Beer lovers brace for Dark Lord Day in Munster

MUNSTER — Beer lovers looking to descend Saturday on the Harvard of Imperial stout for Dark Lord Day had better have a ticket.

Gone are the days of freely hanging out outside the confines of the one-day festival celebrating the Three Floyds microbrewery’s most coveted beverage with thousands of other stout lovers, trading beers and happiness.

People will still get to do that, but only if they’ve bought a $30 general admission ticket, all of which have been sold, according to the fest’s website.

While general admission tickets allow participation in the festival itself and the purchase of other Three Floyds beers, they don’t give you a shot at Dark Lord, the coveted once-a-year brew.

Only group sales tickets, which sold out in one day March 17, allow attendees to purchase one quantity of Dark Lord 2014.

“The main difference is that a general admission ticket does not allow for purchase of an allotment of Dark Lord,” the website says.

Those who have group sales tickets, meanwhile, will receive a “golden ticket” while standing in line during their allotted times. A scratch-off, the golden ticket will give its holders an extra shot at other Dark Lord brews.

The annual festival at Three Floyds, 9758 Indiana Parkway, is again expected to draw 8,000 to 10,000. Beer sales start at 10 a.m. All attendees must have an ID, and guests must arrive with the ticketholders because the tickets are put in one name only.

In keeping with its heavy metal persona, this year’s musical acts include Iron Reagan, Witchbanger, Brain Tentacles and Vulgaari.

Learn more about Three Floyds Brewing on their Indiana On Tap brewery page.