Tips to Survive Your First (Or Your 50th) Beer Fest

It’s beer fest season time, which makes it pretty much the most wonderful time of the year. From long-established festivals, like the Michigan Brewer’s Guild Summer Fest, which is holding its 26th annual celebration this year in Ypsilanti, to newer ones like the Great Lakes Beer Festival being held on August 16 in Midland, Michigan loves its beer fests. Whether it’s your 50th beer fest or your very first one, a few tips and tricks can help make sure your experience is awesome.

Here are a few that we’ve found through years of attending beer festivals. Overall, remember the goal is to have fun, to widen your beer knowledge a bit, and to always taste and drink responsibly. We hope to see you out at one of our great Michigan beer fests this year.

1. DRINK AS MUCH WATER AS YOU CAN.

We honestly cannot stress this enough, it is like the cardinal rule of beer fests. No matter the season, this tip rings true, but it is incredibly important during the warmer months. Even though sample pours might only be 3 or 4 ounces, those can quickly add up, and sometimes unexpectedly add up. Throw in standing out in the hot sun for hours, and you’ve got a recipe for dehydration. I’ve read some suggestions to have a glass of water after every sample, which sounds like a nice, very smart, and responsible idea. My goal is to usually get a glass after every 2 or 3 samples, which seems a bit more practical, as you’ll find yourself unexpectedly sucked into another tent or randomly handed another sample from a friend. Be the leader, and potential hero, of your group, by insisting on water breaks throughout the day, and taking breaks out of the sun. No one wants to be THAT festie goer who has obviously had way too much. Drink enough water and you won’t be.

2. EAT THE FESTIVAL FOOD

The food is usually pretty good, and you should eat something. In line with the above advice, eating both before and during the festival helps you lay down a bit of a base for all those samples. And this is far from hard when you are at the festival, most pride themselves on offering great food to enjoy while you are there. Whether it’s local food trucks that have been booked or delicious offerings from the local host, there is typically a wide range of things to enjoy. At the Great Lakes Beer Festival, which is being held at Dow Diamond Stadium in Midland, you’ll be able to indulge in specialties from a variety of food trucks on the concourses. So don’t be shy, eat away. It’s all part of the experience.

3. BE PREPARED FOR ALL TYPES OF WEATHER

Beer fests are typically held no matter the weather, so come prepared. Rain or shine, snow or sleet, blazing hot or freezing cold, your beer fest will be held pretty much no matter what unless it’s a life-threatening situation. So that means come prepared, and dressed appropriately. For hot days, lube up with sunscreen, wear a hat and most definitely wear comfortable shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty. For days when the weather might change, an extra sweatshirt for later. Depending on where your festival is held, you may have to deal with the lovely Port-A-John, so put that thought in your head when you are getting dressed. Meaning, nothing too complicated to get off, there is nothing worse than struggling in a steaming hot closet of death trying to get your overalls back on. Think practical, easy, and above all, comfortable. The Great Lakes Beer Festival at Dow Diamond is unique in that all of the beer vendors are on the concourses so they are covered away from the heat or rain.

4. BE A TURTLE, NOT A HARE

Pace yourself. It’s not a race, although you might see people running when the gates open to go and find their “whale beer” right away. That’s fine, although probably not necessary. What we are talking about is sampling throughout the day. The beer will be there, so slow down and savor the one you have in your glass. Chat a bit, meet new people, ask about the brewery. Taking the time to enjoy each beer will help you slow your roll a bit, which in the end will create a much better experience overall.

5. FIND A BEER SAMPLING BUDDY

Team up with a beer buddy so you can try even more samples. This is my trick at every festival because I really do want to taste a lot of beers. Find a friend, and split your order at each brewery. Maybe you get the IPA that sounded spectacular, while your buddy gets the barrel-aged stout. Sip and swap, then of course keep the one that you prefer. This way you won’t overindulge, but you will get to try more Michigan beers. Plus, it makes for great conversation as you discuss the aroma, flavor, mouth feel and finish of each sample.

6. BE FLEXIBLE WITH YOUR PLANS

A bit of a plan is a good idea, but be prepared to ditch it. It’s your very first beer fest, and you’ve printed out the list of breweries, all the beers, and even a map of the layout of the festival. Good for you! So organized, with a plan in hand, and you are going to get to try every single beer you’ve marked off. Also, a total sign of a newbie. And while we bless your attempts, we veterans know that for the best beer fest experience, there comes a time to just zap that plan. Because most of the fun of a festival comes from just going with the flow. Maybe a new brewery had a really great fruit ale, and now you want to try another one from them. Perhaps you’ve decided it’s too hot for all those barrel-aged beauties you had on your list, and what really sounds good now is a classic German Kolsch. Totally cool! Sometimes not following the plan is the very best idea, and we suggest you embrace it. If you feel like it, you can still keep track of what you are trying, but even this plan usually falls through midway through a festival. Again, the goal here is to have fun, so just don’t worry about it. But if you are, one easy way to do that is a quick voice memo on your phone. No need to write, no need to try to figure out the Untapped app after a couple, instead click and record, and you can revisit your beers later.

7. LINES ARE INEVITABLE

Don’t sweat a super long line, just find another brewery to enjoy. Again, your best-laid plans might just include skipping a line snaking away from a popular brewery with a special release, to stepping right next door to a lesser-known, but possibly equally great, brewery to try something new. I’ve found some of my best festival beers doing this, and the surprise and delight of finding a new favorite is one of the finest things about a beer fest.

8. LIFE’S TOO SHORT FOR BAD BEER

It’s totally OK to dump a beer. It really is. Just don’t be a loser about it and dump it right in front of the brewery. Be cool, saunter away, and then find a bucket or spot of lawn to dispose of it quietly. There are bad beers out there, unfortunately, or there are beer styles that just aren’t your style, and that’s totally fine. Life is too short to drink beer you don’t like, so just don’t, and move on to find one that you do.

9. IT MIGHT BE WORTH IT TO BUY THE VIP TICKET.

Yes, they cost a bit more, but you usually get a whole lot more. Depending on the festival, you might get early admission, which means you can enjoy a few beers before the masses arrive. You might get extra sample tickets, or some food included with your entry. Some festivals offer a special VIP area, which might sound a bit pretentious, but when you realize what it really means is air conditioning and separate indoor bathroom facilities, you think, I can be pretentious. In fact, I might even really like it. Or even love it. You’ll pat yourself on the back for making such a great choice, while you bask in meat locker cold air, and indulge in a private buffet. If you can afford it, consider the VIP pass.

10. PLAN YOUR RIDE HOME BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME.

It should go without saying that you should always drink responsibly and never drink and drive. We’re going to say it again, never drink and drive. Planning your ride home ahead of time is the smartest move you can make. Uber and Lyft are great but will be overbooked at the end of the festival, with surge pricing in effect. If you can take public transport, plan that out ahead of time and have your fare money ready. Plan a ride with a friend prior to the festival, and carpooling is encouraged. There are designated driver tickets available at a discounted rate for all Michigan beer fests, this can be a great option. Whatever you decide, having a plan in place for a way home ahead of time will make your beer fest experience much more relaxing and fun in the end.

Great Lakes Beer Festival

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