Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout 2012 – Release Day Madness

It’s finally here.  The culmination of an amazing Tampa Bay Beer Week, and the release of one of the most highly anticipated beers of the year anywhere.  Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout.  Last year was amazing, if you recall.  This year, the madman (and madwomen) of Cigar City are taking it up a few levels.

From the info I have cobbled together from various sources – most of which were from Cigar City themselves – you can plainly see what an epic day tomorrow will be.  So here we go…

• Parking will be across the street from the brewery at the Sears and Roebuck parking lot – look for the big, open lot with all of the cars.  It will NOT be at the IRS building as previously reported.  There is no longer going to be a shuttle service provided.
• The gates will open to the public at 11:00am, but you can expect the line will begin waaaaay before that.
• Bottles will go on sale at 3:30pm, limit of 2 bottles per person.  This is a change form the original 3.  Don’t bitch about it, please.
• Upon entering you will receive two wristbands: one to show that you’re at least 21 years old and the other to secure your right to purchase Hunahpu’s.  Bring your ID.  “I forgot it” will not be an acceptable excuse and you will not get a wristband, which will mean no beer for you.
• At 7:30, bottles will go on sale again, limit of 12 bottles per person, if any is left.
• Bottles are $20, cash only.  You MUST get a wristband to purchase your bottles.
• There will be no growler fills at all on Saturday.
• There will be 9 food trucks and/or vendors on site with food for sale.  Bring cash, just to be on the safe side.
• Guest taps and Cigar City taps will be spread out all over the compound, as well as inside the Tasting Room.
• Several homebrew clubs will have booths set up and offering samples of their brews for free!

So… now to the beer… I hope you have some time to read through this… it is impressive, to say the least.  First off, here are the Cigar City Brewing beers that will be available throughout the day.

• Hunahpu’s 2012
• Hunahpu’s 2011
• Jai Alai
• Maduro
• Hotter Than Helles
• Tocobaga
• Marzen
• Florida Cracker
• El Lector
• Humidor Series IPA
• Church on a Hill
• Jose Marti
• Cubano Espresso
• Kalevipoeg
• Patio Tools
• Minaret
• Bourbon barrel-aged Big Sound
• Raspberry Saison
• Vuja De
• Bohr
• Dirac
• E&J’s Smokeout Stout
• Honey Vanilla Black Lager
• Pineapple Blonde
• Campeador Greaves
• Rum barrel-aged Imperial Milk Porter
• Blueberry Lager
• Bohr/Dirac Blend
• Nielsbohrium
• Oak-aged Dirac
• Palm Ridge barrel-aged Bohr/Dirac
• Blueberry White Ale
• Those Candies Your Granny Loves Brown Ale
• El Murcielago
• Strawberry White Ale
• Palm Ridge barrel-aged Vuja De
• Sam-I-am-buca Baltic Porter
• Marron Acidifie
• Red Wine barrel-aged Sea Bass
• Red Wine barrel-aged Vuja De
• Mocha Cubano Brown
• Cookies and Milk
• Blueberry Muffin Brown
• Hungarian Oak Peach IPA
• Smokabaga
• Check It and See (Hot Blooded aged in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels)
• Whiskey barrel-aged Hunahpu’s
• Rum barrel-aged Hunahpu’s
• Palm Ridge barrel-aged Hunahpu’s

Thirsty yet?  How about this lineup of guest taps…

• 7venth Sun Midnight Moonlight Berliner Weisse
• Avery Trogdor the Burninator
• Ballast Point Smoke Screen Helles
• Ballast Point Sour Wench Blackberry Ale
• Bold City Mad Manatee
• Bold City Killer Whale
• Bold City Duke’s
• Dunedin The Moar Wheat Ale
• Dunedin Noggin Black Cherry Pale Ale
• Founders Breakfast Stout
• Founders Imperial Stout
• Funky Buddha Last Snow Porter
• Funky Buddha Floridian Hefeweizen
• Funky Buddha Passionfruit Berliner Weisse
• Green Room Undertow Barley Wine
• Intuition People’s Pale Ale
• Johnathan Wakefield’s Miami Madness Berliner (guava, mango, passionfruit)
• Johnathan Wakefield’s Phat Bottom Berliner (hidden rose apples)
• Johnathan Wakefield’s PFDF Berliner (passionfruit, dragonfruit)
• Lost Abbey Angel’s Share
• Lost Abbey Deliverance
• Port Brewing Older Viscosity
• Samuel Adams Dark Depths Baltic IPA
• Samuel Adams Griffin’s Bow Oaked Blonde Barley Wine Ale
• Samuel Adams Tasman’s Red IPA
• Shipyard Emporium Palm Ridge barrel-aged Porter
• Tequesta Oak-aged Vier Belgian Quad
• Three Floyds Alpha King Pale Ale
• Three Floyds Arctic Panzer Wolf Imperial IPA
• Three Floyds Dark Lord Imperial Stout
• Three Floyds Oak-aged Dark Lord Imperial Stout (Heaven Hill barrels)
• Three Floyds Dreadnaught Imperial IPA
• Three Floyds Sand Pebbles American Brown Ale
• Three Floyds Stygian Darkness Dark Belgian Strong Ale
• Three Floyds Topless Wytch Baltic Porter
• Three Floyds Zombie Dust Pale Ale

And those are just the ones we have been told about… our friends at Cigar City have a tendency to surprise us with little secret stashes from time to time, so do not be surprised to see something show up that is not on any list anywhere.  In addition, bottle-sharing is not only allowed, it is encouraged.  Just be nice, be generous, and clean up after yourself.

Finally, some personal words of advice.

• Wear sunscreen.  The weather report is calling for a high of 83 degrees, and a 30% chance of showers.  But make no mistake, it will be sunny a lot of the day, and you will be drinking.  The last thing you need to add to your day-after recovery is a sunburn.  Trust me.
• Drink lots of water.  Seriously.  For all the same reasons you are wearing sunscreen, you should keep yourself hydrated regardless of how much beer you are drinking.
• If you are drinking, do not drive.  Period.  There is simply no excuse to get behind the wheel if you have been drinking.  Even if you think “I am fine” or “I need my car”.  The second you get behind the wheel after drinking, you put yourself and everyone else at risk of injury or death.  It is simply not worth it.  Get a cab.  Call a friend.  Bring a designated driver.  We want to see you back again next year.
• Don’t be a jerk.  I have already seen complaints about the bottle limit dropping from 3 to 2.  Get over it.  The demand is high, and so the good folks at Cigar City want to be sure everyone gets a chance at having some.  Everyone is there to have a good time and drink some great beer.  There is no reason to be “that guy” (or “that girl”, for that matter) who is complaining because they think they should get more.

I will be there in the early afternoon pouring at an as-yet-undisclosed tap location.  Look for me, get your picture taken, and I only charge $15 per signature… which is less than many major sports stars. (I kid, of course… $15 is right on par with a lot of stars).  In all seriousness, I love meeting new beer friends, so come say hello!

Cheers!

~ by Sean Nordquist on March 9, 2012.