Bloomington Craft Beer Fest Ticket Giveaway

This Saturday marks the first Bloomington Craft Beer Fest, an extension of the same idea behind Indiana Microbrewer's Fest and the Brewers of Indiana Guild Winterfest, but in Bloomington.

As is the case with Microbrewers and Winterfest, Hoosier Beer Geek will be helping in the organization of the event, and doing our best to make sure everyone has a great time.

Today we're giving away one (1) ticket for the event courtesy of the fine folks at Upland Brewing Company. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment answering the following question:

What's your favorite beer brewed in Indiana?

We'll chose a random comment on Friday (6/3/11) at noon, and the winner gets the tickets. MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE US A METHOD TO CONTACT YOU - an email address or a twitter handle is perfect. You'll be responsible for checking back to see if you've won, and we can figure the rest out after that.

LEGAL STUFF
We reserve the right to not give you tickets if we think you're shady.
We reserve the right to change all the rules and not award the prize if we don't like how things go.
Don't be a pain in the ass.
By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of HoosierBeerGeek.com, which shall be final and binding with regard to all matters relating to the contest.
END OF LEGAL STUFF.

And the Winterfest Ticket Winner Is...

John, who wrote:

Receiving a ticket of this magnitude a mere 28 years into my life, for FREE, would absolutely change my life in ways unimaginable to the run-of-the-mill human brain. But, what’s that you say? You’re giving away TWO?! I was already prepared to swim across the Pacific handcuffed, shackled, and towing more boats than Jack LaLanne had ever SEEN in his 96 years; with a blood alcohol content of .08 (I want to stay within the legal limits, but for two tickets, hell, I’ll make it a .35). For just one ticket, I would have raced Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot in the Monumental Marathon at night (obviously barefoot), while snowing with a wind chill of -25. For two tickets, I’ll run it backwards, carrying Jon and Kate’s octuplets on my back and I’ll beat him by 6 miles.

Since these two tickets mean more to me than my hopes and dreams, I’ll give them up. I will quit my job, dump my girlfriend (even though I was going to give her the extra ticket), and burn down my boss’s home. I will scale the new J.W. Marriott building using the little “Baby on Board” suction cups that people used to affix to their rear windows AFTER I build a rocket made out of Marsh shopping carts and fly it to the dark side of the moon. But, am I finished? Oh, no. No I am not. Not even close. This is, after all, two tickets to Winterfest .

I will bathe in a sea of baby African Mud Turtles for 40 days and 40 nights using Upland Wheat as my shampoo and Sun King Wee Mac as my soap. I will share my shampoo and soap with all of the turtles until we are so cleansed and renewed by the Wee Mac’s nice hazelnut character with rich coffee undertones that we decide to form our own community in the western wheat fields of Nebraska. Our village will consist of living in harmony and harvesting wheat. The turtles will freely export the wheat all over the world and will more than quadruple the U.S.’s gross domestic product within 6 months. What will I be doing while the turtles are turning the Midwest economy into a world-wide powerhouse? Oh, I’ll just be cooking their meals, cleaning up after them, educating them, and providing counseling. Yes, I would spend my life cleaning African Mud Turtle excrement with my bare hands and then, of course, inventing flying cars and hoverboards that run purely on burning, odorless, African Mud Turtle waste. This will bring jobs back to the United States, render China irrelevant in the global economy, and revolutionize common travel. Tired of waiting in the airport security line with your shoes and belt off, searching for a modicum of respect from the A+ security guards? Well, just throw on a pair of sweatpants, hop in your Ford Flyer, and you’re off to Maui in no-time flat! The boost in demand for my Ford Flyer will make Detroit a haven for high-paying, low-stress jobs, thereby spreading a tidal wave of positive vibes throughout states like Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana. Indiana will become Detroit’s sole parts supplier thanks to a few inside tips I give to Mitch Daniels the day before my Flyer is invented and sold to Ford. Indiana will prosper like no state has ever before. It will become rich, but not overcrowded because Detroit will become the destination of choice for the free-riders of the world. When Indiana is rich, I will suggest to Mitch Daniels that every Saturday become “Indiana Beer Fest Day”, which will be an event comparable to the one being held tomorrow, only FREE (not unlike the two tickets I am vying for). I will make Indiana better than ever thought possible. I will be approved for a loan from Old National Bank to purchase every plot of land between Gary and Miami, Florida and then give the land to the state of Indiana. Indiana will have the Indy 500, skiing, surfing, South Beach, and the gorgeous rolling hills of Tennessee. Years later, God will just decide to rename Indiana “Heaven” and everyone in the Hoosier state will live forever. All of this will happen because I want two tickets to the 2011 Brewers of Indiana Guild Winterfest. Also, I’ll ask for them. Please.

