Spring has sprung and beer festivals are popping up across the country like dandelions. HFBrew is here to help you navigate these boozy gauntlets unscathed, for the most part. Beer fests are great opportunities to sample a wide variety of brews in one place, not to mention a chance to rake in those sweet, sweet Untappd badges. Who would have thought that offering unlimited beer over a few hours to hordes of craft beer fans would get a little sloppy? To improve your festival experience and ease the morning after, follow these tips.

1. Have An Exit Strategy
Having a solid plan for your return journey is the most important step to consider. Before embarking on a fest quest, you should already have transportation arranged to take you home. We suggest using public transportation or Uber so driving yourself home isn’t even an option. Or better yet, get a hotel room and make it a mini-vacation. Allow your sober self to handle the decision making before the inebriated self can make a fatal one.

2. Make A Pretzel Necklace
It’s not just a fashion statement. The pretzel necklace has become the utilitarian accessory of choice at any fest, and it’s easy to see why. You may have planned to get food from one of the awesome food vendors positioned inside, but once you’ve sampled your first four or five brews, taking time out to crack open that wallet may not be at the top of your list. Remove as many barriers between yourself and a full stomach as possible with this salty jewelry. Plus, it just looks cool.

3. H2O
Most beer fests will have water jugs available, and there are three good reasons to take advantage of these oases. A) Cleanse your palate between samples. B) Rinse your glass to remove the previous sample’s residue. C) Hydrate. You’ll thank us in the morning.

4. You’re Only Renting That Beer
Inevitably, all that liquid gold needs to go somewhere. When that moment arises, your time will be short. Plan ahead.

5. Remember, It’s A Marathon Not A Sprint
Everyone falls victim to the excitement of nearly endless possibilities when you first enter a fest. The truth is, there’s no need to run like an antelope out of control. Resign yourself to the fact that you will not be able to taste every beer on offer, and remember that it is a waste to speed through samples trying to get to the end. Instead, go in with an idea of which few beers you definitely want to try. Get those out of the way first, and enjoy the rest of the fest at a leisurely pace.