[weazletoe]

 So far, having a great timie here in Idaho. Had a awesome long weekend of camping last weekend. And this weekend I will be going to my first beerfest. The Mountain Man Brewers Fest, in in Twin Falls, Idaho. Twenty bucks gets you unlimited 3oz pours. There are 80+ brewers going to be there. That means bare minimum of 17 pints. With that said, any pointers for me and my best friend liver to survive it? I do plan to carbo load on vitamin B.

[dbeechum]

Milk thistle
Water - lots of it - gobs of it - too much of it is just enough.
Food
and for god's sake don't try them all.

[weazletoe]

and for god's sake don't try them all.

YOU BITE YOUR TONGUE YOUNG MAN!!!

[bluesman]

Lots of fun but pace yourself and take a cab to a local hotel. You don't want to get a DUI. 

[akr71]

Go there with a full stomach!  Any festivals I've been to still seem to have the megabrewery/BMC booths  I assume you already know what water tastes like, so you can skip those to sample the real beers.

If there are brewers/beers that you've never tried before, hit them early, so you have a chance to remember what they tasted like.  Its not just the inebriation, but you're tastebuds will get a little overwhelmed after a dozen or two samples.

[bonjour]

Water - lots of it - gobs of it - too much of it is just enough.
Food
and for god's sake don't try them all.

Agreed (don't know about Milk Thistle)

[richardt]

Agree with above.  As this is your first beer fest--look for the dump bucket. 
If you get a bad tasting beer or one that isn't to your liking--dump it and move on.

I always struggle with doing that as I don't want to be rude and it goes against my midwestern upbringing (cue mental image of Mom saying "Clean your plate, young man!  There's starving kids in (insert country here).  'Waste not, want not'.")

But, it is OK to do this.  Dump buckets are the norm at BJCP competitions,the GABF, and most beer fests. 
Save your taste buds and your tummy space for the good stuff!

[brew-witch]

May sound silly, but at the beer fests around here I've seen lots of folks with "necklaces" of pretzels.  Not only will it cleanse your palate, but keep something solid in your stomach.  I would probably stay away from salted though, it may dehydrate you more.  And if you really want to remember specific beers, bring a small notebook!  You will taste the most fantastic brew you've ever had and swear that you'll always remember it... you won't 

[weazletoe]

Dude! I LOVE the pretzel necklace idea! I think I might just start wearing one of those everywhere. 

[akr71]

... bring a small notebook!  You will taste the most fantastic brew you've ever had and swear that you'll always remember it... you won't 

Very true!  All the 'fests I've been to have a program and little pencils, after 6 samples or so I tend to forget all about it.  And when I remember, I'm too drunk to care..

Have fun!

[beerbronco]

Don't do what I did at the GABF.  I tried to sample all the stouts and imperial stouts.  I did not pace myself so...I got stupid drunk.  My advice is as stated above pace yourself, dump buckets and make sure to drink water and eat food.  Remember those little shots of beer catch up with you.   

[bonjour]

Don't do what I did at the GABF.  I tried to sample all the stouts and imperial stouts.  I did not pace myself so...I got stupid drunk.  My advice is as stated above pace yourself, dump buckets and make sure to drink water and eat food.  Remember those little shots of beer catch up with you.   

I DID NOT fall down after my first beerfest (GABF),    the cop car held me up.

[rabid_dingo]

Dude! I LOVE the pretzel necklace idea! I think I might just start wearing one of those everywhere.  

Kick it up a notch....I buy a variety of packaged snacks. Like vending machine sized packs of peanuts, pretzels, ritz pb sandwiches some jerky...They all have a hole at the top of the package for a reason.

[theoman]

Definitely pace yourself. Whether you think so or not, you will have plenty of time to try plenty of beer.

If you don't like a beer, dump it. That's a hard one, I know. But trust me...

Try to have a plan. You probably won't end up following it, but it's good to start with one.

[yugamrap]

Try to have a plan. You probably won't end up following it, but it's good to start with one.

+1 Failing to plan is planning to fail.