Homebrew Con 2020 Nashville

[BrewMan13]

My first homebrew-con was this year, and I had a great time, met some wonderful people, learned some new things and brought home a load of free hops and other goodies. I had thought that I wouldn’t want to go every year but consider it if it is somewhat close to home, but then I hear next year is in Nashville (not exactly close) I really want to. I’ve visited a couple times for other conferences and just enjoy the area. Soooo, I’ll probably fly there and add on a couple days. I’ll bring a couple flat rate priority mail boxes to send home the heavy stuff I don’t want to drag through the airport. If you have the inclination to go check it out. Your membership to AHA is something you can use all year long.

That's how I feel as well. Figured it would be "1 and done" unless it was back in the northeast, but it was such a great time, I really have the itch to go back. My in-laws live on the other side of Tennessee, so I'm thinking of maybe coupling it with a visit; could leave the wife there and make the trek via rental car.

 

[CascadesBrewer]

But since its just a short 8 hour drive from Michigan

I live in Virginia and it feels like Tennessee is just next door (we do share a border), but Google is telling me it is a 10 hour drive.

I have never been and might be up for it (though Father's Day weekend is not ideal as I usually spend that with my sons).

Aside from club night, are there good venues for me to bring beer to share? I would be interesting in brewing up some educational/experimental beers or just bringing along a keg or two of my beers. For club night, do some clubs just setup a table with beers or does everybody have a theme to their setup?

Edit: I watched a Club Night Walk Through video on YouTube and it seems like maybe half of the club booths are not much more than a jockey box on a table with a club banner on the wall.

 

[sleev-les]

I live in Virginia and it feels like Tennessee is just next door (we do share a border), but Google is telling me it is a 10 hour drive.

I have never been and might be up for it (though Father's Day weekend is not ideal as I usually spend that with my sons).

Aside from club night, are there good venues for me to bring beer to share? I would be interesting in brewing up some educational/experimental beers or just bringing along a keg or two of my beers. For club night, do some clubs just setup a table with beers or does everybody have a theme to their setup?

11 hour if I check from city to city, probably more from where I'm at in MD. Asked the wife if she'd be up for a road trip and she wants to fly. I said I won't be able to bring home as much fun stuff if we fly lol

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

11 hour if I check from city to city, probably more from where I'm at in MD. Asked the wife if she'd be up for a road trip and she wants to fly. I said I won't be able to bring home as much fun stuff if we fly lol

You get to bring 2 extra empty suitcases!

 

[k-os]

I'm in Wisconsin and the girlfriend gave the green light for us to drive after we watched the Short Circuit Brewing video. About 9.5 hours.

 

[k-os]

Bumping this up to see if anyone knows any details for timing each day? Originally planning on driving down Wednesday night (late) and arriving Thursday morning, but it sounds like HBC events start around 9am? Trying to get a hotel/AirBnB booked far ahead of time.

 

[sleev-les]

Bumping this up to see if anyone knows any details for timing each day? Originally planning on driving down Wednesday night (late) and arriving Thursday morning, but it sounds like HBC events start around 9am? Trying to get a hotel/AirBnB booked far ahead of time.

Have you checked the site? I was looking through and they have a bunch of info on the daily events.

https://www.homebrewcon.org/2020-registration/

 

[odie]

Homebrew Con? had no idea it even existed. I guess there is a Con for anything these days.

 

[k-os]

Have you checked the site? I was looking through and they have a bunch of info on the daily events.

https://www.homebrewcon.org/2020-registration/

From what I've seen all the events listed are from last years HomeBrewCon in Rhode Island. For example, the Kickoff Party shows a date of June 27th.

 

[sleev-les]

From what I've seen all the events listed are from last years HomeBrewCon in Rhode Island. For example, the Kickoff Party shows a date of June 27th.

Well damn, I should have used a calendar lol.... Tricked me since the main page shows the 2020 dates..

 

[k-os]

Well damn, I should have used a calendar lol.... Tricked me since the main page shows the 2020 dates..

Yeah I was a little confused the first time I looked at the page. I ended up booking a hotel to check in the 17th so we should be all rested and refreshed for the first day.

