Homebrew Con - Worth it?

[brewbama]

So they should just have it in Plato, MO since that's the middle of where everyone lives. [emoji6]

Is that what you're advocating?

Nope. Just supporting Martin’s statement. Nashville is closer to the center of the country than the places it’s been held over the last decade.

 

[Bobbybob]

I live in Portland so I had to go last year and it was a blast.

 

[visitor]

Nope. Just supporting Martin’s statement. Nashville is closer to the center of the country than the places it’s been held over the last decade.

At the very least picking metros where the airport is a single leg from most would be awesome. Frankly part of the fun for me, in traveling is exploring new cities. Providence being a short trip from home (CT) seemed like a great opportunity for me to attend my first homebrew con. Looking forward to the event and hopeful that I find it worthwhile enough to make a further and more expensive trip to each and every year.

 

[jdauria]

The National Mean Center of Population based on the 2010 Census is near Plato, Mo., an incorporated village in Texas County. I’d say Nashville is closer to the population center of the US than the East or West Coast where it’s been held over the past decade +.

The mean population does not really mean much, when you look at just New York City alone with over 8 million in population having more people then all but 12 states.

The conference rotates West, Central, East every year...except Central is usually Northern states like Minnesota or Illinois. Though the conference was in Orlando in 2006, TX in 2002 and New Orleans in '96. This is the first time in New England since 1991 when it was in Manchester NH. It will never be in Boston, which is where they wanted this year's because hotel room prices would be off the chart. This is also only the 6th time in 41 years it's be been in the Northeast. Baltimore had it 3 times, '95, '05 and '16. Philly in '13 and Manchester in '91.

https://www.homebrewcon.org/past-conferences/

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Really great event last night, thanks again.

Don't forget that Drew and I, along with Country Malt, are putting on a FREE party Wed. night at Isle Brewers Guild. FREE buses from the convention center to the brewery from 6-10 PM. Live music, giveaways, FREE beer!

Where was that “FREE beer”?

 

[brewswithshoes]

Here now. So many cool people. But thought I’d share a cool pic. A hops vending machine !!!

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

^^^ hey thanks I saw it open but I didn’t know what it was about. Yakima and others are giving them away for free.

 

[Genuine]

I was hoping to go since it’s only 45 min from me. I would have been able to make it for Friday but didn’t realize the tickets were $250-300. Couldn’t justify that for just one day.

 

[SteveH aka shetc]

If anybody wants to meet up, send me a message and I'll give you my number. I'm looking forward to meeting some forum friends!

Yooper, where are you? [emoji3]

 

[SteveH aka shetc]

Having my beer evaluated on Dr. Homebrew at Homebrew Con

 

[applescrap]

^^^ What, the rest of us are chopped liver?

Haha, I spoke to early. Of course!!

 

[applescrap]

With an average attendance near 3000, there is nowhere but convention centers for the foreseeable future.

Denver!

Edit, the broadmoor in Colorado springs would be perfect. It's really nice too.

@shetc that's rad. How did it go?

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Club night was a blast!

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Some of the freebies thanks, Yakima Chief!

 

[6Tap]

Some of the freebies thanks, Yakima Chief!View attachment 633288

Score!

 

[passedpawn]

Denver!

Edit, the broadmoor in Colorado springs would be perfect. It's really nice too.

@shetc that's rad. How did it go?

It's one of my favorite show locations. I used to go to an annual show there on the lake. Fantastic.

 

[SteveH aka shetc]

Denver!

Edit, the broadmoor in Colorado springs would be perfect. It's really nice too.

@shetc that's rad. How did it go?

It went way better than I thought it would. My weird Twitbier scored 36. The winning IPA was scored a 40. And it was a lot of fun.

 

[Yooper]

It went way better than I thought it would. My weird Twitbier scored 36. The winning IPA was scored a 40. And it was a lot of fun.

I never got a chance to say hi! I was in the Brewer’s Friend booth during all of the Expo hours, and talked to a ton of people but never got to walk around much, or go to any seminars other than my own.
I did get a few fun photos, but not nearly as many as I had hoped.
Loved hanging out with @Hoppy2bmerry !

 

[Yooper]

 

[SteveH aka shetc]

Aw jeez, Yooper, I must have walked by you a dozen times [emoji849]

 

[BrewMan13]

We had 7 from our club show up. Was my first one and I had an awesome time!

 

[brewswithshoes]

I thought as the thread starter on this, I should circle back to answer my own original question. Homebrew Con was definitely worth it.

As this was very last minute for me, I’m sure I could have done better if I’d had more time to plan.

I seemed a little lost with the schedule and bouncing back from the seminars, expo, and demos. This is completely my fault as I should have mapped my time better but instead I would wander expo and lose track of seminar starting times. Also, as this was bookended on a work trip I didn’t stay as close to convention center as I’d have liked. (Tip for those that may be going next year the on-site or sponsored hotel would be the way to go). Too many Ubers and not being able to relax back in my room even for an hour break or something took a little out of me.

