[garc_mall]

So, I just saw the pre-conference events, and I am pretty excited. I don't think I will be going on any of the brewery tours, but I might do the eastside brewery tour (Tour E) just for grins. My wife and I will assuredly be attending the Pike Brewing company Beer & Food Pairing extravaganza. It gets me out of the doghouse for going to NHC, because that dinner happens to be on our anniversary. What events are you planning on attending?

[jeffy]

I have a question about the pre conference events if anyone here can answer.  Does each tour have one departure time or will there be busses leaving from the hotel at different times?  I don't see anything available for someone flying in mid afternoon Wednesday, except perhaps the BJCP reception, but that link takes me to the 2011 San Diego reception.

[garc_mall]

I am not a part of the organizing committee, but the way it reads seems like there is only one departure time. Knowing where most of those breweries are, I think the times they posted are for the whole tour.

[tschmidlin]

Yes, they are single tours that leave at a certain time.  Its not really feasible to do a tour for people arriving later on Wednesday, although the self guided tours should still be great.

[little.dipper]

Is that the way the hop yard tour will work as well? I'm planning to arrive Tuesday for the sole purpose of that tour. If it is only one time and is fairly early I may be cutting it close.

[tschmidlin]

Is that the way the hop yard tour will work as well? I'm planning to arrive Tuesday for the sole purpose of that tour. If it is only one time and is fairly early I may be cutting it close.

If you want to do the hop tour, I strongly recommend coming on Monday.  It leaves at 8 or 9 AM and is gone for 12 hours.  Yakima is in Washington, but not that close.  It is more than a 2 hour drive.  There will be a lot to do once you get there, but it makes for a long day.  It will be awesome though, if there was one tour I could do it would be this one.

Jeff, I forgot to mention, the area around the hotel has quite a bit to do.  There is a great Rock Bottom a couple of blocks away, and right next door to that is the Taphouse with 160 taps.  Besides those places, most every bar in walking distance will have good beer on tap, that's just the way it is around here.

Also, special for forum members: if you want to get some awesome, and I mean AWESOME Taiwanese food, go to Facing East right near the hotel.  So good.  The place next right door is supposed to be great too, but we've never been.  I don't want to tell everyone because it is crowded enough as it is.  Should be fine for lunch though.

[jeffy]

Is that the way the hop yard tour will work as well? I'm planning to arrive Tuesday for the sole purpose of that tour. If it is only one time and is fairly early I may be cutting it close.

Jeff, I forgot to mention, the area around the hotel has quite a bit to do.  There is a great Rock Bottom a couple of blocks away, and right next door to that is the Taphouse with 160 taps.  Besides those places, most every bar in walking distance will have good beer on tap, that's just the way it is around here.

I've been to that Rock Bottom.  It's good.
I checked on public transport yesterday and found that there's a bus that goes almost directly to Big Time in about 30 minutes, so I'm happy with that.

[punatic]

Just purchased tickets for the Hopland Tour and a Wednesday brewery tour.  Woo Hoo!  Yeah baby!

[garc_mall]

Got my tickets to the beer and food pairing dinner at Pike!

Punatic- which tour are you taking on Wednesday?

[theDarkSide]

For those who have taken the tours in previous years, does the end time represent when the bus returns to the hotel, or when you leave the last brewery?

I'm thinking about booking a brewery tour on Wednesday, but I want to make sure I'm back to catch the bus to the Brewing Network Anniversary party.

I'm going to Disney this month, but I'm treating that as something I need to get out of the way so NHC can get here sooner...terrible I know.

[richardt]

I'll be in the Pacific NW for a whole week.  Does anyone know if I could do the various hop farms "on my own" Sat-Wed before the NHC?  Any suggestions would be welcome.

[denny]

I'll be in the Pacific NW for a whole week.  Does anyone know if I could do the various hop farms "on my own" Sat-Wed before the NHC?  Any suggestions would be welcome.

Most of the farms I know of aren't really set up to do tours if it isn't something special.  Maybe if you called ahead you could work something out.  I think the Rogue hop farm in Independence OR might be the exception.  Or check out the Hop'n'Bed....http://rogue.com/locations/hb.php

[jim]

For those of you who are coming to the conference early, the Washington Brewers Festival will be the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before the conference.  It wil be held in Redmond's Marymore Park, just north of Bellevue. 

[tfries]

My wife and I got tickets for the Pike Dinner.  I see that it is now sold out.

[richardt]

For those of you who are coming to the conference early, the Washington Brewers Festival will be the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday before the conference.  It wil be held in Redmond's Marymore Park, just north of Bellevue.

I may do that--I've never been to that festival.  Are all three days of the festival the same (brewers/beers), or does it change with each day?  How much time is needed for the WBF?  Is there a link for the WBF?