Brewapalooza FAQ's
What May I Bring On The Bus?
Due to Homeland Security regulations, Brewapalooza Committee Chairman, Big Daddy, will be providing a mandatory "Pat Down" of everyone getting on the bus. (Yeah right... his wife would be first in line and she'd never let anyone else past her!) So, we'll can that and say you allowed to bring a cooler that will fit under your seat. You may bring additional beer or non-alcoholic beverages and whatever type of food that you want. You should also bring cash or charge for the cash bars at each stop and any food purchased above and beyond the provided lunch. Also, don't forget a tip for the driver! Most places do sell souvenirs like pint glasses, shirts and tap handles. We will provide plastic cups for the bus and trash bags.
Cash Bar? What the Duece??
At every stop, we try to make arrangements for some small samples, usually a 1oz size. Taste of a couple of beers see what you like and then it is cash bar. At the breweries, there are bigger samples and usually (99.9% of the time) no charge. Don’t forget to tip the bartenders.
I Like To Eat.. Do We Get Lunch?
We've found over the years it's better to provide lunch early in the trip, so the Committee attempts to provide lunch in the trip price. Eat Early! It makes the rest of the day much more enjoyable. The selections change each trip depending on which pub will be hosting lunch.
What Time Will We Return to Red Brick Station?
We usually return to Red Brick around 9pm, unless noted in the trip itenary. Remember to check above and below your seat for your personal affects. During the final walkthru, if the committee happens to see anything left behind, we will grab it but there are no guarantees. We strongly recommend to arrange a ride to and from the bus, it is a long drinking day. Please try to keep the bus as clean as possible.
What the Hell is This "Buck's Rule" I've Heard About?
"Buck's Rule" is a our method of seat/payment assignments devised by one of the original organizers of Brewapalooza, Steve "Uncle Buck" Boyd (Uncle Pedro in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, California and Upper Fells Point). Because of the limited number of seats, if your seat is not Paid In Full on the due date, it is released to the Trip Wait List. First person to pay for the seat, get's the seat. Therefore Buck's Rule = "He who has cash in hand, get ass in seat."
The Brew Bus Is A Great Trip, But I Want More. Does KHPC Do Any Other Beer Trips?
Actually, yes we do. We have done/are planing 3 types of brewpub/brewery trips.
First, if we attend a Baltimore Ravens away game, the trip ALWAYS include a pubcrawl of the host cities breweries and brewpubs. For instance, the club sponsored the 2007 trip to San Francisco in which we visited a total of 18 breweries and brewpubs in 5 days that are located in the Bay Area.
Second, on the average of every 3 years, the club attends the Great American Beer Festival that is held in Denver Colorado late September/early October. We will publish this trip information on the club website when a trip is planned for that year. Also, we have discussed long weekend trips to beer festivals in Boston, Portland OR, and Seattle WA, but have not organized such a trip yet.
Third, the Professional Brewers Association Conference (April 2011, San Francisco) and the American Homebrew Association Conference (June 2011, San Diego). There have been discussions about attending one or both conferences.
Call Me Marcia Brady. Something Suddenly Came Up, And I Can't Go. Can I Get My Money Back?
Sorry, we do NOT offer refunds.
Due to the extensive costs of the trip, we do not provide refunds if you can't make it. Think of it if you bought a ticket to the Ravens/Steelers game, the Ravens don't refund your money if you can't make it.
However, not everyone on the committee is cold-hearted, so if you notify the committee that you cannot make the trip, here's what happens: 1. We will do our best to resell the seat, first to the people on the Standby List, then to the open public. 2. If we are successful in reselling your seat, you will receive a refund in the mail about 2 or 3 weeks after the trip. 3. Returned seats are sold in the order the trip committee receives the cancellation notification, but be aware, if you wait until the day before the trip to cancel, don't hold your breath thinking you will get your money back. It's very difficult to resell seats the night before the trip.
What the Hell is Standby?
There is only ONE bus, with 55 seats. After receiving reservations from BSL holders, then KHPC Members, then Red Brick Station Mug Club Members, then the general public.. well you get the picture, we run out of empty seats real fast. For example, the 2008 Trip sold out in less than 12 hours. So, if you do not own a BSL, you need to reserve your seat early! Once the bus has been fully reserved, we start a Standby List. If someone cancels their reservation and releases their seat, the committee contacts the next person on the Standby List and offers the seat(s) to them. If they refuse the seats, we move to the next person on the list.
What's a BSL? How Do I Get One?
A BSL (Beer Seat License) is given to a trip attendee who has reached "Elite Status".
A BSL is issued to someone who has attended 6 or more consecutive Brewapalooza's, is in good standing with the club and has been sponsored by another BSL holder. BSL holders do not have to reserve a seat on the bus, they are automatically reserved a seat, and are given up to the morning of the trip to pay for their seat. As of the 2011 trip there are 18 BSL Holders. Contact the Brewapalooza Committee on more information regarding BSL's.
Anything Else I Should Know?
PACE YOURSELF! Again, it's a LONG drinking day. Know your limits!
NO FIGHTING! We cannot stress this one strongly enough! There will be absolutely NO tolerance for fighting. You WILL be removed from the bus at the next available stop and YOU are responsible to get yourself home. If you elect not to cooperate, we will contact local law enforcement. Penalty: Placement on the Black List and Permanent Ban from future trips.
NO PUKING! Know your limit and pace yourself. You are responsible for your own actions. Penalty: Placement on the Black List and Permanent Ban from future trips PLUS you WILL be billed for any cleanup charges occurred by the club.
Legal Disclaimer You are required to sign a 'Waiver of Liability' before being allowed on the bus. Basically, you are waiving your rights to file a lawsuit in the minute possibility you should fall, break something, or incur some sort of injury. By signing this waiver, you are agreeing to assume ALL responsibility and liability for yourself and your actions. Failure to sign the waiver results in your money refunded and your seat reservation terminated.
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR ALL OF YOUR ACTIONS, THE BREWERIES AREN'T, THE BREWPUBS AREN'T , THE CLUB ISN'T, NOR IS ANYONE ELSE! Please act like an adult.
Black List? Permanent Ban? Yeah, Right, I'll Be Back On The Bus..
No, you won't.
We keep an extensive database of EVERYONE who ever attended a trip. There are also many photographs taken during the trip, so we KNOW WHO YOU ARE!
If you attempt to use another name to get on the bus, here's what will happen: You WILL be refused admittance onto the Bus and your money WILL NOT be refunded. If you elect to argue about the situation, there is a Baltimore County Police station 5 minutes from Red Brick Station, we're sure they'd be glad to have you visit them for the day. If you are part of a group, your group organizer will also be refused admittance onto the bus, placed on the "Black List" and banned from attending future trips.
Yes, there ARE people who have been "Black Listed" due to violations of the trip rules. We aren't kidding about this stuff.