National Homebrew Club Ireland

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Pleased to announce that BrewCon 2016 (http://www.nhcconference.com) will be held in Dublin on Saturday 23rd April.

We will be aiming to build on last year's very successful event and make the event even more relevant and educational for homebrewers. Our theme will be "Pushing the Boundaries of Brewing" and will focus on helping brewers turn good beer, into great beer.

So save the date, 23rd April and maybe book the time off with your wife/husband/boss/parole officer. It is a busy weekend in the capital so I would advise looking into accommodation options as soon as possible as well.

Ticket info and speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.  I hope to see as many of you there as possible.

Sláinte,
Thomas Carroll
NHC President

looking forward to it

Sweet! Can't wait!!

Excellent.

Any speakers confirmed at this point?

Quote from: irish_goat on January 10, 2016, 05:30:39 PM

Ticket info and speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.   

:-/ soz, don't know how I missed that..

Great! Making my calendar busy around the entire weekend :)

Really looking forward to this

Added to calendar! :)

Good stuff - looking forward to this!

Saved, but wife don't know yet :D

BrewCon 2016, Ireland's only homebrew conference aimed solely at all levels of brewers & brewing, is being held on Saturday April 23rd, at the historic Smock Alley Theatre.

The primary role of the NHC is to improve the standard of home brewed beer and this year's theme centres around "Pushing the Boundaries" of brewing and will focus on furthering our member's homebrew education, teaching them how to turn good beers, into great beers! 

This year, BrewCon 2016's keynote speaker will be Gordon Strong. Gordon is the current BJCP president and author of top selling homebrew books, Brewing Better Beer and Modern Homebrew Recipes. He is also the only three-time winner of the coveted
American Homebrew Association Ninkasi Award and as President of the BJCP, Gordon is the chief author of the new BJCP guidelines.

Tickets will be realised for a members presale on 23rd February 2016. Members of the public will then be able to purchase tickets from the 1st March 2016.   

Quote from: irish_goat on February 09, 2016, 03:09:29 PM
This year, BrewCon 2016's keynote speaker will be Gordon Strong. Gordon is the current BJCP president and author of top selling homebrew books, Brewing Better Beer and Modern Homebrew Recipes. He is also the only three-time winner of the coveted
American Homebrew Association Ninkasi Award and as President of the BJCP, Gordon is the chief author of the new BJCP guidelines.

Great work, lads. Gordon is home brewing royalty, it's fair to say.

Slick site, but the timer is counting up!

Fixed

Much better.

Very impressed with the look and feel of the site:
For those who haven't looked:

http://www.nhcconference.com/ (http://www.nhcconference.com/)

Can members buy a ticket for a +1 or is it one ticket per member? Cheers.

The discount is only for members.

Each year people ask, what's the point/benefit of being a member well, discount & early access to BrewCon tickets is a fine example.

Aswell as access to members discounts with the home brew shops, group buys, etc (you know the spiel at this stage).

I know the spiel and am greatful for all the benefits. I'm just wondering if I can get my hands on 2 tickets(even without a discount) before they go on sale to the general public?

All members will receive a unique link to purchase tickets prior to general release.
You will be able to purchase extra tickets at the standard full price at that time also.
Full details will follow soon.

(Can all members make sure their contact details are correct & up to date in their profile)

Cheers pob.

Looking good lads :)

That Website is all Pobs work and he is available for nominal rates ;), take a bow Mr Pob.

Quote from: pob on February 12, 2016, 12:58:26 PM
All members will receive a unique link to purchase tickets prior to general release.
You will be able to purchase extra tickets at the standard full price at that time also.
Full details will follow soon.

(Can all members make sure their contact details are correct & up to date in their profile)

Thanks God, I was wondering how to get a ticket... How much will be this year ?

More expensive that last year but what we have on offer is way better as well and be rest assured its done for members first and foremost and not for profit.

All will be revealed to members only first before the end of the month ;)

Plus all the free goodies. I use my white labs beer coozie all the time.

Yep we have some very kind sponsors again this year. El Presidento, IG will start announcements next week

Timer is counting up from midnight when registration was suppose to start it seems.

Quote from: Cambrinus on February 23, 2016, 06:52:12 AM
Timer is counting up from midnight when registration was suppose to start it seems.

fixed now

Great! Nice clean page ;-)

An email will be sent out later today to all NHC Members with an exclusive invitation, look out for the announcement by Irish Goat on the forum later today also, its all very exciting  :D

Just take my money already! :D

Folks last couple of days to access your members tickets, next week they go on sale to the public.

We are nearly half way there after only 3 days and we want to be certain all members are first in the queue.

Any members any questions or are on the fence about it?

In the coming days we will expand on the speaker topics what you are getting for your €50 and prizes we have on offer for attendees all thanks to our kind sponsors.

