WABL Caskival Bus Trip 2010

Posted by rodney on March 3rd, 2010 and last modified on March 25th, 2010


On March 27th, 2010, CAMRA Vancouver members are once again taking the bus to Seattle to sample the finest casks from Washington and Oregon.

The bus has been booked and we have 40 tickets reserved for us for the afternoon (12-4pm) session. The fee is $65 which includes the bus and a caskival ticket. This year we received the WABL rate for entry but we will not be given WABL glassware or be able to drink from the special cask.

Here’s the summary of what will be a full day. See further down the page for more details.

  • leave Vancouver probably before 7am
  • arrive in Seattle with enough time to grab lunch around Seattle Center
  • the cask festival is from noon to 4:00
  • likely a stop at a good beer store
  • a stop somewhere for supper
  • finally back in Vancouver pretty late

You MUST have a valid passport, and yes we’ll be checking before the bus leaves.

Payment can be made by cheque (payable to “CAMRA Vancouver” and sent here) or by Paypal (plus $2.25 Paypal fee).

Seats will initially be available to CAMRA Vancouver members only! If we have space we will open it to non-members, but at a higher rate.

SALES ARE NOW CLOSED.

Email Lundy if you have any questions.



More Details

Note that these are still subject to change!

There will be two pickup locations:

  • 6:30am in front of DIX (871 Beatty St)
  • approx 7:15am at the border, exact location to be determined yet. We’ll call when we leave DIX.

Please eat breakfast before boarding the bus. There will be no stops along the way for food, though there will likely be a pee break at a rest stop.

Hopefully we’ll arrive at Seattle Center around 11:00am, leaving an hour to scavenge for some lunch. There are plenty of options nearby, including a food court and a brewpub for the hardcore. Feel free to check Urban Spoon and Yelp for suggestions, but don’t go too crazy, remember you’re here for the beer, not the food.

The event starts at 12:00, but invariably there’s a long line so it can take awhile to get in. Bring an umbrella and be patient. For more info about the event details click here.

If you haven’t been before, remember to pace yourself, to study the guide, to ask other people what’s good. Remember to drink water, and don’t feel like you must finish each and every sample. If you don’t like it, dump it. Near the end it can help to ask for half pours.

LAST POUR is at 3:30pm. The bus will be leaving at 4:00pm. Don’t get lost!!

Next up will be a side trip to Bottleworks (probably, maybe Whole Foods?). Since time is tight, it wouldn’t hurt check the selection ahead of time. No, they probably won’t have Pliny. AND KEEP YOUR RECEIPT for the border.

You may buy beer to bring home BUT you will be liable for paying duty at the border, since to bring alcohol back duty-free you must be out of the country at least 48 hours. Duty can be expensive (more than the original price), but a rare beer might be worth it.

(Yes, occasionally the border guards don’t bother to deal with duty, especially on just one or two bottles. You may have heard stories about how much made it across last year duty free! On the other hand, they might be having a bad night and may well go hardcore on you. It’s up to you, but remember you might be rather unpopular if the bus is held up while you are doing your paperwork…)

Next will be a supper stop somewhere along the way. Details are being yet firmed up.

Finally the border, hopefully around 10:00pm. By then it should be quick, but… you never know.

Once across the border, the only planned stop is at DIX. Other possibilities may be possible, but please check with Lundy before the trip as there may be liability issues for the bus driver.

Rules:

  • Everyone must have a valid passport and whatever other paperwork needed to gain entry to the US.
  • Only bottled water and dry food may be consumed on the bus.

Some extra suggestions:

  • Travel medical insurance is strongly encouraged.
  • Pillows and earplugs may make the journey better in both directions.
  • Don’t forget to wear your CAMRA button, and better still your CAMRA shirt!


If you have any suggestions or notice any mistakes in these instructions, please let Rodney know…