Wednesday, June 18, 5 pm - 1 am

PRECONFERENCE "DON'T BE LOST" PUB CRAWL, SPONSORED BY THE ILLINOIS CRAFT BREWERS GUILD AND THE MAP ROOM
The Chicago Beer Society's peripatetic beer traveler, Roger Deschner will lead a CTA Train pub and brewpub crawl to some of Chicago's finest joints. You'll hit the city's award-winning brewpubs (Goose Island, Piece, and Rock Bottom Chicago) and a great beer bar (the Map Room). All aboard!

*** THE PUB CRAWL HAS BEEN SOLD OUT *** Please check at the conference registration table to see if additional spaces open up, but don't send in any more reservations at this time.

Thursday, June 19

Noon - 1:30 pm

KICKOFF LUNCHEON FEATURING THE BEER HUNTER, MICHAEL JACKSON
We want the 25th AHA Conference to be the biggest and most memorable to date so we went out and got the biggest name in the beer industry. Michael Jackson, the Bard of Beer, will get the conference underway by giving the keynote address during the opening luncheon. If you've never seen Michael live, or even if you have, you are in for a treat as Michael has tried more different beer styles than anyone else in the world.

Michael is currently writing two new books, but took a break to come visit the most ardent homebrewers on the planet. Who knows, you may get the chance for Michael to taste a sample of your prize homebrew. Many thanks to the Goose Island Beer Company for making Michael's trip to Chicago possible. His appearances in Chicago are infrequent, so don't miss this one!

Also not to be missed will be an official opening procession and ceremony by Cincinnati's Bloatarian Brewing League, in full regalia.

1:30 - 5:00 pm

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

EVALUATING BEER/ALTERNATIVE FERMENTATIONS
Offered to those conference attendees not involved in 2nd round NHC judging. Sessions will be offered in two tracks, one focusing on judging practice and preparing for the BJCP examination, the other concentrating on non-beer fermented beverages (mead, cider, sake, and wine).

NATIONAL HOMEBREW COMPETITION second round judging. If you're a BJCP judge or a pro brewer with plenty of judging experience, we definitely want you! Make sure to register with judge director Steve McKenna.

7:00 to 11:00 pm

CLUB NIGHT! Sponsored by Beer, Beer, & More Beer
Picture a room full of homebrew and its brewers, with clubs putting their best on display, and you get to drink it all in. This year the clubs will really be trying to outdo each other, as there will be various prizes awarded including:

• Le Pissoir d'Or: Sponsored by the Chicago Beer Society, this coveted trophy will go to the club that brings the most beer to the conference. Kegs stashed in the reefer truck will be tallied as they are stored. Details of how to tally the rest of your beer will be posted near the registration booth at the conference.
• Big Al's Memorial Trophy: Sponsored by the Urban Knaves of Grain, this is a prize for the best overall Club Night presentation (beer, food and other - like costumes, etc), as voted by attendees. Try to personalize your space as much as possible. Club members dressing up in a certain fashion is also an idea. Votes will be tallied, and the winner will be announced at the "Windy City Big Boys'" Hospitality Room immediately after the event. To keep up a great Chicago tradition, "vote early and often!" Bribery is also recommended!

Friday, June 20

9:00 am - Noon

ADVANCEMENTS IN BREWING - HOMEBREW/PROBREW
A series of sessions that explores the best of what these closely intertwined disciplines can teach each other. Featuring some award winning professional brewers from near and far.

NATIONAL HOMEBREW COMPETITION
Second round judging wraps up. Selected BJCP judges only.

12:00 - 1:30 pm

AHA MEMBERS' LUNCH AND FEEDBACK SESSION
Paul Gatza, Charlie Papazian, and other luminaries of the AHA will be present for an open discussion session on the present and future of the AHA.

1:30 - 5:30 pm

BEER STYLES WORKSHOPS

BRITISH & GERMAN STYLES
Unravel the intricacies of brewing and managing real ales and naturally-fermented lagers and hybrids, from grain to glass and everything in between.

