Anyone go to the WOB "Rare beer" fest in Columbus?

That is my takeaway from my experiences with them too. I sat down at a bar and happened to sit next to a corporate guy from WOB before they put in a new location. He rambled about how amazing WOB is, and even called the owner of this bar over to brag about the amount of business they would be doing right down the road. The owner blew him off and I have always had a sour taste in my mouth for WOB ever since.

 

The event was never billed as a "rare" beer event from everything I saw via Twitter, FB, their website, working the event, and word of mouth. To say that there was little beyond Kona and Yuengling is a stretch beyond belief. There were a few true gems being poured that lasted all night.

Most of the beers were printed before the event and from what was there it wasn't hard to determine what the "specialty" kegs were not going to be. Not to mention that this was a first year event in the city. Can't expect to see CBS, Black Note, Rackhouse Ale, BA BORIS, etc when no one had anything invested in it this year.

Founders Imp. Stout? I didn't notice it but that's better than I was guessing (Double Trouble or a dry-hopped cask of IPA was my assumption going in).

If you're angry about the price then well... that's just WOB for ya. It was all you can drink craft beer, about the same as most every other fest imo.

 

This event was never labeled as a rare beer event. I didn't go but it looked like a lot of fun. If you are searching for rare beers at a large event... You are doing it wrong. Going to a Jackie O's bottle release.

And something must of happened to you if you wanted to come on here just to rant. What really happened?

 

I didn't have time to walk around and sample everything I would have liked, but I saw non-bottled stuff from Bells, GI, Brooklyn, Ithaca, CBC, Elevator, Great Lakes (if you count the collab porter), SN, etc. This doesn't even include the brewpubs who don't bottle like Barley's, 7th Son, Gordon Biersch, etc.

Buuuut, as Bogforce mentioned, this is the type of stuff you see at virtually every large event. Yeah likely half or more is bottled or on tap regularly, but that shouldn't be surprise. If you prefer rareness and explicit listings, I suggest forming a tasting group or traveling to the more exclusive events ala BA events, Savor, brewery parties and release specials, etc.

 

Like I said most of big beer festivals are a a great place to try a lot of beer but not usually rare/hard to find.

I know Dayton has a big beers festival that you might want to look into. Personally I like the north markets local beer festival in September. If you want to Jackie os they have cans available in Columbus and they will be at the Lancaster briwfest

 

Hoppin' Frog had 2 beers there, Jackie O's had none. If that's your bar for where the other Ohio breweries should have been at on Saturday then again, why were you so surprised with the event? There are plenty of superior events in Ohio throughout the year, but assuming that all events are created equal is naive.

 

Pretty sure that it was only labeled as Craft Beer Fest, not Rare Beer Fest.

Even if it were, going to World of Beer for rare stuff is like going to a Barnes and Noble expecting to find a mint copy of The Amazing Spiderman in plastic. It's just not going to happen.

Also, this is coming from a guy who delivers to BOTH of the World of Beers in Columbus.

Cheers.

 

I saw a WOB one time.

There was a party bus parked in front full of in-character pirates throwing beads and plastic swords everywhere. I instantly regretted volunteering to chauffer my grandparents to the Morton's next door.