NHC 2014- Grand Rapids Who's going?

[B-Hoppy]

Homercidal & brewtus, thanks for stopping! Met lots of great folks and Michigan ROCKS! (probably because it's next to OHIO, but that's another story). That LéHood is thanks to Lynn from GreatLakesHops as he cleaned her up for me and I hope she does well for you! Hoppy Trails~

 

[TobyG]

I had a great time! Drank tons of really good beer. Saw Palmer's seminar on water chemistry/pH - it was good. Took in some other seminars that were pretty informative. Got an autograph from Papazian on a 1st edition of "The Joy of Homebrewing". He was actually impressed on the age of the book. Expo was great. Drank tons of really good beer. Welcome reception was awesome. Club night was awesome. Also, B-Hoppy gave me a "Le Hood/La Hood" hop hybrid plant (planted yesterday). Drank tons of really good beer. Definitely worth the 5 hour drive to attend. My wife actually enjoyed it too. Oh yeah, one more thing, drank tons of really good beer!

You may have mentioned it and I didn't notice it, but did you get to try any really good beer while you were there?

 

[ram5ey]

Club night was great. So many great beers. I also stewarded for the final round which was a fantastic experience

 

[Homercidal]

Homercidal & brewtus, thanks for stopping! Met lots of great folks and Michigan ROCKS! (probably because it's next to OHIO, but that's another story). That LéHood is thanks to Lynn from GreatLakesHops as he cleaned her up for me and I hope she does well for you! Hoppy Trails~

I wanted to say thanks for the hp candy! It's sitting on the kitchen table tempting me, but I wanted to save it for my next homebrew club meeting so I can share it.

I'm betting it will be pretty popular, but when I handed some out at work last year, there was a definite mix reaction from people. Most spit it out pretty quickly. LOL!

BMC drinkers...

 

[B-Hoppy]

Thanks for the help Homer! After a few years at it, I seem to think that folks are expecting bitterness but get kinda freaked out when they don't really taste any? It is what it is, and it's all good in my book! Hop On brother, Hop On~

 

[Homercidal]

Thanks for the help Homer! After a few years at it, I seem to think that folks are expecting bitterness but get kinda freaked out when they don't really taste any? It is what it is, and it's all good in my book! Hop On brother, Hop On~

Most of the people I handed the candy to last time had no idea what hops were supposed to taste like! BMC drinkers...

 

[AnonyBrew]

I think I had fun too! Not quite sure though.

 

[Spartan1979]

I think I had fun too! Not quite sure though.

You're just sobering up now?

 

[Yooper]

You're just sobering up now?

Weird, but I had a whole bunch of people I was looking forward to meeting. But this year was different, and without a ProBrewer's night, I didn't meet nearly as many people from this forum as I thought I would.

Bob loved hanging with Soper, though! It seemed like we got to spend quite a bit of time with Homercidal and Pappers, too, which was great because Bob already knew them.

 

[mmb]

Weird, but I had a whole bunch of people I was looking forward to meeting. But this year was different, and without a ProBrewer's night, I didn't meet nearly as many people from this forum as I thought I would.

Bob loved hanging with Soper, though! It seemed like we got to spend quite a bit of time with Homercidal and Pappers, too, which was great because Bob already knew them.

There really needs to be an HBT club booth at one of these, just so there is a centralized place to run into people. Club night was crazy trying to find anyone.

 

[Yooper]

There really needs to be an HBT club booth at one of these, just so there is a centralized place to run into people. Club night was crazy trying to find anyone.

We've done that in the past. This year, no one seemed inclined to do it, and it is a lot of work.

We are talking about having a Sponsor booth at the NHC also. We talked about it this year quite a bit, and are considering it for next year.

 

[TobyG]

There really needs to be an HBT club booth at one of these, just so there is a centralized place to run into people. Club night was crazy trying to find anyone.

Yeah, and I didn't even find out about the forum meet up spot until after it happened. Somebody recognized me in a line from my picture (the blessing and curse of using a real photo as an avatar). lol

 

[Homercidal]

There really needs to be an HBT club booth at one of these, just so there is a centralized place to run into people. Club night was crazy trying to find anyone.

That definitely would have been nice! I spent a LOT of time looking for HBT members and I know I missed at least a few.

There are logistics to overcome, considering HBT is spread out over the US and the world. We aren't centralized like TBN (Morebeer, california, mostly) and it would be up to a few members to organize it.

If the NHC happens to be close enough, I will attend and woudl consider setting up a spot for people to meet, but it would be up to TxBrew to work out the official considerations. I think it costs money and without a "proper" representation it might not be worth it.

But having a posted "Go-to" location might work out.

