was in the process of purchasing their tickets and called over to some friends at the end of the line and asked if they could get their tickets for them. The person at the end of the line said that it wouldn't be fair and that he'd just take what he can get.

So, at least some people get it.

Belgian wrote: That's the problem with this country. There is no 'shame'. You have got pseudo-shame like if one neighbor wants to subtly pressure the other to keep up the appearance of the street (more a positive shame)... but when it comes right down to it, the same pseudo-moral 'good neighbor' types will revert to being complete selfish assholes concerning their own immediate interest. I put it down to a lack of cultural shame in a society of rootless, disconnected peoples. There's no unity, and the idea of giving a shit about 'our' collective is short-circuited completely.

So instead of the idea 'of course I would not compromise another person', our way is 'of course I would do exactly that because it would be foolish not to snatch something that is right in front of my greedy snout.'

The 'pseudo-shame' is a great descriptor!

But have you ever tried lining up the states? It's FAR worse. They have no idea how to queue... or perhaps they just think they're better than everyone else. No shame at all.

Yes Derek. People can treat others so unaccountably, like they will never face that person again and I think that is a mistake.

I have a ticket for the plowman's part of this because I'd like to meet the brewers. (I may attend also Friday afternoon otherwise it seems Sammy I never get to see you these days. ).

Real ale treated right (allowed to rest before service, visible yeast precipitated down with finings if necessary, a gentle carbonation, cellar temperature) is one of the great drinks of the world provided of course the beer is inherently good, i.e., well-brewed with an interesting taste. I am looking forward to the range of flavours that is evident from the beers already announced.

Gary

Its worth an extra $5 and a half day from work to go when its not so crowded, and I can sit down and take notes
If I miss something later on-well maybe it will be available Monday aft

Are all the beers listed on caskdays.com going to be available in each session or will only a subset be? I'm primarily interested in the more unusual ones and I'm hoping they won't be spread out between the sessions.