SoCal Monster with a craft beer favor to ask

[PhoenixS4R]

I'm interested as well about the Drakes 1st Fridays. Have a buddy that's been there and says it's enjoyable.

I had a desire to go the the Bistros' IIPA festival until I saw the ticket price, screw that for the amount of beer you get. I heard it wasn't nearly that much previous years, but my friends may have been mistaken. Sorry, I can brew 20 gallons of beer and still have some money left over for the ticket price for me and the misses. Pliny the Elder didn't blow me out of the water like everyone said it would, so I don't have high hopes for younger. I would have liked to try Drake's triple IPA though.

I'm very interested in cloning their Denogginzer and Jolly Roger, very great beers.

The misses and I are debating on a trip to North to Sierra Nevada or South to Stone brewing this summer.... Probably go to Chico, as she's an eco nut and Sierra Nevada is doing great things in regards to being environmentally friendly, but I haven't heard a lot about people touring up there, VS stone who it seems like everyone loves to go tour....

[Blake]

First Friday's are pretty good.  As everything is outdoors there, it can be quite chilly, but that's what jackets are for.  I'm hoping to go this Friday if anyone is interested. 
 

[emanon]

I had a desire to go the the Bistros' IIPA festival until I saw the ticket price, screw that for the amount of beer you get. I heard it wasn't nearly that much previous years, but my friends may have been mistaken. Sorry, I can brew 20 gallons of beer and still have some money left over for the ticket price for me and the misses. Pliny the Elder didn't blow me out of the water like everyone said it would, so I don't have high hopes for younger. I would have liked to try Drake's triple IPA though.

The ticket prices at the Bistro Double IPA festival helps to keep *some* of the Riff-Raff out!  I go because I want to support the local beer scene and there is really no place else where you can choose from 75 Double and Imperial IPAs on tap.  Although next year I think I will only buy one ticket and make my wife use the glass from this year and just buy extra beer coupons.

The event at Harry's Hoffbrau was pretty cool this year too, lots of good IPA on tap and it was reasonably priced....too bad the place is such a dump with limited seating.

[PhoenixS4R]

I heard the best way to deal with the bistro's IIPA festival is to come late and grab tickets from people leaving, aka puking their way to BART. lol. But Really the only beers I wanted to try I knew would be sold out pretty quick, so meh.