Tips to Survive Your Next Beer Fest

June 10, 1:44 PMNorthern Colorado Beer Examiner'Chipper' Dave Butler

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How to help ensure your next beer fest is a fun one.

Planning on going to an upcoming Colorado beer festival this year?  Here are some helpful tips to make sure you will survive your next beer fest.

1. Buy your festival tickets early!  Many festivals require tickets and typically sell out weeks or months ahead of time.  Buying advance tickets may be cheaper than if purchased at the door.  Buying in advance may also be your only method to get a ticket.

2. If the festival is outside, come prepared for all kinds of weather. For sunny weather - consider chapstick, sunblock and wearing a hat.  For cloudy days - bring a compact fold-up rain poncho. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes.  You'll probably be standing the entire time.  Wear dark absorbent colors and avoid white t-shirts because if you spill beer on yourself, darker colors mask spills better.

3. Drink lots and lots of water. Drink 1 glass of water for every glass of beer you drank. Beer will dehydrate you, even on a cool day.  The more water you drink the better off you'll be later on.

4. Bring a designated driver. Or if none are available, plan on staying in a nearby hotel within walking distance.  Better yet,  plan to take public transportation most of the way home and go with a friend.  Always give yourself plenty of time to sober up before attempting to drive. It could take hours!

5. So many beers, so little time.  Don't even try to sample them all - it's not possible. Pace yourself. Don't rush from one booth to the next.  Take the time to enjoy your sample and talk to the brewers or your friends.

6. Do your homework before you attend.  See which breweries will be attending and read their web sites. Get a festival program and study it - it's money well spent.  The more you know about the beers you're tasting the better off you'll be.

7. Go to festivals earlier in the session and avoid the drunks who stick around too long.  The longer into the festival you stay, the rowdier the crowd will become.

8. The longer you stay and drink, the worse the hangover may be the next day.  Set yourself a limit for yourself before you go and then stick to it.  Your head will thank you for it in the morning.

9. Go for the rarer or harder to find beers first that you can't buy in your area.  The most popular beers will have the longest lines.  Why stand in line for a beer you're already familiar with?  Try something new!  You might just like what you find.

10. Find out where all the closest after-festival hangouts are and go early.  If you plan on staying out late, try to hit the hot spots within walking distance.  Get there before the crowd does.  Use that time to sober up a bit before attempting to head home.

11. Be sure to eat something!  One cannot live on beer alone.   Eat something before, during and after the fest.  Eating will help you avoid getting drunk.  Try wearing a pretzel necklace around your neck and chew on it as you go!

12. Plan for chaos.  There are many reasons why a beer fest may become too crowded and disorganized.  Don't get upset over long lines at check-in or at the beer stands.  Expect it and deal with it in a good nature.

13. Never try to have a conversation right next to the festival music stage. You'll talk yourself horse.  Find a quiet corner for some good conversation and enjoy your beer.

14. Create a Beer Plan.  Which styles & breweries do you want to focus on?  Its best not to mix too many different styles together in one session as your palate will go numb quickly after a few samplings.

15. Write down what you liked / disliked about your beers.  If you don't take any notes, you may forget what you learned the next day.  Don't worry about looking like a geek.  Most people won't remember you the next day anyway.

16. Stick with beer (and water) only. You may be tempted to try other beverages during the fest like hard liquor or alco-pops.  Beer tends not to mix well with other types of drinks.

17. Before you go to bed that night, drink more water and take a recommended dose of Advil or Tylenol.  Be sure the pain reliever you take is OK with your doctor.  Never mix powerful medications right after a beer.

18. Some beers will run out before you get a chance to sample them.  That happens. Don't get upset when it happens to you.

19. Bring enough extra cash for the beer accessories.  There are always plenty of t-shirts, mugs and other memorabilia  that you'll want to pick up from the fest.  Plus you may need cab fare later as well.

20. Bring a camera and take some pictures!  You'll remember the festival much better! that way and have something fun to share with your friends later.

21. Be kind to the festival workers and brewers.  These people are volunteering their time and have to put up with a lot of not-so-sober people. Be sure to thank them and give 'em a break.

Got more tips?  Let me know.  Email:  nocobx.beer.examiner @ gmail.com