I've a question?
Work away...
How long is the day?
We typically start at 10
Break for lunch at 1230
More lectures at 2.15
Coffee break
430-5 ish ish upstairs for guided beer tasting
5.30 close, maybe a little later because of Q&A
Drinks reception then up to 9.

Will I need money at the event?
No, after your ticket price it's all free

But bring post-event drinking money!

and for a doirty kebab on the way home

Have we got zaytoons booked?

That reminds me of the mess we were in last time in Zaytoon. Great craic

Quote from: CH on February 26, 2016, 11:31:13 AM
and for a doirty kebab on the way home

Not to mention cab money. Wickla is a hell of a long walk from Dublin city centre!!! Or knowing yourself ur going to be checked in to the most convenient hotel :)

Shanna

Stupidly I agreed to take the missus out for dinner afterwards for her birthday. Must stay off the IIPAs this time ;)

At last the NCB are about to get a banner! "Yippe Kayy Ayyee Mer'Fekers" as we say up here in the north of the county!

So what to do with a banner?

Bring the banners and any other local group brandings to the BrewCon.

Hang them up and then let the members congregate under their banners.

We will have name tags etc. so lets just show every one who ARE the NCBers OR the Garden County Gardners OR the Belfast Boys!

Its all about putting faces to names and groups.

SO: If your local group hasn't got a banner then now is a GR8 timer to shell out €30 or so!

IIRC: The NHC will pay for this!

Having the forum username alongside people's actual name on the name badges would help to put names to faces

Folks this is the last couple of Days for Members to have exclusive access to Brewcon Tickets.
Takeup has been better than last year but with 300+ members we want to make sure you don't miss out.

We will be posting more of these summaries in the coming week.

This conference is aimed at all levels not just experts and no matter what level you are at you should learn something.

We will also allow you an opportunity to submit questions in advance.


And so to whet you appetite here is a synopsis from one of our speakers Dr Bill Simpson;

Defining the flavour characteristics of different beer styles

Dr Bill Simpson, Cara Technology Limited.

Beers can be classified into styles in one of two ways. In the 'top down' approach we instinctively know that a beer is an IPA rather than a Rauchbier or Czech Pilsner.
We do this through use of complex 'pattern' recognition, with learning taking place every time we evaluate or drink an example of each beer style. In many respects this way of identifying beer styles is instinctive and occurs without conscious thought.
In the 'bottom up' approach, tasters look for individual beer flavour attributes, alongside an evaluation of beer appearance and alcohol strength. The identity of an unknown beer style can then be deduced using a set of rules. Learning to identify beer styles in this way take places quickly, typically in a matter of days rather than years.

In this presentation I'll share with you some of the key flavour attributes of some well-known styles of beer and show how you can use this approach to improve your 'blind' identification of beer styles and to brew better beer.

Particularly excited about Dr Bill Simpson myself, if people want to check out his LinkedIn page (https://www.linkedin.com/in/billsimpson19) he has a massive wealth of experience and qualifications. Will especially be of interest to brewers who enter and judge at our homebrew competitions.

(https://static.simpsonswiki.com/images/4/4c/Dr._Simpson.png)

Just had a look at his linkedin page and so I am looking forward to his talk :).

Fair play guys / gals for getting Chip Walton over. I learned how to brew from watching him and Michael Dawson (and Keeler) in the Brewing TV videos and Chop and Brew videos (and how to smoke meat).

Really really looking forward to this.

If you haven't seen any of his videos: "All about stout" is a good one, where the guys brew up 2 Dublin stouts, one from the 1880s, and the other a modern dry Irish stout.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ADJoeKFMqk   

A small suggestion for the Brewcon website: include the date somewhere on the homepage. It took me a while to find it.

Brewcon takes place exactly 500 years to the day after the Purity Laws were first introduced in Bavaria. Fantastic timing!

God had a hand in our planning. He on our side you know because he invented brewing for us mortals to discover ;)

Plus he makes the water, grain and hops come together to make beer. There's nothing else out there that can do that. Nothing. No other explanation at all. 

He's a good lad that God fella,just don't piss him off though :P

Stay away from microscopes and you'll be fine.

Folks our Vendors and Friends of the NHC were all approached and we have the following very kind sponsor list who have excelled themselves with vouchers, giveaways, beer for our goody bag and on the day.

Please support these kind folks with your custom as they really have made a huge difference to an event like ours which is run on a tight budget and which benefits the members and those attending.

Excellent stuff, can't wait!!!

It's going to be hard to carry that free grainfather home on the bus...  :P

I'm sure you'll find a way ;)

What time approx does the event finish?

Beer O Clock starts at about 5.30 ish, last year we fell out about Nine if that helps.

Quote from: CH on April 16, 2016, 11:52:41 AM
Beer O Clock starts at about 5.30 ish, last year we fell out about Nine if that helps.