BIÈRE BELGE/BIER BELGHE Sponsored by White Labs
An in-depth look at the mysteries of brewing some of the most extreme and subtle beers on the planet - Belgian-style beers. Talks by some of the best pro and amateur brewers around.

And for the long-suffering non-brewers:

10:00 am - 4:00 pm

ALEWIVES ON WHEELS
For those AleWives and/or Significant Others attending the conference, the local Chicagoland AleWives have organized a day in downtown Chicago for those so inclined on Friday, June 20. There is no cost for those with guest packages or full conference registrations, but the meals are pay as you go.

We will meet for breakfast in the conference hotel restaurant, the Metro Grille, at 8:30 AM, where participants will receive a packet of maps and other info on entertainment options for a day in downtown Chicago, including information/locations/schedules for:

• Navy Pier - #1 tourist destination in Chicago
• The Art Institute of Chicago
• Terra Museum of American Art
• Museum of Contemporary Art of Chicago
• Art/Craft Festival on Michigan Avenue
• Shopping (including discount outlets) on the Magnificent Mile
• Architecture and/or general narrated boat tours of the Chicago River/Lake Michigan
• Double-decker bus tours of downtown Chicago Architecture
• Walking tour of the Magnificent Mile
• Bar/restaurant recommendations for lunch/tea/libations
• Movie Theater locations/showtimes

Our chartered bus will leave for the Mag Mile at 9:30 AM and pick us up at 3:30 PM for return to the hotel, arriving approximately 4:30 PM. There will be beer on the bus.

You will need to sign up for this event, either by emailing Nancy Cline or using the signup sheet near the registration table at the conference.

7:00 - 10:00 pm

GRAND BANQUET Sponsored by Rogue Ales
A celebration of food, fun, and especially homebrew, topped by the crowning of this year's National Homebrew Competition winners. Sponsored by Rogue Ales and featuring Rogue's delightful beers as well as the Wall of Real Ale. We promise a few fun surprises, too!

Saturday, June 21

9:00 am - 12:00 noon

HYPER/TECHNO/GEEK SESSIONS
A full half day of nothing but the most advanced brewing talks we can manage to put together. Topics on ingredients, techniques, equipment and more will be presented by some very high level presenters.

BOOT CAMP FOR BREWERS FEATURING CHARLIE PAPAZIAN


Intensive training for the new or not-so-new brewer. Sessions will be conducted by a number of well-known brewing authors and authorities, hosted by America's favorite homebrewer, Charlie Papazian. Stir that pot, maggots!

1:00 - 5:00 pm

BEER, FOOD & MORE
A series of tastings and workshops revolving beer and its best partner, food. Two tracks will be available, preparation and appreciation.

2:00 - 4:00 pm ** NEW SESSION ** NHC WINNERS ROUNDTABLE

The results of the National Homebrewers Competition are in (announced Friday night) and many of the competition winners will be present at the conference. Join them in a panel discussion and learn just what it takes to brew NHC-winning beers.

7:00 - 11:00 pm

"REAL BEER, REAL FOOD"
Saturday evening will conclude the conference with a showcase presentation of the best in real ales and unfiltered lagers, along with the best regional artisanal foods, held in conjunction with the Chicago Beer Society. This will be a walkaround sampling/tasting event.

Throughout the Conference

HOSPITALITY SUITE
As in past years, homebrew clubs from around the country have signed up for shifts to provide beer and snacks in the conference hospitality suite. We know that even the most avid geek needs a break from the exhausting grind of the National Homebrewers Conference. So, just when you think your head is about to explode with all that knowledge you've picked up in the last session, pop into the hospitality suite for some soothing homebrews. It's a great way to take a load off, and to socialize with other folks who share your passion. See what other clubs are up to: what styles they're brewing, what equipment they've built, what tricks of the trade they've applied. Check out the club hosting schedule to see who's around and come on in!

GREAT BEER, MEAD, AND CIDER!
We've even got the beer brewed - 50 gallons of bourbon-barrel-aged imperial stout. Probably a commemorative mead, too. And the conference organizers are offering incentives - including special awards - to the clubs that provide the most homebrew to share. Homebrew clubs from around here and across the country are already brewing up a storm to make sure they don't arrive empty-kegged.