Great Canadian Beer Festival

[VicHockeyFan]

It's that time again. All the Saturday tickets sold out first day.

They still have Friday's left.

September 9/10.

[dirtydeeds]

Originally Posted by Galvanized

I used to go when it was more about the beer, not the drunk idiots trying to drink as fast as they can (which the number has gone up too far in recent years).

The Friday night is the best for the "all about the beer crowd" mind you people watching on a sunny Saturday can be interesting too! We found that a lot of the breweries run out by mid day Saturday so if you are looking to try a few of the Cask or unique offerings Fri is the nite.
See you there ?

[OSJ]

I go every year, I know the organizer personally and there is no way anyone else could start another beer fest in this city and do as good of a job. his whole year is planning this. this is his full time job.
the beer that is at the fest is top notch and people come from all over canada and the us for this peticular festival.
friday nights are the best, there will be many casks tonight.
see ya out there

[G-Man]

They should be trying out a multiple venue situation so that they could increase the participation. Perhaps RAP/SOFMC/Centennial Square. Even just a satellite at Centennial could increase the ticket sales. I don't have time to try and get tickets the first 20 minutes something goes on sale.

[Holden West]

I think there's a market for another beerfest, say in the Spring. A scaled-back version featuring local brewers mostly. I haven't gone to the big one in years. Like G-Man, I can't be bothered to work so hard finding tickets.

[VicHockeyFan]

Originally Posted by G-Man

They should be trying out a multiple venue situation so that they could increase the participation. Perhaps RAP/SOFMC/Centennial Square. Even just a satellite at Centennial could increase the ticket sales. I don't have time to try and get tickets the first 20 minutes something goes on sale.

That's a good idea.

Anyway, they sure have the weather for it this year.

[mc9]

I was quite surprised at the price of the festival, and on top of that price that you had to buy each tasting of beer. Seemed pricey. Are the line ups usually large for each booth?

[dirtydeeds]

I went again on the Friday night, beer was great and a very mellow fun crowd. My only complaint was the line up to get in. We arrived @ 4:00 and had about a 1/2 hour wait to get in and I heard it was as high as 1 hour wait in line to get through security? Luckily my tix were given to me but if I had to wait in that line after spending 35 to 40 dollars I would be a bit upset. I would hope next year they have an alternate entrance at least for the first 2 hours of the festival to speed up entry? That said I will be back next year loved all the great casks this year!

[LJ]

Sounds like they could double the price if it sells out and lines up so bad.

[pontcanna]

Originally Posted by mc9

I was quite surprised at the price of the festival, and on top of that price that you had to buy each tasting of beer. Seemed pricey.

Liquor Board won't allow including drink prices with admission. This is a very expensive proposition to put on and the threat of closure is never far away (each year the conditions seem to get more onerous). One reason the lines were so long the first day was the necessity to ID EVERYONE in line regardless of age. The delays were surprising to all and were for the most part addressed for Saturday's opening. I drank on the Friday and certainly noticed it busier than I can remember (and I've gone every year since 94)

[spanky123]

Originally Posted by mc9

I was quite surprised at the price of the festival, and on top of that price that you had to buy each tasting of beer. Seemed pricey. Are the line ups usually large for each booth?

It isn't cheap. A pint at the festival will set you back between $6.25 and $12.50 depending on the beer (1 or 2 tokens) plus your $40 admission. It is definitely an environment thing and there seemed to be lots of people willing to fork over $$$.

[dirtydeeds]

I guess it is not meant to be a "cheap" beer event, it is a chance for beer lovers to try out new and interesting wares of craft brewers. The price may be an attempt to keep out some of the riff raff. Doesn't work I seem to go back every year

[amor de cosmos]

what was everybody's favourite beer of the festival?

[dirtydeeds]

2012 marks the 20th anniversary of the GCBF, tickets go on sale July 21st, I'll be there. I can't remember what the prices were last year but it looks a little bit more this year? $33.60 for Friday and $39.20 for Saturday (hst included )

http://www.gcbf.com/

[Tim]

This year there will be likely be a lot fewer American breweries due to the BCLB (incompetent, malicious idiots that they are).
It was really nice to have the small US brewers who do not import into Canada, that will not happen this year from what I heard. So basically it will be all beer that is already available here.

[spanky123]

Originally Posted by Tim

This year there will be likely be a lot fewer American breweries due to the BCLB (incompetent, malicious idiots that they are).
It was really nice to have the small US brewers who do not import into Canada, that will not happen this year from what I heard. So basically it will be all beer that is already available here.

If that is true then I hope that the organizers tell people that before they sell them the tickets. The only reason I go to the GCBF is to try beers that I CAN'T buy in the beer store!

[Tim]

Keep a watch on the list of brewers coming on the GCBF website. I doubt they will yell the reduction out loudly.
On the good side they are going to get a bunch of entertainment this year which could well be a nice change. I would feel better about the steep price myself with something more of value added.

[VicHockeyFan]

What did the authorities do to change this?

[spanky123]

Originally Posted by Tim

Keep a watch on the list of brewers coming on the GCBF website. I doubt they will yell the reduction out loudly.
On the good side they are going to get a bunch of entertainment this year which could well be a nice change. I would feel better about the steep price myself with something more of value added.

The website says that the list of brewers isn't coming out until after the tickets have been sold!

[Tim]

Originally Posted by VicHockeyFan

What did the authorities do to change this?

I found a good explanation here, with more about the turn to Canadian beer as well.
http://www.mondaymag.com/entertainment/159777735.html

[amor de cosmos]

I guess it's a trade-off. Instead of breweries from the western US we might get more from Quebec & the Maritimes. Not necessarily a bad thing imho. Too bad we can't have both though. :/

[spanky123]

I can't see how they can sell 8,000 tickets at $40 per and then claim that they are a non-profit. The management salaries must be huge!

[baconnbits]

are you kidding? that is $320,000 in revenue.
there's the cost to get the permits and any licenses required, the cost to rent out RAP for two days. any other payments to the city. there could be a revenue line that goes straight to the city.
the cost to set up all the equipment and facilities, to rent the facilities. the cost to take all the facilities down. the security costs.
the marketing costs. the insurance costs for 8,000 probably drunk people.
$320,000 is not a fortune in that light.

[VicHockeyFan]

Originally Posted by baconnbits

are you kidding? that is $320,000 in revenue.
there's the cost to get the permits and any licenses required, the cost to rent out RAP for two days. any other payments to the city. there could be a revenue line that goes straight to the city.
the cost to set up all the equipment and facilities, to rent the facilities. the cost to take all the facilities down. the security costs.
the marketing costs. the insurance costs for 8,000 probably drunk people.
$320,000 is not a fortune in that light.

They also get revenue from charging each exhibitor. Most of the "staff" are volunteers that work in exchange for a t-shirt and a great after-party.

The organizer nets more than $175k. This is all he does for a living. He does quite well for two days of intense work a year, and 363 days of organizing.

[spanky123]

I am not suggesting that the organizaer shouldn't make money.

I am only pointing out that I think it is amusing that he is bemoaning the fact that the Government refuses to recognize him as a non-profit.