Volunteer for Beer

This past weekend was the Boise BeerFest.

I opted to volunteer because I figured it would be far better for me to be pouring beer for five hours, rather than drinking it. Besides, I volunteer quite a bit.  I like it.  It shakes things up, gets me out in a new scene and I meet new people.  As I neared toward the park I saw this mellow scene:

Little did I know what was in store. Eventually, it would turn into an absolute shit fest. It was so busy, I ended up working a double shift and pouring beer literally non-stop until 8:30 pm. 

I started my shift pouring four brews from the Snake River Brewery out of Jackson Hole, WY.  Um, hello? Is that not a sign? If you know me, you know the depth of my love and the importance of Jackson Hole. There is a girl's trip every year and it is one of my most amazing weekends each year. Anyway, back to the beer. 

 

On tap we were pulling four brews:  Zonker Stout, Vienna Style Lager, OB-1, and Pale Ale. (We tasted each of them to have an idea of what to tell patrons, and they were all amazing even the Zonker and I don't do Stouts! The Lager was probably my favorite.)

Most of the beers, like the ones we were pouring, were craft beers.  Toward the beginning of the festival, you could absolutely tell the connoisseurs apart from those who were there just to drink.  As the day went on, the type of beer you poured mattered less and less to the ever increasingly drunk crowd. (Surely that has to be part of the organizer's plan, no?)

Once the Snake River beers finished off, I ended up at the Bud Light Lime / Bud Light Wheat station. Can you say MADHOUSE??  I instinctively popped over to that station to help when my station was up another person and dull, and I ended up staying there.  It was interesting to see people pay for craft beer tastings and repeatedly attend the Bud Light Lime station when there were so many craft beers to taste, but who am I to judge? They kept my day busy!!  So busy in fact that I couldn't even get my phone out for pics or a break once the crowds started. (The first three pictures are mine and prior to the crowds, obv. The rest are courtesy of the Idaho Statesman.)  

(Photo credit)

In the evening, my darling friend Jennifer (who I have known since elementary school when she moved from Texas, y'all) brought me a plate full of chicken, rice and fruit that was enough to feed a small family.  Bless her heart. She knew I needed it.  I ate one of the three pieces of chicken in what was probably less than a minute and then gave the rest to one of the Budweiser guys who had been changing kegs for me and helping all day.  I could tell he was grateful.  Jenn wouldn't take my money for the food, so I am without a doubt paying it forward.

This is normally the type of event I would have attended and it was very interesting to be on the other side serving the beer instead of drinking it.  It was an experience I definitely value.  By the time I got home I. was SO DONE.  Had I gotten pulled over, I would have been put through the ringer.  Not because I had been drinking but because my ENTIRE BODY reeked of beer.  That's right I was literally saturated.  I had beer from head to toe, yes even in my hair. How?  Some of the taps didn't turn off correctly, some were foamy and in a fast situation, I am not going to lie, I spilled a bunch.  The next morning I could still smell beer.

(Photo credit)

I had a complete blast at the BeerFest, meeting the other volunteers and interacting with the BeerFest attendees (before they got too belligerent).  There was even one uber hot Bud guy who helped me toward the end of the day, come to find out we even had mutual friends.  Who knew?  I am grateful that I missed some of the incidents involving too much drinking and the consequences resulting, I can live without seeing projectile vomiting!  Although, I did see a very cool and rather inspiring incident.  One patron, who was not drunk, came up to my station, ordered his beer and gave me his tokens.  He told me it was his last drink and he was leaving and then handed me his remaining tokens to pay for whomever was next in line behind him.  Awesome. That guy is just awesome. People need to take notes. 

xx