A Word Of Note To NERAX Attendees

     If you are planning to hit any of the remaining nights of NERAX at the Dilboy VFW in Davis Sq.  I highly reccomend getting there atleast 20 minutes before the door opens especially if you don’t already have tickets. Advance/Will Call ticket holders go to the head of line –which makes sense, that’s why you bought the tickets early, right?– and once the Dilboy reaches capacity they cut off the line until people leave and they can let folks in.

     That’s what happened to me. I got in line a bit late and I was about a dozen people from the door when they hit capacity and that was at the very beginning. I decided since there was a good chance I’d be waiting quite a while before I got in I decided to call it a night and head home. I needed to make it an early night anyway and having to wait that much longer would have shrunk the time I had in the event to an hour if I was lucky.

     Now, unfortunately my schedule doesn’t allow me the chance to get back there while it’s on, but that shouldn’t stop you! NERAX is a great event and a great cause that needs the support.

     If you are going I found this gem of info on the NERAX website this morning:

          “Line Status Hot Line

           If you want to check to see the status of the line to get into the hall after a session starts, please call (207) 615-9660. This number will only be monitored during the session, so please do not call outside of the festival hours, listed below. “

Session Times and Festival Admission Prices
     Thursday (5/1) 6:00 – 10:30 p.m. $15
     Friday (5/2) 6:00 – 10:30 p.m. $15
     Saturday (5/3) 12:00 – 7:00 p.m. $5

Cash Bar Prices
     Imperial Pint (20 oz) $5.00
     Half Pint (10 oz) $2.50
     Quarter Pint (5 oz) $1.50

     So there it is. I hope if you have the time you do go. A friend who was smart enough to buy an advance ticket for last night said there were some amazing beers.

Cheers,
John

The New England Real Ale Exhibition –NERAX– In Davis Sq, Somerville

If you are in the Boston area over the next four days and just can’t get enough of cask conditioned ale –also known as real ale– get yourself over to NERAX, The New England Real Ale Exhibition, at the Dilboy VFW Post in Davis Square Somerville where you will be able to sample some of the best real ale from all over the US & UK.

Tickets and entry are first come first serve so don’t be surprised if there’s a line and a bit of a wait depending when you get there. It will definitely be worth your while given the quality and rarity of the beers on offer.

Session Times and Festival Admission Prices
     Wednesday (4/30) 6:00 – 10:30 p.m. $10
     Thursday (5/1) 6:00 – 10:30 p.m. $15
     Friday (5/2) 6:00 – 10:30 p.m. $15
     Saturday (5/3) 12:00 – 7:00 p.m. $5

Cash Bar Prices
     Imperial Pint (20 oz) $5.00
     Half Pint (10 oz) $2.50
     Quarter Pint (5 oz) $1.50

If you’ve never been the way it works is you pay the day of admission at the door, get your glass, and then you pay per pour. From my experience stick with the Half Pint pours. It’s a good amount in case you don’t like an offering that much (though truthfully I’ve never had a bad beer there) and for some pourers it’s tough to catch the 10 oz cut off line marked on your glass so you usually end up with closer to 12 oz. Not bad for $2.50.

Bring your wallet and hit the ATM before you get there as it’s cash only and they’ve got some nifty T-shirts and beer related gear for sale on top of all the great beer. Plus Redbones provides BBQ sandwiches.

How can you say no to that?

Hopefully I’ll be able to post some notes of what I sampled by tomorrow afternoon.

Cheers! -John