The third installment of the Charleston Brewvival is just a week away. Here’s a list of helpful tips to make the best of the event.
• Eat breakfast before the event: Pancakes, waffles, and chicken biscuits are all good choices. Drinking high-gravity beers on an empty stomach is a horrible idea.
• Hydrate: Make sure to drink water in between beers. Bring a refillable water bottle and keep it full.
• Pace yourself: This is not a race. Most of the beers are high in alcohol content, so be cautious.
• Bring a chair: It’s always nice to take a break. This is a six-hour event, after all.
• Take notes: Don’t be afraid to make tasting notes. Many others will be jotting down likes, dislikes, and observations. This is a great way to broaden beer knowledge.
• Ask questions: Talk to the brewers and/or brewery reps. They’re the experts, and they’re happy to answer any questions that you have.
• Bring cash: You’ll want to walk away with a T-shirt so all your friends know you went. Plus food will be for sale. A sausage from Ted’s might be necessary at some point.
• Have a plan of attack: Sure, it’s going to be hard to stick to a plan but it would be wise for everyone to have a list of their top 10 must-try beers and find those first. While there will be plenty of beer to last the whole festival, some of the rarer options will be gone in no time. (We’ll be posting on critics’ picks on Monday._
• Pretzel Necklace: Make one, wear it, eat it.
• Say hello to Timmons Pettigrew: The local author of Charleston Beer knows a lot about beer, and he’ll be signing books at the event.
• Check the time: If you need to know the time, look for Old Time from the Charleston Beer Exchange. He’s always got a watch handy.
• Be grateful: If you see Jaime or David from COAST or Rich, Scott, or Brandon from Charleston Beer Exchange, thank them for creating a one-of-a kind event.
• Have fun and secure a designated driver: Enough said.
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