[hopfenundmalz]

Popular ones also include well known Brewers, guys like Strong, Mosher, and Daniels, and certain mead talks.

[theDarkSide]

Look over the seminars and find the ones that you have a strong interest in.  Those are the not miss ones.

In Grand Rapids, I went to the post-fermentation cider seminar and it was excellent.  But I have a huge interest in cider and where someone who is casual might find the information useful, it was one of the best seminars I've been to.

I don't think Michael Fairbrother is doing a stand alone seminar this year (just part of the mead panel), but those are always great because he serves some great meads.

Have fun at your first conference.  After, you'll be counting the days until the next one.

[toby]

Popular ones also include well known Brewers, guys like Strong, Mosher, and Daniels, and certain mead talks.

Maybe it's just me, but Randy and Ray's seminars last year were just OK.  Maybe it was the size of the room.  Randy did practically the exact same presentation at Dixie Cup in October and it seemed a little more lively.

That being said, skip any talk about mead from either Schramm or Fairbrother.  More for me that way. 

[denny]

Popular ones also include well known Brewers, guys like Strong, Mosher, and Daniels, and certain mead talks.

Bah....boring old farts....

[santoch]

In addition to what was said above:

Look for the mead, cider, wood aging, and sour talks.  Always new cutting edge stuff going on in these.

Look for LAGER sessions.  This is where you learn precision.

Look for judging / palate training type seminars, where you can begin to learn to evaluate the flavor and aroma of your own beers.

Look for off the wall fun stuff, like Justin Crossley's "How NOT to brew" a few years ago (in Philly?)  I almost had an aneurysm I was laughing so hard.

Some of the most popular seminars are repeated so if you miss it on Thursday, you can see it on Friday or Saturday.

[denny]

Drew and I are doing seminars Thur. and Sat. from 2-3 PM.

[Wheel3er]

Thanks for the advice.  We are struggling because the reality is we want to take see everything.

[guido]

Drew and I are doing seminars Thur. and Sat. from 2-3 PM.

Your seminars always conflict with another one I really want to see. Glad you're doing two shows.