 

[jready]

One more spot to visit while you are here. Living waters in East Nashville is excellent. A coffee shop and brewery. I don’t drink coffee but from what I could tell they do both very well

 

[myelo]

From what I've seen all the events listed are from last years HomeBrewCon in Rhode Island. For example, the Kickoff Party shows a date of June 27th.

Yeah, the website is pretty annoying. Some of the stuff reflects the 2020 (upcoming) schedule. But for other stuff -- for example, when you click on the educational sessions -- it takes you to last years schedule. It's making it hard for me to figure out if I want to arrive Thursday or Friday. Hopefully they get this sorted out soon so folks can get their travel plans set.

 

[day_trippr]

Nashville?

 

[mwilcox]

the major events won't change times. The "General Schedule" on the homebrewcon website at least is for '20, not last year.
https://www.homebrewcon.org/lineup/general-schedule/
These things don't change that much and are fairly dependable for those trying to figure out their travel schedule.
For actual seminar schedule, understand that acceptance/rejection notices for seminar proposals literally went out yesterday.
It will take time for people to confirm, and the AHA to create a schedule for what seminar is when.

On the subject of seminars, my mead seminar was approved. The Cider Panel seminar was also approved and I'm on that too. And I'm planning to join a third seminar on the topic of judging/scoresheets. Supporting both KCBM and AMMA booths during Club Night too. Busy Busy. I bring my A-Game when it comes to sharing my stuff and I hope others do as well.
hope to see you all there

cheers--
--Michael

 

[TandemTails]

the major events won't change times. The "General Schedule" on the homebrewcon website at least is for '20, not last year.
https://www.homebrewcon.org/lineup/general-schedule/
These things don't change that much and are fairly dependable for those trying to figure out their travel schedule.
For actual seminar schedule, understand that acceptance/rejection notices for seminar proposals literally went out yesterday.
It will take time for people to confirm, and the AHA to create a schedule for what seminar is when.

On the subject of seminars, my mead seminar was approved. The Cider Panel seminar was also approved and I'm on that too. And I'm planning to join a third seminar on the topic of judging/scoresheets. Supporting both KCBM and AMMA booths during Club Night too. Busy Busy. I bring my A-Game when it comes to sharing my stuff and I hope others do as well.
hope to see you all there

cheers--
--Michael

What's the protocol for sharing your homebrew? I'll be traveling in from out of state but would still like to bring some stuff for other people to sample. Do people just bring coolers in and start opening stuff during the sessions or is there a dedicated time/place for this?

 

[garzlok]

If you get to Nashville: https://thepharmacyburger.com

Great place for Burgers, Brats, and Beer. I’m a little ashamed to admit it....but I get the Biergarten Platter every time and usually some Schlenkerla.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Last year the early sessions were basically starting at 9AM, (everyday had some sort of social going on, of course we aren’t showing up at 8 for stuff ). It was good fun plenty to learn, and the generosity of the vendors was like getting $100+ back in merch like hops, grain, yeast etc.

 

[mwilcox]

What's the protocol for sharing your homebrew? I'll be traveling in from out of state but would still like to bring some stuff for other people to sample. Do people just bring coolers in and start opening stuff during the sessions or is there a dedicated time/place for this?

it depends on the year/location/laws, actually. In Portland, for instance, there was a Homebrew Side and a Commercial Side in the Homebrew Expo/Social Club, with people reminding you not to take your beverage from one side of the tape to the other. Silly, but ya gotta find a way to obey whatever the local laws are.

I pretty much always have a cooler bag on my shoulder, and will serve from it during Pro Night and Club Night (if not at a booth), during the competition awards, and even during seminars if it can be done discreetly without interrupting the speakers. I would not bring in a whole giant cooler - those stay in my car/hotel room - and I just visit the room occasionally and refill whatever bag is on my shoulder. Cheers--

 

[k-os]

Registration is open! Just finished registering my girlfriend and myself.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

What's the protocol for sharing your homebrew? I'll be traveling in from out of state but would still like to bring some stuff for other people to sample. Do people just bring coolers in and start opening stuff during the sessions or is there a dedicated time/place for this?

