HomeBrew Fest

[bigken462]

So, after reading a old thread from Pappy about Home Brew Town, I was left wondering if there is ever any organized socials that are sponsored by the forum. I offer this idea from something similar which goes on in one of my scuba diving forums. Twice a year we have Spring Fest and Fall Fest at one of the local favorite dive sites in Florida where people from all parts of the region drive in, fly in, boat in etc. Generally it's spread out over the weekend and there are some organized events and dive trips to enjoy. Typically at night there is live music, crawfish boils and of course, enjoying cold beer while making new friends.

I know HBT is used by many people across several different countries, but I think you get the idea of what I'm asking. Has there ever been anything like that put on anywhere? And if not, how feasible of a possibility to get one or a few started across the states?

How cool would it be to meet at a fair ground somewhere. Have multiple brewing booths set up, how to clinics, seminars, tent camping, live music and of course cold home brew. Combine this with a barbecue cook off and I bet it would be a hit.

Let the first Home Brew Fest be in Alabama!

KT

 

[hunter_le five]

Party at my house. Bring beer.

 

[banesong]

I believe that a large number of people on the forums use the National Homebrewer's Conference for this purpose. Baltimore this year!

 

[TxBrew]

We've kicked the idea around in the past, I liked the idea best of having it at an outdoor venue where people could camp/RV since most already tackle the indoor/hotel conference room style.

 

[bigken462]

I doubt my budget will ever allow a trip to Baltimore, but after looking at the conference, I can't help but wonder how much overtime I would have to have to pull that trip off.

I'm so tempted to try sending a sample to a competition sometime. The problem is that everything I have brewed has always been recipes from online sites or kits. I just don't feel right about submitting something that I did not make up from my recipe list.

All that said, I bet going to one of those conventions would be awesome all by itself.

 

[sfish]

Txbrew,

Can you schedule a time and place for a meet and greet of forum members in Baltimore?

 

[Yooper]

I doubt my budget will ever allow a trip to Baltimore, but after looking at the conference, I can't help but wonder how much overtime I would have to have to pull that trip off.

I'm so tempted to try sending a sample to a competition sometime. The problem is that everything I have brewed has always been recipes from online sites or kits. I just don't feel right about submitting something that I did not make up from my recipe list.

All that said, I bet going to one of those conventions would be awesome all by itself.

It is awesome. I love the NHC.

It's just you and 3000 of your new best friends, going to wonderful seminars, enjoying beer tastings with over 1000 different beers, and hanging out with the coolest people anywhere.

It's definitely a great opportunity to learn more and grow as a brewer as well as to meet other brewers from everywhere.

 

[bigken462]

Outside of eats, what would you think a ball park cost would be for a trip like that from Alabama?

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

We have the annual Southern California Homebrew Fest. Basically about 35-40 different homebrew clubs set up our bars in EZ-UP tents and serve beer to each other and pat ourselves on the back about how awesome it tastes. (And how terrible some of the beer at other clubs taste in comparison!)

The cost of the event weekend (i.e. campsite, CHA membership and event ticket, basic food) can probably be had for under $200. And ~$110 of that is two night campsite fee, so if you're splitting your campsite, you can even bring that down. Everything else is just the cost to get here.