So which venue in MA do you think will have the better Zwanze Day experience in 2012? I enjoyed Zwanze Day 2011 at Lord Hobo last year, but I'm thinking about heading to the Armsby Abbey in Worcester this year instead. Thoughts?
I've never been to an event at Lord Hobo so I can't really say, but between the Hill Farmstead Dinner and StoutFest, Alec has killed it at Armsby Abbey. I see no reason why it would would any less than amazing.
Nothing yet except that its being poured at 3 like every where else, they'll have shirts and a few other loons on tap but not sure what yet.
Zwanze is tapped at 3pm 12/1. (don't know price or pour sizes yet) We will have some commemorative shirts available for sale (don't know price or sizes yet)
What exactly is this? A special Cantillon beer tapped at 3, plus a menu and t-shirts? How packed does Hobo get for this?
Last year my wife and I showed up one hour before, and we almost didn't get a table. From what I recall, though, there was beer left for people who showed up one hour after.
I thought Hobo put on a nice event - went smoothly, some good brews. How was the Armsby event? Frankly, I wish I had been able to make it there, as it looks like they had a stronger tap list than Hobo with Fou Foune and Classic Gueuze (in addition to the unblended), as well as some other nice options like FW15, BB, etc. Not sure if it was just some chest thumping to draw a crowd, but the Hobo claim in the other thread of "if you have seen a better line-up, I won't believe you"...yeah...
Armsby was packed, as I expected but still an amazing time. Great tap list n great food, n zwanze was the Tits.
Awesome job by Armsby, as always it seems. Fou Foune, Unblended 2 year, Zwanze and Gueuze all on draft for $7 = stellar.
agree on the Hobo tap list - although, the Susan and Anna on draft were really, really nice. still, i can't complain about it.
Seemed like hobo put on a good event though I wasn't able to get any of the Zwanze. Got there an hour before the toast and by the time I got in they were entirely sold out. The tap list was pretty good though and I got the chance to have a few beers that I've never had before. Definitely plan on getting there quite a bit earlier next year.
it was full. i got there at about 12:30, and i think my group of 5 was one of the last groups to get an actual table - and we had to wait for some brunch crowd to clear out. there were still people waiting outside in line at 3, although by the time i left everyone had gotten in (and probably got zwanze pours at 60 - i think they said they had about ~30 6 oz pours left after the 3pm toast).
We got there around 1, no tables left and most people who were at tables had what appeared to be Cantillon at the table. Indicating they were staying for the long haul until 3 pm. Hadn't eaten so we just headed up the street to CBC for lunch. Nice, quiet, cheap, and of course solid brews/food. Would have liked to get some Zwanze, but CBC was a more than adequate back-up. I'll have to try to get there earlier next year.
Got there at 2? 2:10? Waited in line outside for half an hour, got in, didn't get a Zwanze token. Regardless was happy to take in some HF Foster + the very last of the Susan keg, 2 Year Unblended and a taste of a friend's Zwanze. Armsby's taplist definitely looked superior... Hobo had a lot of beers they normally have on, including the requisite Victory/Port/Stone beers, High & Mighty's Beer of the Gods, Troegs, Jack's Abby on cask, etc.
I love how these bars are all almost held hostage to have a mediocre high and mighty beer on tap most of the time.