The comment was long-winded, almost confusing, and EXACTLY the sort of thing we'd run in a roundtable. In fact, we want John to join us for a roundtable sometime, but we'll figure that out later.


John, send us an email at knights@hoosierbeergeek.com from the address you listed in the comments, and we'll get things squared away.

For the record, the vote wasn't unanimous (and we'd love some free video work).. but John seemed to be the favorite while we were setting up for Winterfest. And so.. Thanks to everyone who took the time to play along.

Looking for Winterfest Tickets? We've Got a Pair to Give Away

Winterfest ticket sales closed Tuesday evening, when the event officially reached Sold Out status. This means there are no more tickets to be had - not online, not at the door, and not by emailing Jason or Hoosier Beer Geek and begging for a favor. There are no more tickets to be had.

Except for the pair we're about to give away.

Since the sellout we've been monitoring our mailbox and craigslist, watching to see how much leftover demand there is. Craigslist has been particularly entertaining..

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/tix/2182448363.html

Need winterfest tickets, offering a nice trade. - $1 (North Indy)

Date: 2011-01-27, 12:16AM EST

Reply to: sale-brr6r-2182448363@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

Maybe your tired after a long day, maybe your 7 pints of hopslam into your night and wanting to do nothing more than sleep? I'll come over and sexually satisfy your lady in trade for two tickets to winterfest.. I'd like to keep this discreet as my g/f would not be hip to the fact I'm willing to pimp myself out so she can get piss hammered on razz wheat or sunking cream ale. In exchange for two tickets I'll please your lady sexually and leave two 750ml bottles of dogfishhead squall under your pillow, maybe a growler of grapefruit jungle if you have VIP tickets. I am disease free and drug free aside from random one hitters of o.g kush. Beer!

Or perhaps even better..

http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/tix/2182777718.html

I will give my first born son for winterfest tickets - $1 (Indianapolis)

Date: 2011-01-27, 10:02AM EST
Reply to: sale-egxqt-2182777718@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

Like Star Wars? Think Legos are cool? Are you looking for someone to talk to about Greek Mythology with? Do you dig old school Megaman? My boy is in to all this stuff and more. He's 10 years old, has a 9th grade reading level and a ridiculously awesome sense of humor. He's an all around cool kid. That being said, I will give him to anyone with 2 Winterfest tickets! What's the catch? No catch. You give me the tickets, I give you the boy. I'll include his laptop, DS, Wii and about 100lbs of legos. I'll also send him with a gallon of goldfish crackers. I think the kid is cool and all, but I'm totally willing to trade my last 10 and a half years with him for 4 awesome hours of 4 oz. beers.
Or if you just want to sell me some tickets, that would work too.

Hit me up.

So you still need tickets? We can help.

Leave a comment on this post revealing what you'd do for tickets. We don't actually expect you to do anything, we're just in it for the entertainment. Be creative. Make us laugh.

We'll chose our favorite comment Friday (12/28/11) at 5 pm EST, and the winner will receive two (2) General Admission Winterfest tickets. MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE US A METHOD TO CONTACT YOU - email addresses are perfect, or just your name will work. You'll be responsible for checking back to see if you've won, and we can figure the rest out after that.

LEGAL STUFF
Creative and long winded entries are particularly appreciated.
We reserve the right to not give you tickets if we think you're shady.
We reserve the right to change all the rules and not award the prize if we don't like how things go.
Don't be a pain in the ass.
If you're an asshole that thinks you'll get into Winterfest on a DD ticket and then proceed to drink beer, know that we've got our eyes open and we will come down hard on your dishonest ass. I hope you like handcuffs and having your name and photo all over the internet.
By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of HoosierBeerGeek.com, which shall be final and binding with regard to all matters relating to the contest.
END OF LEGAL STUFF.

Win Tickets to the 2010 Microbrewer's Festival

Grab your friends and a camera cause there is a photo contest going on at the Brewers of Indiana Guild Facebook page. One lucky winner will receive a pair of tickets to the 15th Annual Microbrewer's Festival held on July 17th in Opti Park/Indianapolis Art Center.

The Rules:

1. There must be at least one person and one logo from an Indiana brewery present in the photo.

2. Creativity and originality is key. Winners will be chosen by the Knights from HoosierBeerGeek.com

3. Photos must be posted to the Drink Indiana account on Facebook (www.facebook.com/drinkindiana) or Twitter (www.twitter.com/drinkindiana) by Midnight on Wednesday, July 14th. Late entries will not be accepted.