If you need any help to "tidy up" let us know ;-)

Shanna

Guys,

I won't be able to attend the BrewCon because of some last minute work related issues. I will pick up my goodie bag tomorrow but would have to head straight to the office then. If anyone is interested to attend instead of me. please let me know. I don't want any money, the ticket is free game but I'm not sure if the ticket is somehow transferable? Would there be a way someone else could attend instead of myself?

Show up after work!

"after work" means around 8pm tomorrow :)

Question:

How are going to hang the club/nhc banners?

We were going to hold ours in the audience while shouting abuse?

Sent from my One using Tapatalk

Quote from: Will_D on April 22, 2016, 07:54:03 PM
Question:

How are going to hang the club/nhc banners?

Good aul cable ties (thanks for the reminder).

Quote from: shiny on April 22, 2016, 08:21:32 PM
We were going to hold ours in the audience while shouting abuse?

Sent from my One using Tapatalk

Hopefully all in Capital Tshirt uniforms; abuse is only allowed if in 3 part harmony or else total anarchic volleys - no half way house allowed on this one. ;)

Looking forward to tomorrow.

Quote
Looking forward to tomorrow.

Highlight of the brewing year. Can't wait.

Quote from: pob on April 22, 2016, 08:26:24 PM

Quote from: shiny on April 22, 2016, 08:21:32 PM
We were going to hold ours in the audience while shouting abuse?

Sent from my One using Tapatalk

Hopefully all in Capital Tshirt uniforms; abuse is only allowed if in 3 part harmony or else total anarchic volleys - no half way house allowed on this one. ;)

Looking forward to tomorrow.

I'm wearing a south Dublin T-shirt tomorrow.  :D

Hehe think I am as well :)

Quote from: shiny on April 22, 2016, 08:21:32 PM
We were going to hold ours in the audience while shouting abuse?

You not seen the big Wicklow lad we have doing security?  :P

The real question is what is going to be your intro music this morning? :)

Sent from my One using Tapatalk

https://youtu.be/IcDPCMkLf8k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFKaXO-56DM

What a great day out. Many thanks to the organisers and the speakers and the sponsors for producing such an excellent conference.

Here's to next year

*hick* Excellent night. Thanks again to all the organisers. You managed to excel last year which I didn't think was possible!

What a great day!
Some great speakers making some great points - I'm glad I took notes! I've lots to research now which can only improve my brewing and "push the boundaries".
Well done to all involved in the organisation too, top job!!!

Quote from: molc on April 23, 2016, 09:35:17 PM
*hick* Excellent night. Thanks again to all the organisers. You managed to excel last year which I didn't think was possible!

Great day & night. Testament to the quality of the beer I don't have a hang over :) Thanks to all the organisers & speakers. Now off to start that thread.

Shanna

Great day lads, fair play! By any chance did anyone come across the Wee County banner all rolled up in its tube? We "misplaced" it!

Many thanks to the Speakers, organisers, sponsors and to Smock Alley for such an informative day. Great to meet a few new faces and share a few nice beers. Thoroughly enjoyed the day.

I learned a lot, and only for I'd been up till 03:30 at a wedding the night before, couldn't speak, and the wife wanted me home early, I'd love to have stayed for more fun. Really well run event, and the venue was amazing.

I can't help thinking that more events, throughout the year, in the same venue, would work well...just 2 hour ones, 4 short talks. It'd be brilliant. There are so many knowledgeable people in the scene, who have so much to share...

Quote from: helmet on April 24, 2016, 09:37:55 AM
Great day lads, fair play! By any chance did anyone come across the Wee County banner all rolled up in its tube? We "misplaced" it!

You misplaced it alright I have your back though, nobody gets left behind, pm me with a contact number and address.

I believe a tweed cap of the quiet man variety made the rounds at some point. Could whoever has it get in touch as I'm nearly completely bald and need it to avoid skin cancer. Ta vurra much

Really great day.

Stunning selection of great beers on show aswell.

Surprisingly clear head today (NigelC & Bubbles: must have been the chillies, eh!)

Rest of the body shattered though.

Roll on #BrewCon2017.

Great to catch up with so many again.

+1 to all the above posters. Great day, many thanks to all the organisers. And the Rascals Wunderbar IPA was amazing  ;D

Quote from: CH on April 24, 2016, 10:42:53 AM


You misplaced it alright I have your back though, nobody gets left behind, pm me with a contact number and address.

Speaking of the misplaced, anyone seen the attached? Not the former prez mind but his headgear?

CAn we get a lost and found section.. I misplaced a pair of sunglasses too

Only other thing was a black scarf  didn't see any glasses left behind

Think I Left them in the "after party" in the porterhouse or maybe the "after, after party"  in Zaytoons

You were wearing them to avoid the paps? We only cover Smock

Quote from: pob on April 24, 2016, 12:01:30 PM
NigelC & Bubbles: must have been the chillies, eh!)

