Ashley Routson

Boonville Beer Fest 2010: The HopPress “Game Plan”

This Saturday, May 8th, marks the 14th Annual “Legendary” Boonville Fest. For the past 14 years, Anderson Valley Brewing Company has been hosting this crazy festival of beer, food, music and camping at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds.

Boonville is different from most beer festivals in that a one time fee earns its attendees unlimited samples. Yes, folks, that’s right. No Pay-Per-Sample arrangement. The relatively low entry fee = admittance to the festival, a snazzy wristband (which Anderson Valley reminds people to keep on for the entire day since only those with wristbands may be on the festival grounds), a sampling glass, music and unlimited beer samples during the four hours the taps are open. Food, merchandise and other sundries are offered by various vendors on a pay-per-item basis.

This year’s theme is MEDIEVAL. And no, I will not be dressing up as a Beer Wench. But I am quite certain, many females (and maybe some males) will be doing so … Dressing up is not required, but do not be surprised to see some people going all out for this.

The Basics:
Place: Mendocino County Fairgrounds — 14400 Hwy 128; Boonville, CA
Date: May 8, 2010
Time: Taps are open 1pm-5pm, music lasts until 6pm
Festival Cost: $40 Advanced Ticket Sales, $50 At The Gate, $5 Non-Drinker/Designated Driver
Camping Cost: $12 per night, per person for tent camping, $30 for RV’s, campers and trailers per night

This will be the first time that I will be attending Boonville. In fact, it will be my first beer festival and camping co-experience.

Essentially, there are two main campgrounds at Boonville. One is on the Mendocino Fairgrounds, which is open to the public. The other is the brewers campground, located on Anderson Valley Brewing Company’s property, and not open to the public. This year, RateBeer has been offered its own “spot” within the highly coveted brewers campground. We have been given 12 spots, which have been rationed out to 4 HopPress writers (including “The Man” aka the RateBeer Founder), some of their significant others, a brewer and some other choice RateBeerians.

Although RateBeer has been present in some way shape or form just about every year, this is the first year that HopPress will be officially represented at Boonville. In addition to constant coverage of the event and the tastings via Twitter feeds, Twitter hashtags, photo uploading and blogging — RateBeer and HopPress will be offering its readers and forum members a rare and exclusive beer tasting opportunity!

Have I got your attention now?

The “Down Low”: A few HopPress writers and fellow RaterBeerians will be bringing some rare, specialty and limited beers to the Boonville Festival to share with fellow RateBeerians.

The Catch: Only people REGISTERED at RateBeer.com will be eligible for the tasting. Registered members must then RSVP on the RateBeer event page HERE. In the next days leading up to the festival, RateBeer will be contacting its registered members with details regarding the exclusive tasting.

Are you on Twitter? Put the following HopPress people on your radar:

• @Brewed4Thought (aka Mario Rubio)
• @RateBeer (aka Joe Tucker)
• @WeaverKM (aka Ken Weaver)
• @TheBeerWench (aka ME!)
• @Hop_Press

As of now, the main hashtag being used for the festival is: #Boonville2010

Other RateBeerians to follow for festival updates:

• @smern
• @brewcaddy

And naturally, you should also follow the event’s host: @avbc

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, I feel it necessary to to provide an abridged “beer festival guide” for those of you whom which Boonville may be a first beer fest experience (all you pros can either ignore this section, or feel free to weigh in).

1. STAY HYDRATED! This sounds like an obvious tip, but hydration is a serious thing in outdoor beer festivals — especially in hotter weather. Ideally, every ounce of beer should be match with an ounce of water. You will thank me in the morning.
2. DRESS APPROPRIATELY! Dress for the weather and dress comfortable. Wear a hat and/or sunglasses to protect from the sun. Chance of rain? Bring a poncho (umbrellas are too bulky and awkward).
3. BRING SUNSCREEN! Nothing ruins a night of camping more than being miserable and wicked sunburned.
4. TRAVEL LIGHT! While at the festival, try to keep as little items on you as possible. This will help to prevent A. disturbing others by constantly hitting them with bulky bags and B. pickpocketing.
5. LEAVE VALUABLES AT HOME! This is a no-brainer. If you really love your jewelry, leave it. It can be hard to unplug, but if you do not ABSOLUTELY need your electronics, leave them at home.
6. MARK ALL VALUABLES! Taking you camera? Label it with your contact information. Taking a nice fancy cell-phone? Make it easy for someone to know its yours.
7. DON’T BE A JERK! This is probably the most important tip: Remember that, 9 times out of 10, the person pouring your sample of beer is also the brewer. Be friendly, be courteous and if you do not have anything nice to say, bite your tongue (and then go write out your thoughts on the RateBeer forum)
8. DON’T BE A JERK! I had to say this one again. No one likes “that guy” … be nice to your fellow beer drinkers.

As with most festivals, I highly recommend arriving early. And if you are planning on being at Boonville, please reach out to myself and the HopPress team. We would love to meet you all! (And we will have copious amounts of beer and plenty of food to go around!)

CHEERS!

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