Beer Obsessed: Beer and Brewing Journal

Last Friday night was club night at the NHC convention in Minnesota. The event featured over 40 different homebrew clubs that spanned the 48 states. The majority were clubs in and around the midwest and none of these people dissappointed. From the great themes, to the jovial crowd, the food that was available, and to the massive amount of homebrew. One club in particular, correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe it was the Iowa’s Hombrewers Union, brought over 60 kegs to this event. Even if you averaged 10 kegs per club, you are still talking hundreds of kegs. I would love to hear the actual final numbers on this as I’m sure they are impressive.
With all of that, club night is a bit daunting but his year I did multiple laps around the room, trying to pick up what I missed on the last lap. I was constantly entertained from start till finish. The photo above is a basic idea of what you are up against, a decent size list of brews cross quite a range of styles. Let’s check out the pics (click on them for bigger versions):

The crowed near the beginning of the event. There usually a nice amount of room to move around.

Food options at one booth…making sure that your stomach stays topped off.

Most clubs had very professional taps, again showing the quality that everyone puts into the event.

More food. This time it was chili dogs.

Of course the Brewing Network was there doing what they do best: entertaining, building community, and getting the word out.

Self serve jockey boxes at the Iowa Brewers Union area.

More snacks….

Iowa Homebrewers Union taking the prize (the urinal tap) for bringing the most kegs to the event….over 60 kegs. A new record I believe.

The victory parade and of course you should hook it up and put a beer on! (below).

Gary standing over the beers you received in your registration bag. A Saison by Port Brewing and an IPA by Alpine brewing. Both were fantastic.

The numbers this year for the National Homebrewers Conference were impressive. The event was sold out for the second year in a row…there were 1100 attendees. Pro Brewers night had 52 brewers. Yes, that is 21 attendees for every brewery there. Club night had over 30 clubs in attendance.
Oakland and the west coast showed their pride in their land (and there beer) and came up with the goods. I caught up with Gary last Friday and asked him a bit about this. Check out the audio below:

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Thank you to the AHA, the volunteers, and everyone I met or didn’t meet. NHC 2009 was a great time. I’m looking forward already to Minnesota in 2010…and I better start talking with the family now.

Two of the west coasts finest in both pro brewing and homebrewing. Vinnie Cilurzo of Russian River Brewing Co. and Oakland resident, Nathan Smith who has beers in the final round of the nationals.

First off, I have to admit that this is my first NHC ever. As a homebrewer on and off for 20 years, I figured having it in my hometown was excuse enough to go and I’m glad I went. So far, I’m pretty sure I’m going every year no matter where it is.
I realized on my way to the convention that my brewing is pretty siloed in that I don’t have a lot of regular friends to talk with about brewing. I have made some professional-type connections through the website but no regulars. I was a bit nervous as I was about to go hang out with my tribe of people who I have never really met.Fortunately,  we have a lot in common. I did end up talking to folks and everyone has been great so far. I reconnected with some acquaintances that I haven’t seen in a while either. Hopefully what I get out of this weekend are some new friends who share a hobby that is near and dear to my heart.
The opening speech featured Gary Glass: head of the American Homebrewers Association, Charlie Papazian: no need to explain here, and Jamil Zainasheff, Homebrewer, AHA board member, and tireless volunteer. Jamil spoke about how the event was not about the beer but about the people. Coinky dink, exactly what I was think about this morning and great to hear someone else say it.
I rolled through a couple of seminars one by Matt Brynildson of Firestone Walker and Vinnie Chilurzo of Russian River. I did get them on tape and hope to post them later. Matt’s was on wood aging and Vinnies was on fermenting with “wild yeast”: brettanomyces. Both were excellent. I also also spent a good amount of time in the hospitality suite were many vendors had their wares out. Blichmann has come up with their version of a gravity fed all grain brew system and it was impressive. Highly modifiable by the user and one option was a shelf to sit your mash cooler on….something I have been wanting to see for a while. I don’t know the cost but hopefully it is close to other systems.
Tomorrow is day two and it will be packed with seminars. Looking forward to the panel on Mead, great brewing tips with Ray Daniels and Randy Mosher. Others as well.
I forgot to mention that this is a beer event. It was everywhere. Wyyeast had three taps in the registration area. There was a club pouring about 8 different beers at the hospitality suite. There was beer being poured…and served to you at your seat…at the opening toast and Vinnie had beers to go with his presentation….brought to your seat while you listened to the lecure. Very nice.
More soon.

Yeah baby! My hometown. That’s what I’m talking about!!

Will I have to book a room? No! I’m taking BART! This is great news!!!

National Homebrew Conference will be in Oakland in 2009.