Beer Blogger Conference?

[The Beer Babe]

Another idea that has been thrown out there is that there is a wine bloggers conference, but no beer bloggers conference. Why? Probably because not a lot of beer bloggers think that there are many other beer bloggers out there. It doesn't have to be GABF big, but what do you think about having a beer blogger conference, workshop, meetup or weekend? ALL THOUGHTS ENCOURAGED. Thoughts born after a few pints are also welcome. Cheers!

[TheBrewClub]

Lots of great ideas! I'd second something in the Brattleboro area. (Fun little city!) Lots of good beer and beer people in VT/NH.

[the beer wench]

Just got sent an email from one of the main sponsors/organizers of the Wine Bloggers Conference -- Zephyr Adventures. He mentioned that Zephyr Adventures is working on putting together the first Beer Bloggers Conference. It will likely be in Colorado in 2010. The organizer has asked for my thoughts on whether beer bloggers are similar to the wine blogging community and how they are different.

Stay tuned!

Ashley

[The Beer Babe]

I can think of a few reasons we're different. A lot actually. I bet you can too :)

the beer wench said:

Just got sent an email from one of the main sponsors/organizers of the Wine Bloggers Conference -- Zephyr Adventures. He mentioned that Zephyr Adventures is working on putting together the first Beer Bloggers Conference. It will likely be in Colorado in 2010. The organizer has asked for my thoughts on whether beer bloggers are similar to the wine blogging community and how they are different.

Stay tuned!

Ashley

[Dan]

I feel as though I'm being the downer here, but no one's actually said what we'd do at the conference. Getting together and drinking a lot of beer would be cool and all, but what would we accomplish?

Another route to go might be to do a web conference. This could be more than just a TTL event (sidenote: I goddamn hate TTL, but that's for another topic), with video presentations over ustream or something, 'panels' or presentations maybe, etc. I think a 'conference' could be a good idea, but right now I'm not in the position to travel across the country for it, and since the whole point is that we're all about the blagosphere anyway...

[the beer wench]

Well for one ... the beer world does not have a Robert Parker or Wine Spectator to fight with like those wine bloggers. And we don't cry and argue about "ethics" ... tee hee.

The Beer Babe said:

I can think of a few reasons we're different. A lot actually. I bet you can too :)

the beer wench said:

Just got sent an email from one of the main sponsors/organizers of the Wine Bloggers Conference -- Zephyr Adventures. He mentioned that Zephyr Adventures is working on putting together the first Beer Bloggers Conference. It will likely be in Colorado in 2010. The organizer has asked for my thoughts on whether beer bloggers are similar to the wine blogging community and how they are different.

Stay tuned!

Ashley

[The Beerbuddha]

I too am for a beer bloggers conference. Hell, we don't even have to learn anything I just wanna drink beer with ya'll!

[Chipper Dave]

Dan, I agree - That's a better question than where to have it. The topics for a beer blogger conference should be more important here.

I can imagine that besides the beer drinking that would normally take place we would talk about a wide variety of topics:
- Beer Writing/blogging techniques, etc
- Web technology / social media and beer
- Beer related topics: styles, breweries, homebrewing, evaluating beer, beer travel, etc
- Craft beer revolution - trends
- Regional beer spotlights (East coast, midwest, south, mountin, west coast, Europe, etc)
... and a ton of other topic areas

The more I think about it, this conference could be highly web tech related. You could make it much like a SXSW or a regular Blogger convention but it's really the Beer and the love of all things beer that will set it apart from the others.

Dan said:

I feel as though I'm being the downer here, but no one's actually said what we'd do at the conference. Getting together and drinking a lot of beer would be cool and all, but what would we accomplish?

[The Beer Babe]

I was thinking that to. A lot of the questions that I get as a beer blogger aren't all about beer - a lot are about strategy, software, social networking, search engines, cross-promotion, etc. There are certainly beer subjects, too, like Dave mentioned - (I'd add women beer bloggers, the mechanics of getting free beer, among others).

Something, basically, that we can't get perspective on unless we all connect a bit more.

Chipper Dave said:

Dan, I agree - That's a better question than where to have it. The topics for a beer blogger conference should be more important here.

I can imagine that besides the beer drinking that would normally take place we would talk about a wide variety of topics:
- Beer Writing/blogging techniques, etc
- Web technology / social media and beer
- Beer related topics: styles, breweries, homebrewing, evaluating beer, beer travel, etc
- Craft beer revolution - trends
- Regional beer spotlights (East coast, midwest, south, mountin, west coast, Europe, etc)
... and a ton of other topic areas

The more I think about it, this conference could be highly web tech related. You could make it much like a SXSW or a regular Blogger convention but it's really the Beer and the love of all things beer that will set it apart from the others.

Dan said:

I feel as though I'm being the downer here, but no one's actually said what we'd do at the conference. Getting together and drinking a lot of beer would be cool and all, but what would we accomplish?

[Dan]

Yeah, I'd be very interested in something telling me How To Promote Without Feeling Dirty. I just can't do it. Between the beer blog and the gaming site I co run I think I have a lot of good content but I can't try to get the word out about either without feeling sleazy.

[Allan Wright]

Hi beer bloggers,

I am jumping into this discussion after emailing with The Beer Wench, who attended the recent Wine Bloggers Conference. I am the organizer of that conference and we have already started moving in the direction of a Beer Bloggers Conference. We have the URL ready (www.beerbloggersconference.org) but nothing up yet. Our plan is to talk with sponsors about holding the conference in Colorado (where I live) in 2010.

Having read the below, I think it would make sense to have an evening Beer Bloggers Dinner in Denver during the GABF. We could use this conference to discuss your needs and how a Beer Bloggers Conference would best look.

We organized the first Wine Bloggers Conference in only six months and attracted 175 people (up to 275 this year) but I would suggest with only a couple months before the GABF that we not try to organize a full conference this year.

Although I am not a beer blogger, my company has the skills to put on a great conference at a cheap price for you bloggers. If that sounds good to you, I'll get started.

[topfermented]

I agree that this year seems like a little quick to organize a full blown conference at GABF. At this point it's a quick turnaround to plan to be there (I wasn't going to) - on the other hand, those of you that are attending *should* hook up and get the ball rolling.

Tweet me in. :)

Another thought is to shoot for going alongside the Craft Brewers Conference in Chicago in April. It's definitely more industry/business-minded than the beer festival, but at the same time it also has a solid share of fun. This year the CBC showed that it's leaning toward an awareness of the internet, social networking, and blogging by including a panel. I imagine that with a little parleying with the Brewers Association we could get involved in the Conference fairly easily.

It's an idea, anyway.

Finally, I second the idea of having actual content for us to share so that we can grow and learn from each other. I mean... I'm happy to share a few beers with all of you, but we can do that AND share ideas on how to be more awesome.

--erik

[Nate]

I've wanted to see something like this for a while...I would love to even help plan if it were to happen. A good location may be somewhere in the central US.