 

[bob1852]

Yeah, and I didn't even find out about the forum meet up spot until after it happened.

There was a forum meet up spot?

 

[TobyG]

There was a forum meet up spot?

Apparently. It was one of the seminar rooms across from the vendor showcase during a lunch break from what I understand. I think it was primarily the AHA forum, but it was open to any other forums also.

 

[Yooper]

Apparently. It was one of the seminar rooms across from the vendor showcase during a lunch break from what I understand. I think it was primarily the AHA forum, but it was open to any other forums also.

Yep. And very few appeared. There were some of us mods (me, Homer, Pappers), some 'old timers' like Denny and pjj2ba and some friends like mabrungard and FSR402. There were some AHA forum folks, and some (like Denny and Martin) who are active on both. It was a very small group, though.

 

[Spartan1979]

Unfortunately, it wasn't well promoted. I saw it was in the program, but it slipped my mind after that.

 

[TobyG]

Yep. And very few appeared. There were some of us mods (me, Homer, Pappers), some 'old timers' like Denny and pjj2ba and some friends like mabrungard and FSR402. There were some AHA forum folks, and some (like Denny and Martin) who are active on both. It was a very small group, though.

Yeah, I remembered seeing pictures after the fact but couldn't remember where (I should have scrolled up to post 57 in this thread). It was Michael (udubdawg) that I bumped into several times during the course of the conference that told me about it afterwards.

 

[mmb]

There was a forum meet up spot?

It was the soper bus.

 

[TobyG]

It was the soper bus.

In retrospect, I wish I would have done that instead of the Brewing Network shindig.

 

[AnonyBrew]

In retrospect, I wish I would have done that instead of the Brewing Network shindig.

You're not the first one that's said this. There's always next year!

As far as the HBT meetup goes, we don't really need a booth, just a big sign or banner someone can mount above a table for all to see with the HBT logo on it they can recognize. People can then just go hang out near that table and mingle. Wouldn't take much coordination. Then maybe the sign can be relocated to wherever the next event is throughout the conference.

 

[Yooper]

In retrospect, I wish I would have done that instead of the Brewing Network shindig.

I wish you would have done it too! We had an awesome time.

I have done the BN thing a couple of times, and I'm too old and crabby to hang out in huge groups, although the outside thing this year would have been ok. The last few times I went, it was WAY too crowded, WAY too noisy, and I ended up staying for just a short time. I did get to knock down John Maier for a hat, though. He's just about the only person who is much smaller than I am, and I can kick his butt. Last year, I hung out with John and Justin's dad (forget his name now), with the 'old people'.

Bob really enjoyed the Soper Tour, as he knew a few folks, and had time to chat with several people in smaller groups and he was very comfortable. He enjoyed Club Night, too, but it got old for him and he walked back to the hotel before it was over.

 

[TobyG]

You're not the first one that's said this. There's always next year!

Yeah, if I make it next year, I know not to buy my BN tickets.

I wish you would have done it too! We had an awesome time.

I know. I have a few Zealot friends that were on it (that's how I found out about it).

I have done the BN thing a couple of times, and I'm too old and crabby to hang out in huge groups, although the outside thing this year would have been ok.

It was OK, but a little bit of a 'circus' for me. I don't think I'd have done it were it in an inside venue.

The last few times I went, it was WAY too crowded, WAY too noisy, and I ended up staying for just a short time. I did get to knock down John Maier for a hat, though. He's just about the only person who is much smaller than I am, and I can kick his butt.

Sounds like he's Pierre Celis-sized. lol

Bob really enjoyed the Soper Tour, as he knew a few folks, and had time to chat with several people in smaller groups and he was very comfortable.

Yeah, that's why I would have gone on it in retrospect. The Zealots are a great crew. I hung out with them at the awards banquet. I'm fine solo in general, but it's always nice to be around people you already know.

 

[mmb]

Yeah, that's why I would have gone on it in retrospect. The Zealots are a great crew. I hung out with them at the awards banquet. I'm fine solo in general, but it's always nice to be around people you already know.

We might have bumped into each other then. A few Zealots and ASH helped kill AZ's Utopias after the awards.

 

[TobyG]

We might have bumped into each other then. A few Zealots and ASH helped kill AZ's Utopias after the awards.

I wasn't there that long. I had a 6am flight, so headed out early.

 

[Denny]

Apparently. It was one of the seminar rooms across from the vendor showcase during a lunch break from what I understand. I think it was primarily the AHA forum, but it was open to any other forums also.

This was the first time the AHA (well, Drew and I) had set up something like this and some things kinda got away from us (them). I think that it will continue in future NHCs and hopefully be better organized and publicized.