All who have seen the tap list for Hunahpu Day agree, the list is the most unbelievable lineup of craft beer that Florida has ever seen, and it only gets crazier from year to year.
Cigar City has released teaser pictures, like trailers for a blockbuster movie, for the better part of a week now, and anticipation is beginning to crescendo. Knowing that many great beers will be at Hunahpu Day, here are a few tips for surviving Hunahpu Day, or any large outdoor beer event for that matter.
The question is: how to survive Hunahpu Day, especially now that it is a festival and not a pay-as-you-drink event?
Here are some tips for the day
1. The best drink all day may have two molecules of hydrogen: Be cool and drink… water. Florida is unforgiving and so are big beers. Anyone who makes fun today will be envious tomorrow. Guaranteed.
2. Designate a driver. Beers will be consumed, and no one needs to get hurt by that decision. Know personal and legal limits. No one ever wants to throw up in a Port-O-Let. The coolest person could be the designated driver. Have someone who agrees to provide a safe ride, in case overindulgence occurs.
3. Dress appropriately. This is Florida. Nothing says “I’m from out of town” like winter camouflage or long sleeves. No matter what, it will be hot, it will be rainy, or both. That’s just how Florida works.
4. Upon entering the release grounds, get the lay of the land. Where will bottles be sold? Where should I end up thirty minutes before the bottles are released? Where will my favorite tap be? Cigar City has done a great job in the past of listing limited/ timed tappings on a display, but know that the these people are human and get overwhelmed.
5. Eat something with the beer. Beer and food go so well together, plus this will minimize interaction with the second item on this list. The food trucks available are usually awesome, so eat something.
6. Bring cash. This release will be cash only, plus cash obtained beforehand has no ATM fees. In the past, Hunahpu Day has been known to overwhelm onsite ATMs.
7. Cannot emphasize this enough: The world will keep turning, even if some beers don’t get sampled this time around. This is the case every time. Every person does not get to try every beer, and the sun comes up the next morning. Every time. Don’t ruin someone else’s experience because you missed Cognac Bourbon Brandy Chocolate Super Ultra Mega Rare Stout Porter. The tap list gets crazier every year and next year will be no exception. There are thousands of people and some of these kegs are only five gallons. The math just doesn’t work.
8. Bring a beer to share with fellow beer lovers. Other people will, and they will be more apt to share theirs if you share yours. Whether it is a homebrew, barrel aged Ultra Mega Rare, or a beer from family in Northern Uzbekistan, someone will be interested in trying it and they will not be alone.
9. Charge the cell phone the night before and download a beer app to tease your friends with or look up unknown beer. Apps like Untappd and Ratebeer will help you look up beers you haven’t heard of (seen the tap list yet?). They will also help taunt your friends who are not able to go to the release by allowing you to post the beers you’re drinking and their logos right to Facebook. Then next year they will know better than to turn down an invite.
10. Most importantly, have fun and don’t be “that guy.” Everyone knows who it is, and 99% of the time, it is a guy. Be considerate of everyone there, especially staff and volunteers. Some folks pitch in and are not beer enthusiasts, they simply want to help. Everyone in the crowd is on the same ride; no need to make it unpleasant for others.
See you in line!