[AmandaK]

Every year you go, you make new friends, so that by the time you've attended three or four, it seems like you know everybody or that everybody knows you - kinda like "Norm!"
It's not just the beer.  It's not just the seminars.  It's not just the chance to explore a new city.  It's the people.
I am looking forward to seeing a couple thousand of my best buds at my 16th conference.

This. So much this.

My first year (2012 - Seattle), I went alone. I had no club to go with but I wanted to go anyway. This past year (2014 - Grand Rapids) we went with 9 club members and did club night. A cliff notes of a few experiences for you:

• I talked my way into judging the 2012 Final Round as a Certified judge with recommendation from the BJCP West rep at the time (GMII). I learned so much during that judging experience! My first flight was with Ron Price, who was on the AHA GC at the time, and I picked his brain on all things AHA and English bitter. My second flight was with Randy Scorby (who had just won AHA Homebrewer of the Year the year prior with a rauchbier) and we judged Cat 22. I picked his brain about all things rauchbier and ended up taking that knowledge home with me to brew the best rauchbier I had ever tasted. Randy and I still stay in contact via the BJCP (he is now one of the Education Directors and sets our club up with CEP sessions 4-6 times a year). When I saw him at 2014 NHC, he met my now husband and gave us pointers on where to go for our upcoming honeymoon.
• Sitting at the bar on Friday night, by myself at my first NHC, I started talking with an older gentleman. Very nice man. He invited me to sit with his group at their table so we could all eat dinner together and continue our conversation about beer. I sit down, look around at everyone, and everyone is wearing a Blichmann polo. I jokingly ask, "What is this, the Blichmann table?" John reaches out his hand for a handshake and says, "Yeah, I'm John Blichmann. Very good to meet you!" Ha! Anyway, we all hung out all Club Night. Had a blast. One of the younger guys at the table, Pete, and I ran around all of club night, coming back to John and the rest of the crew when we found an excellent beer. It was awesome.
  We met again (they still all remember me somehow) at 2014 NHC, shared some hugs, laughed, and my husband thanked them all for keeping me company during Club Night. Love those guys! The found us during Club Night 2014 and hung around our booth for probably an hour.
• I met Stan Hieronymus at GABF 2012 on a hungover plane ride and we have kept in touch, but during 2014 NHC the husband and I were running around with him during the welcome reception. Stan was running off to grab me beers he thought I should try and such. I'll never forget the look on on of our newer club member's faces, as if to say, 'Holy sh*t! Are you guys talking to Stan H??'. Haha, it was great. Of course, we introduced them and they chatted it up. Stan is such a wonderful person - would recommend being hung over on a plane next to him.
• Denny and Drew. Enough said. My husband is a huge fan of them (he's the weird beer brewer) and was elated to meet them. It is super neat to have met and kept in touch with people who's book you have on your coffee table.
• Martin Brungard. Awesome person. Since I knew what he looked like, I ran up and introduced myself. I was promptly greeted with a hug and a smile.
• AHA Forum meet up. Once this gets arranged, don't miss it. It is awesome to put a face/person to the names we've all been talking to for the whole year. Last year, I did a mini-beer swap with Jimmy K where we traded a special beer/cider that we couldn't respectively get.

These are just a very small handful of the experiences I've had at NHC. And I've only been twice! Just go. You won't regret it.

[69franx]

I did not know about the conference in 2013 when I started brewing. I could not make it happen in 2014, and already had commitments this year with family events. Next year is already on the calendar for roughly  the same week.  And I penciled in Asheville (cause that's where I think it will be. No inside info, just my rwag.) Have fun this year everyone. Ps. If I was as close as you say you are, I would try to at least make a day trip for one of the days but I understand how life gets in the way...

[hopfenundmalz]

Every year you go, you make new friends, so that by the time you've attended three or four, it seems like you know everybody or that everybody knows you - kinda like "Norm!"
It's not just the beer.  It's not just the seminars.  It's not just the chance to explore a new city.  It's the people.
I am looking forward to seeing a couple thousand of my best buds at my 16th conference.

This. So much this.

My first year (2012 - Seattle), I went alone. I had no club to go with but I wanted to go anyway. This past year (2014 - Grand Rapids) we went with 9 club members and did club night. A cliff notes of a few experiences for you:

• I talked my way into judging the 2012 Final Round as a Certified judge with recommendation from the BJCP West rep at the time (GMII). I learned so much during that judging experience! My first flight was with Ron Price, who was on the AHA GC at the time, and I picked his brain on all things AHA and English bitter. My second flight was with Randy Scorby (who had just won AHA Homebrewer of the Year the year prior with a rauchbier) and we judged Cat 22. I picked his brain about all things rauchbier and ended up taking that knowledge home with me to brew the best rauchbier I had ever tasted. Randy and I still stay in contact via the BJCP (he is now one of the Education Directors and sets our club up with CEP sessions 4-6 times a year). When I saw him at 2014 NHC, he met my now husband and gave us pointers on where to go for our upcoming honeymoon.
• Sitting at the bar on Friday night, by myself at my first NHC, I started talking with an older gentleman. Very nice man. He invited me to sit with his group at their table so we could all eat dinner together and continue our conversation about beer. I sit down, look around at everyone, and everyone is wearing a Blichmann polo. I jokingly ask, "What is this, the Blichmann table?" John reaches out his hand for a handshake and says, "Yeah, I'm John Blichmann. Very good to meet you!" Ha! Anyway, we all hung out all Club Night. Had a blast. One of the younger guys at the table, Pete, and I ran around all of club night, coming back to John and the rest of the crew when we found an excellent beer. It was awesome.
  We met again (they still all remember me somehow) at 2014 NHC, shared some hugs, laughed, and my husband thanked them all for keeping me company during Club Night. Love those guys! The found us during Club Night 2014 and hung around our booth for probably an hour.
• I met Stan Hieronymus at GABF 2012 on a hungover plane ride and we have kept in touch, but during 2014 NHC the husband and I were running around with him during the welcome reception. Stan was running off to grab me beers he thought I should try and such. I'll never forget the look on on of our newer club member's faces, as if to say, 'Holy sh*t! Are you guys talking to Stan H??'. Haha, it was great. Of course, we introduced them and they chatted it up. Stan is such a wonderful person - would recommend being hung over on a plane next to him.
• Denny and Drew. Enough said. My husband is a huge fan of them (he's the weird beer brewer) and was elated to meet them. It is super neat to have met and kept in touch with people who's book you have on your coffee table.
• Martin Brungard. Awesome person. Since I knew what he looked like, I ran up and introduced myself. I was promptly greeted with a hug and a smile.
• AHA Forum meet up. Once this gets arranged, don't miss it. It is awesome to put a face/person to the names we've all been talking to for the whole year. Last year, I did a mini-beer swap with Jimmy K where we traded a special beer/cider that we couldn't respectively get.

These are just a very small handful of the experiences I've had at NHC. And I've only been twice! Just go. You won't regret it.

Nice write up.

You left out that you introduced yourself to a "D List" Homebrewer like me last year. 

[AmandaK]

You left out that you introduced yourself to a "D List" Homebrewer like me last year. 

Ha, yes I remember! I thought I scared you a bit since I basically accosted you in the registration line.

I can't wait to go back!

[santoch]

This will be my 5th.  I missed Grand Rapids last year ONLY because my daughter was graduating high school on club night.  Like Jeff said, it's kind of like "Hey, Norm!", but at your class reunion every year, and your class gets bigger and bigger and you somehow remember more and more classmates from all over the world.  It's great hanging out in person with the folks you've been talking with on the boards for so long, putting names to faces, and sharing all those beers.  And its always great judging 2nd round.

Steve

[hopfenundmalz]

You left out that you introduced yourself to a "D List" Homebrewer like me last year. 

Ha, yes I remember! I thought I scared you a bit since I basically accosted you in the registration line.

I can't wait to go back!

One is not used to the attention on the D list. 

[dkfick]

Listening or even watching the seminars online doesn't really compare to being able to attend in person.  You can't ask questions, talk to them afterwards, or sample the presentation samples online.

Meeting and talking with other homebrewers from across the country (and sometimes world) is also not to be overlooked. 

At the Homebrew Expo you get to see demos (and oftentimes samples) of all sorts of different/new products.

[theDarkSide]

This will be my 5th.  I missed Grand Rapids last year ONLY because my daughter was graduating high school on club night.  Like Jeff said, it's kind of like "Hey, Norm!", but at your class reunion every year, and your class gets bigger and bigger and you somehow remember more and more classmates from all over the world.  It's great hanging out in person with the folks you've been talking with on the boards for so long, putting names to faces, and sharing all those beers.  And its always great judging 2nd round.

Steve

Sorry I'm going to miss this year BDawg.  I have a feeling BNA10 is going to be epic.  Have a great time and hope to run into you next year.

[hopfenundmalz]

Listening or even watching the seminars online doesn't really compare to being able to attend in person.  You can't ask questions, talk to them afterwards, or sample the presentation samples online.

Meeting and talking with other homebrewers from across the country (and sometimes world) is also not to be overlooked. 

At the Homebrew Expo you get to see demos (and oftentimes samples) of all sorts of different/new products.

Not only can you see the new gadgets and gizmolics that are on display, you can talk to the venders, like say John Blichmann, who has a great sense of humor.

You can also meet and talk to the authors who are there to sell their books. That are great people, as Amanda has pointed out about Stan H.

Pro Brewers often present and hang out, why? Because it is the "Best 3 days of beer related activities ever!"
Had to work that in again.

[denny]

You can also meet and talk to the authors who are there to sell their books. That are great people, as Amanda has pointed out about Stan H.

What are Drew and I, chopped liver? 

[udubdawg]

What are Drew and I, chopped liver? 

well, no, just your book.
   AAAYYY!!!
      LMAO!
         Daaaamn!
            Tyrannasaurus REKT!
               [Link to list of US Burn Centers]
.
.
(sorry, thought I was on r/homebrewing for a second.  love you guys!)   

[hopfenundmalz]

You can also meet and talk to the authors who are there to sell their books. That are great people, as Amanda has pointed out about Stan H.

What are Drew and I, chopped liver? 

You two are on the A list, no mention is necessary!

[S. cerevisiae]

What are Drew and I, chopped liver? 

You guys were the liveliest and most entertaining session at NHC 2014. 

[AmandaK]

What are Drew and I, chopped liver? 

You guys were the liveliest and most entertaining session at NHC 2014.

Agreed. Somehow you guys made waking up the morning after Club Night worth it. Ha!

[a10t2]

Between the cost of the conference, hotel room, meals, and time away from the family....

FWIW, I can't imagine having something like this within driving distance and not going.

If it helps, it sounds like Keith's out, so I have half a hotel room available. It's the half without the bathroom, but still.