I can only speak to what I observed last year. There is beer served in the expo area HBCs were serving and venders were serving. I brought one bottle of homebrew to share with one particular person and brought a keg for club night. I’m flying this year, so any home brew I bring will be going with a friend that is driving. Social activity happened every night and many sessions had beer, mead or buch to sample as part of the presentation. So yes you can bring some beer to share in a non disruptive way (not in sessions). Some people were imbibing during the awards ceremony, pre gaming the knock out party.

 

[brewswithshoes]

Any more news or updates from any insiders here on Homebrew Con in Nashville this year. Looks like the stay at home order is being lifted on May 1, but what are folks' thoughts on what will happen to the conference this year. I'm not sure how feasible traveling from other parts of the country will be in mid-June. Not to mention the dwindling discretionary dollars to spend for this.

I really want to attend as had such a good time last year, but just not sure what HC would even look like this year if it still goes forward.

Also, not to derail the thread, but i'd been thinking about how "sampling" will be changed thru all of this. Was thinking of beer festival changes too. I don't see how to keep that process sanitary unless switching back to little 2 to 3 oz plastic sampling cups. ??? Would you want to hand your glass sampling cup back and forth for thru 3 days of the conference ??

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Any more news or updates from any insiders here on Homebrew Con in Nashville this year. Looks like the stay at home order is being lifted on May 1, but what are folks' thoughts on what will happen to the conference this year. I'm not sure how feasible traveling from other parts of the country will be in mid-June. Not to mention the dwindling discretionary dollars to spend for this.

I really want to attend as had such a good time last year, but just not sure what HC would even look like this year if it still goes forward.

Also, not to derail the thread, but i'd been thinking about how "sampling" will be changed thru all of this. Was thinking of beer festival changes too. I don't see how to keep that process sanitary unless switching back to little 2 to 3 oz plastic sampling cups. ??? Would you want to hand your glass sampling cup back and forth for thru 3 days of the conference ??

I am not an insider, however my club had a virtual meeting via AHA and our host Matt said the board is keeping an eye on things, there is no decision at the moment for postponing or canceling.
That said of course it is a possibility, if that happens of course refunds will be issued. So what I’ve done is registered for the low rate. Tennessee is getting back in to humming along, we just have to wait and see if it was a wise decision for them.

 

[matt_m]

Don't book anything that's not explicitly refundable and print or PDF a copy of the current T&C's. Airlines especially are just changing the rules as they see fit. I had to file a dispute late this week on tickets for flights that didn't even fly and there were no substitutes that didn't add over 9 hours of travel. Doubt we'll succeed but at least we have our money back for a while.

 

[hopkincr]

Things may be starting to get back to opening, but I would highly doubt a conference like that can really go on in mid-June. If they do it’s a political move from the state more than relying on any safety protocols. Many conferences have been cancelled through August. College football may not (probably not) start on time or with fans. If sports don’t allow fans, how can conferences bring that many people together? We’ve run in to this with kids’ club/travel tournaments not wanting to cancel due to $ and states that are “open” but no teams show up so they are forced to.

 

[Spartan1979]

I was planning on going but I'm about ready to forget it. I haven't made any reservations or registered so finances aren't a consideration.

 

[myelo]

Things may be starting to get back to opening, but I would highly doubt a conference like that can really go on in mid-June.

I agree. Davidson county (Nashville) has had over 2,000 cases and has not reached peak numbers yet. Anyone who thinks this will be over by mid-June doesn't understand the problem. I'm just a few hours away in Knoxville and was really looking forward to my first homebrew con. But if anyone books a flight or hotel I would make sure you can get reimbursed if this gets cancelled. (If you are a wealthy individual of leisure feel free to disregard my suggestion)

 

[SteveH aka shetc]

I've booked flights, hotel and conference. I can't see how this can happen though.

 

[Dog House Brew]

No way this can happen. C-19 cases are on the rise. TN hasn't even seen the peak yet. Couple that with opening while cases are on the rise, I see TN going backwards. The numbers would be so off, I doubt that it makes sense unfortunately. I only hope that when it doesn't go, they return next year to Nashville. It was going to be my first one too. Opryland is really a nice venue for it.

 

[bob1852]

Many people I know (myself included) usually wind up sick (usually a simple cold) after attending big conferences and beer festivals.

Physical distancing is pretty much impossible at these things.

Can't imagine they'll hold this event.