I will most definitely be going back in 2020 and hopefully I can do a better job with conferencing planning and meeting up with folks. Club night was fun and I got to talk with Michael Ferguson which was cool. Used to love his Beer Geeks show. I also got to meet Yooper and Melana at the Brewers Friend booth [emoji3]

Hopefully next year we could plan a HBT meetup (or maybe there was one and I didn’t have it in my plan [emoji15])

Thanks all that chimed in earlier to encourage me to go !!!

 

[matt_m]

Having gone to a few work conferences I know what you mean. Venue/recommended hotels are the way to go. I'd even venture that by the time you rent a car (probably a bad idea for this convention anyway) or pay for Ubers, you might not even save money.

And at those, its always my luck there's 3 sessions running concurrently that I want to go to and nothing exciting to me the next period LOL.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

I found the convention app to be very convenient and useful in planning out the day.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

I never got a chance to say hi! I was in the Brewer’s Friend booth during all of the Expo hours, and talked to a ton of people but never got to walk around much, or go to any seminars other than my own.
I did get a few fun photos, but not nearly as many as I had hoped.
Loved hanging out with @Hoppy2bmerry !

It was really my pleasure, you are a great “people person” and your presentation with @Melana was sooooo informative and useful, I’ll be giving cheese making another go soon. Thank you for all you do!

 

[brewswithshoes]

one more thing to add. HOLY SMOKES & THANKS to all the hop vendors at the expo. i seriously think we all came close to getting our entry fees back in equivalent hops. Super excited to have come home with 2 lbs of Galaxy, along with the incredible amounts of other packets.... cryo, experimental, etc. Was not expecting to just be given so much stuff from these vendors.

 

[hopkincr]

The National Mean Center of Population based on the 2010 Census is near Plato, Mo., an incorporated village in Texas County. I’d say Nashville is closer to the population center of the US than the East or West Coast where it’s been held over the past decade +.

It’s in Nashville because it’s becoming the “it” city. Good thing it’s at the Opryland as downtown hotel prices in Nashville are through the roof. Had a conference there last year and same conference is in NYC next year and average hotel price is $100 cheaper in NYC. Nashville is great and all (lived there for 8 years during the start and middle of the boom - moved in 2016), but it’s getting a bit ridiculous there.

 

[Yooper]

I thought as the thread starter on this, I should circle back to answer my own original question. Homebrew Con was definitely worth it.

As this was very last minute for me, I’m sure I could have done better if I’d had more time to plan.

I seemed a little lost with the schedule and bouncing back from the seminars, expo, and demos. This is completely my fault as I should have mapped my time better but instead I would wander expo and lose track of seminar starting times. Also, as this was bookended on a work trip I didn’t stay as close to convention center as I’d have liked. (Tip for those that may be going next year the on-site or sponsored hotel would be the way to go). Too many Ubers and not being able to relax back in my room even for an hour break or something took a little out of me.

I will most definitely be going back in 2020 and hopefully I can do a better job with conferencing planning and meeting up with folks. Club night was fun and I got to talk with Michael Ferguson which was cool. Used to love his Beer Geeks show. I also got to meet Yooper and Melana at the Brewers Friend booth [emoji3]

Hopefully next year we could plan a HBT meetup (or maybe there was one and I didn’t have it in my plan [emoji15])

Thanks all that chimed in earlier to encourage me to go !!!

It was sooooo great meeting you! We should have a meetup- we used to and I always had a great time meeting new friends. This year I was so busy with working and speaking that I didn't even do the small things I like to do (like late-night bottle shares), but next year maybe it will be different and we can have them again.

It was really my pleasure, you are a great “people person” and your presentation with @Melana was sooooo informative and useful, I’ll be giving cheese making another go soon. Thank you for all you do!

I'm so glad you came to the seminar- I kept looking at you and several other friends to gauge interest. You either have the world's best poker face, or you were interested, so I appreciate that!

 

[JimRausch]

View attachment 633284 View attachment 633285 View attachment 633286
Club night was a blast!

Yeah- middle picture is of our club- Homebrewers of Greater Bangor! We had 14 members attend and poured 14 beers for Club night (and 12 at Social club). Booth theme was: Bangor: Where Steven King lives and Bud Light is Dead!
Fantastic time! I admit at times I was overwhelmed with all the possibilities of things to do, and wasn't able to take advantage of as many seminars as I originally planned. But I will say that there was definitely something there for anyone. And while I've seen posts that the $260 fee was too much, it was possible to score so much free stuff to almost cover that cost. I highly recommend it to anyone who might be on the fence......

 

[mwilcox]

I'm glad to hear OP had a good time. They offer good advice based on their experience too: You really can't do it all, so plan ahead.
I was sorry to have to miss Providence and will see you in Nashville. I'll be found in the KCBM and AMMA booths on Club Night and have a seminar or two in planning, pairing up with a talented mead maker.
cheers--
--Michael