4. You must be 21+ to enter and be able to attend the 2010 Microbrewer's Festival on Saturday, July 17th in Indianapolis. Tickets are not redeemable for cash and are not transferable.

Winners will be announced on Thursday, July 15th at 4:00 and will receive a pair of General Admission tickets to the festival.

Alpha Acid Test Ticket Winner: Erin

Using the magic of random number generators, Jim drew the lucky number 9 comment as the winner of two tickets to Lafayette Brewing Company's Alpha Acid Test. The ninth comment in that thread belongs to Erin.

Erin, send us an email at knights@hoosierbeergeek.com so we can get your address for mailing.

For the rest of you who left comments, thanks! And play again!

LBC is better than LSD

On Saturday, November 21, from 2 pm to 5 pm, Lafayette Brewing Company will be conducting a Timothy Leary-esque experiment called the Alpha Acid Test. They have brewed a 60 IBU ale that received one hop addition at 60 minutes in the kettle. They put it into 10 kegs and firkins, leaving one beer as is and dry hopping the other nine with nine different hop varieties.

Are you tripping yet?

So you'll get the chance to explore the psychedelic differences between the hop varieties. You can enjoy this unique event, complete with a commemorative tasting glass, LBC raffles, and munchies, for the low, low price of $20.

Need a miracle? Or two?

You don't need to stand outside a parking lot trying to trade a grilled cheese for a ticket. We want to hook you up! It's time for a giveaway!

We have two tickets to LBC's Alpha Acid Test. Like most of our previous giveaways, we will randomly select a commenter to this post. All you need to do by noon on Monday, November 16th is leave your first name and last initial and answer this question:

If you were to live in one Indiana city or neighborhood, based solely on proximity to breweries, craft beer bars, and/or beer stores, what city or neighborhood would that be?

Again, you need to comment by 12pm EST, Monday, November 16th. We will announce the winner shortly after and will make arrangements to get the tickets to you.

Keep on reading Hoosier Beer Geek, where we ask you to turn on, tune in, and drink craft beer.

The Shirts Keep Coming - T-Shirt Giveway Contest #3

If we've learned anything in the past few months, it's that we know how to give away a shirt. And because the best way to retain knowledge is to continue to use it, we're giving away another shirt in hopes of not ever forgetting the joy that is shirt giving. Our latest giveaway is sponsored by the fine folks at Yesterbeer, who make a number of retro beer-branded shirts. And there's a special bonus this time - you can even pick the shirt size.

In order to enter, here's what you need to do - leave your answer to the following question, your first name and last initial in a comment for this post, and then we'll count the entries, and chose a random numbered winner. Or something like that. The question:

"What do you remember about the beer that your Dad drank?"

Leave a comment!

Contest ends 4/5/09 at 5PM.

* * * * *

NOT REALLY LEGAL STUFF
Creative and long winded entries are particularly appreciated.
Multiple answers will be tossed (we'll only count your first).
Cheating is stupid.
We reserve the right to not give you a shirt if we think you're shady.
We reserve the right to change all the rules.
By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of HoosierBeerGeek.com, which shall be final and binding with regard to all matters relating to the contest.
END OF LEGAL STUFF.

Congrats to our Second Shirt Winner, Thom M.

26 comments were left in our "Leave a Comment, Win a Shirt Contest 2" and after throwing the numbers into our random number generator, we came up with the number 14.

The 14th comment in the contest was left by Thom M., whose top all-time beer was Founders Breakfast Stout. Thom, you now have a few days to contact us at hoosierbeergeek@gmail.com in order to expedite the t-shirt mailing process.

Thanks to everyone for playing, and to Cavalier Distributing for the prize donation. Stay tuned, we'll have another contest very shortly.

Leave a Comment, Maybe Win a Shirt Contest 2

If I had my druthers¹, I'd give away a present everyday until everyone that ever read from HBG had been properly bribed. Unfortunately, I don't have the resources to make that happen.

That's why this, our latest and greatest giveaway, is so great. I don't have to do much of anything.

This time around we're giving away a size XL Euro (which I've been told translates to a US Large) Mikkeller shirt like the one shown on the right here. This shirt comes courtesy of Mikkeller's Indiana distributor, Cavalier Distributing, who advises you to (responsibly) drink as much Mikkeller as possible. As do we at Hoosier Beer Geek. The shirt is way rad², and I'd like to have it for myself.

