From Bourbon County Black Friday to Pliny the Younger to Dark Lord Day. The dates, the lines, and what each event actually is.
Major American craft beer releases follow a roughly predictable annual rhythm. Sierra Nevada Bigfoot in winter, Pliny the Younger in early February, Hunahpu's Day in March, Dark Lord Day in late April, the All Together collaborative IPA in May, IPA Day in August, GABF in fall, and the absolute madness of Black Friday with Bourbon County, KBBS, and FoBAB in November.
Most release events use either ticketing systems or first-come-first-served queues. Many have implemented lottery systems to deter scalping. Specific dates vary year to year — the dates below reflect typical release windows and current 2026 schedules where confirmed.
Verify before you travel. Always confirm dates and ticketing details on the brewery's official website before making travel plans. Some events sell out tickets within minutes of opening.