Hunahpu’s Day ticket holders tasted 100-plus craft beers on Saturday. Credit: Chip Weiner
Thirty-five hundred craft beer lovers? Check.
More than 100 craft brews being sampled? Check.
Mid-March heat and humidity? Check.
It must be Hunahpu's Day in Tampa.
Saturday saw the gathering of thousands of people at Cotanchobee Fort Brooke Park downtown for the annual pilgrimage to snag Cigar City Brewing's holy grail, Hunahpu's Imperial Stout. The beer festival, a crowded affair hosted during Tampa Bay Beer Week, marked the first time the Tampa brewery held the event away from its home turf.
Standing in long lines to score a 3-ounce sip of one the fest's fermented beverages was all part of the process.
This is it. This is the imperial stout beer lovers wait all year to score. Credit: Chip Weiner
To cap it off, after the beer tasting was over, everyone got bottles of Hunahpu’s to take home. For $200, festgoers were limited to four bottles of the sought-after brew. Attendees with $300 tickets landed eight bottles, and members of Cigar City’s El Catador Club could walk away with 12 bottles.
For the uninitiated, that may sound like a high price to pay for beer. But according to Russ Breslow, Cigar City Brewing media and marketing manager, the tickets sell out in 24 hours.
Sherry Kurtz of D.C and Jill Massengale have attended for several years. They say they like the new venue, adding that it’s easier to move around and much cooler. In past years, the event was hosted on asphalt. Credit: Chip Weiner
Those who wanted to stay in-the-know were encouraged to download the new Hunahpu’s Day app. The app gave festgoers a list of the breweries, beers and a map, and it allowed them to vote for their favorite pour and brewery during the event, too.
In addition, ticket holders connected to the app received an immediate notification when a new tap opened. (As an observer, I'd hear commotion and see a shift in the crowd from time to time, which signaled the arrival of a new notification.)
Event staff work the Cigar City Brewing tap truck, which offered dozens suds. Credit: Chip Weiner
As craft beer has grown in popularity, finding interesting combinations of flavors and provocative names has become the norm.
Hunahpu's Day brews like Hell or High Watermelon (watermelon wheat) from 21st Amendment Brewery, Gigantic Brewing Company's Brain Damage (barrel-aged strong ale), and Gator Spit (rye IPA with cayenne pepper) from JDub's Brewing Company fit this bill. And popular offerings like 3 Sons Brewing Co.'s Apple Brandy Kona Summation, a wood-aged imperial stout, drew a crowd.
TBBW 2016: Photos from Cigar City’s Hunahpu’s Day (4) Credit: Chip Weiner
As the day wore on, most of the concessions ran out of suds; Funky Buddha Brewery was one of the first. A representative for the brewery estimated that the booth served between 700 and 800 samples before drying up.
TBBW 2016: Photos from Cigar City’s Hunahpu’s Day (9) Credit: Chip Weiner
Beer wasn't the only item sought after at the fest, though.
According to Yanko Maceda of Tabanero Cigars, craft beer and cigars naturally go together. He's seen here lighting a Corona cigar for an attendee.
TBBW 2016: Photos from Cigar City’s Hunahpu’s Day (8) Credit: Chip Weiner
Spencer South of Gainesville and Josh Bowen of Orlando, who are pictured slung up in the middle of the madness, say they love specialty beer and parties. The pair takes their hammocks wherever they go.
Most recently, they were at the Bonnaroo and Okeechobee music and arts festivals, lounging around and enjoying the celebrations. Bowen purchased Hunahpu's Day tickets for South's birthday.
TBBW 2016: Photos from Cigar City’s Hunahpu’s Day (12) Credit: Chip Weiner
Alongside unlimited beer tastings, ticket holders had access to four tapas-style portions of food, including this fried Cuban with Sriracha.
TBBW 2016: Photos from Cigar City’s Hunahpu’s Day (16) Credit: Chip Weiner
Hunahpu's Brownies consisted of a flourless cake made with spices used in the production of Cigar City's beloved imperial stout.
TBBW 2016: Photos from Cigar City’s Hunahpu’s Day (14) Credit: Chip Weiner
During and after the festival, attendees could walk next door to the Marriott hotel to pick up their Hunahpu's haul. Immediately following the festival, lines stretched for several city blocks, but for folks awaiting bottles of the brown liquid gold, this was also part of the process.
TBBW 2016: Photos from Cigar City’s Hunahpu’s Day (11) Credit: Chip Weiner
The pick-up procedure was expedited through the use of technology.
Upon entry, festgoers received a bracelet with chip technology inside; once at the Marriott, a simple scan of the bracelets told staff how many bottles to distribute and that they were a valid ticket holder.
Beer lovers receive boxes and bags of Hunahpu’s at the Marriott pick-up table. Credit: Chip Weiner
3 Sons staff with Joey Redner (center), Cigar City founder, show their plaques. Credit: Chip Weiner
While the fest always crowns winners, this year — for the first time — attendees voted for their favorite brewery and beer via the event app. 3 Sons Brewing Co. scored two wins for its brews and also placed first in the brewery category.
MAZURT Brewing Company and J. Wakefield Brewing were the day's other victors.
TBBW 2016: Photos from Cigar City’s Hunahpu’s Day (17) Credit: Chip Weiner
Hunahpu's Day has come a long way. Though its growing popularity has been a challenge for organizers, the fest continues to be a signature event for Tampa Bay and beyond.
Tips for next year: Bring a water bottle (non-beer beverages are hard to come by and there aren't cups or containers by the water tanks), pack some patience for the lines and download the app so you know where the good stuff is happening.