How do you win? All we need from you is an answer to the question "What's the best (single) craft beer you've ever drunk? And why?"

Just like last time - Leave your answer, your first name and last initial in a comment for this post, and then we'll count the entries, and chose a random numbered winner. Or something like that.

NOT REALLY LEGAL STUFF

Multiple answers will be tossed (we'll only count your first).

Cheating is stupid.

We reserve the right to not give you a shirt if we think you're shady.

We reserve the right to change all the rules.

By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of HoosierBeerGeek.com, which shall be final and binding with regard to all matters relating to the contest.

I stole that last line.

Contest ends Sunday, February 22nd, at 5PM EST.

* * * * *

¹Druthers? Druthers.

² This doesn't mean rad squared, though I suppose it could. I use the word rad a lot.

50 Comments, 1 T-shirt Winner

We asked you to tell us about the worst craft beer you've ever had, and 50 comments later, we've got a free t-shirt to give away. We used this truly random number generator, and came up with the lucky winner number of 28. Comment 28 was left by Josh D., who had this to say:

Atwater Vanilla Java porter has to be the biggest letdown in recent memory, kind of like a vanilla coffee soda.

Josh, please send us an email at hoosierbeergeek@gmail.com and we'll coordinate getting you that shirt.

For the rest of you, stay tuned - we'll have another contest for a Mikkeller shirt donated by Cavalier Distributing's Mat Gerdenich shortly.

Contest #1 Winner Announced

Congratulations to our first contest winner, new reader Rodney, who is soon to have a World Class Beverages Beers of the Month Calendar to show off to his friends and family. In addition to being a calendar winner, Rodney is also quite intelligent, and is loved by children and attractive women. All because of a contest on HoosierBeerGeek.com.

Rodney, please send me your mailing address at mike@ridehorsey.com, and I'll get that right out to you.

Contest #1, Revised

Well, despite the catchy name, my idea for a contest has gone over like a lead balloon.

Was it the prize? The storytelling part of the contest? Or was it just a bad idea all around? Perhaps we'll never know.

In any case, we'll move on. Leave a comment here if you're interested in a free World Class Beverages Beers of the Month calendar. If we get more than 3 comments we'll pull the names from a hat at the next meeting of the Knights (Thursday at BW3's).

Hoosier Beer Geek Contest #1 - The Chips Ahoy Challenge

The Explanation

A few months ago while we were conducting roundtable #15, we somehow came across the topic of Bud Light. It was then that I shared with the group my love of Bud Light and chocolate chip cookies.

Now, I don't like Bud Light by itself - I'm much too sophisticated for that; But when used as a chaser for an original Chips Ahoy cookie, the subtle greatness of both items come out, and a cornucopia of tasty wonderment fills the pallet. That might be an exaggeration.

It just so happened that immediately following my annoucement, a gentleman stopped in at Deano's to buy beer. Despite Deano's fantastic selection, I noticed he was about to carry out a 6 pack of Miller Light (which is basically Bud Light with a different label). I asked him if he had any chocolate chip cookies at home. He answered in the affirmative, and I told him to make sure he tried the tastes together.

He seemed like he was up for the challenge. I never heard back from him, but I'd like to think that he's a loyal beer geek reader now.

The Prize

Last week at Shallos we had the pleasure of meeting Jim Schembre of World Class Beverages, who explained the tools World Class is using to educate the beer buying public about craft brews. One tool is the World Class website, which features Beer 101, a beer finder, a store, and more. Another tool is the World Class Beverages Beer of the Month calendar, which explains all the different types of beers, what sort of foods they match well with, the type of glass that should be used to consume them, and the labels and beers that World Class distributes. In addition, it features all 365 days of the year, each with its own little box to write things in. It's really quite a handy tool, no matter which month you receive it in - like May, for example.

The calendar sells for $10 at the website, but we're prepared to give it to you for (almost) free. But first we want something from you.

The Contest

In order to win a calendar, we want you to share your Food/Beer stories - perhaps a story of an odd pairing, something that went horribly wrong, or maybe something that went surprisingly right. To be honest, we don't even care if it's your story. Just leave your name (any name you choose is fine) and story in the comments for this post, and at the next roundtable we'll pick our favorites. We'll then announce the winners of the challenge in a later post, and mail out your prizes. We've got at least 3 calendars to hand out.

Our next meetup is Thursday the 10th of May, so don't hesitate with those stories - we want to hear from you!

The Disclaimer

Prizes will only be awarded to residents of the United States. Sorry, Norweigan readers.