Great chilli beer, that...

I'm scarleh.........

Quote from: cruiscinlan on April 24, 2016, 01:04:02 PM

Quote from: CH on April 24, 2016, 10:42:53 AM


You misplaced it alright I have your back though, nobody gets left behind, pm me with a contact number and address.

Speaking of the misplaced, anyone seen the attached? Not the former prez mind but his headgear?

All he's missing now is the beard....

Great day lads, massive props and thanks to all the organisers.

Few thoughts, now that the brain has started working again...

That venue is amazing. Even the food is excellent.

The standard of talks was excellent. As good as our American keynote speakers were, I was struck by the huge depth of knowledge that we have on our own doorstep. The future of BrewCon is assured, given the availability of quality contributors such as we saw yesterday.

It seems unfair to single out an individual speaker, but Bill Simpson's high energy delivery was a breath of fresh air in the late afternoon when everyone was beginning to flag with bellies full of beer and good grub.

I hope I'm not speaking out of turn but I'd love to see James Spencer from Basic Brewing at next years BrewCon. His educational approach is absolutely made for BrewCon.




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Here, here. I didn't know what to expect but Bill Simpson's talk while being technical was engaging, great delivery! That said I learned something from all the speakers. Another great day out with a great venue, great swag bag and the NHC crack team to help it along!

Definitely! Such a great day out - education, beer and catching up with folks. What more do you need?!

Now a permanent diary entry for all years.

Cheers for all the kind words, folks. Really makes it all worth it hearing the positivity on the day and afterwards. 

We will be sending out a quick survey to all attendees asking for feedback (positive and negative). Please do feel free to make suggestions on how to improve the day, suggest people we can chase for talks, or more broadly, suggest topics and we'll try and find relevant speakers.

Similarly, if anyone wants to get involved in organising we could always use a few more bodies.  :)

It was said on the day that the slides from the talks would be available to download. Have these been posted anywhere?

Quote from: robotmonkey on May 03, 2016, 03:28:47 PM
It was said on the day that the slides from the talks would be available to download. Have these been posted anywhere?

Not yet, getting permissions from all & then I'll post them up (hopefully next couple of days).

Quote from: pob on May 03, 2016, 03:33:17 PM

Quote from: robotmonkey on May 03, 2016, 03:28:47 PM
It was said on the day that the slides from the talks would be available to download. Have these been posted anywhere?

Not yet, getting permissions from all & then I'll post them up (hopefully next couple of days).

Any word on this, P? I'm keen to get another look at Dr J's water presentation.  :)

Quote from: Bubbles on May 17, 2016, 11:15:07 AMAny word on this, P? I'm keen to get another look at Dr J's water presentation.  :)

Hey Bubbles, I have the slides ready to go but I was thinking that it might be good to combine them with the ones from last year to give a fuller picture.

I can send on what I have now or if you'd prefer to wait for the combined presentation I'll let you know when it's done.

I think I remember you saying that you have soft water in your area (South Dublin right?). I'll be brewing a lager this weekend if you want to drop down to Naas and see how I treat the water - it's pretty similar to yours.   

Thanks for the answering the SOS dude, I'll drop you a PM in a minute.

Quote from: Dr Jacoby on May 17, 2016, 11:21:33 AM
I have the slides ready to go but I was thinking that it might be good to combine them with the ones from last year to give a fuller picture.

Cool, I couldn't make last years.  Would be keen to see those.

Folks just to remind everybody to redeem your vouchers from our kind sponsors in the allocated time period on their vouchers. I know HBCs offer of the free 10kgs of Hook Head Malt finishes end of June and HBW discount runs in June only also.
Please follow instructions printed on the sheet.
To be fair to all our kind sponsors vouchers will not be honoured in Dec. So please don't ask, you have been told

Quote from: CH on June 14, 2016, 09:33:20 AM
.... and HBW discount runs in July.

HBW discount runs in June according to the sheet that I got....

Absolutely correct June only, I have edited my post above and placed my orders!

Quote from: CH on June 14, 2016, 09:33:20 AM
Folks just to remind everybody to redeem your vouchers from our kind sponsors in the allocated time period on their vouchers. I know HBCs offer of the free 10kgs of Hook Head Malt finishes end of June and HBW discount runs in June only also.
Please follow instructions printed on the sheet.
To be fair to all our kind sponsors vouchers will not be honoured in Dec. So please don't ask, you have been told

BIG BUMP

Last week now folks to get your orders in I don't want to have to point attendees to this notification in August

Looks like Brewcon is stepping up a gear for 2017

I hear its sold out for the next few years already...

Anyone have any photobucket/Google Drive folders of photos they took at last year's BrewCon?