As you may have guessed, we have gotten an early JUMP on this years planning, and have spent countless hours, and beers trying to plan and improve the event over last year.

BREWERY TOURS
These are back again! They were such a HUGE success how could we not. We are in the process of hand picking the proper breweries to include for this year to ensure that they are up to our standards. ( ugh El Cajon)

SPEAKERS
We have already locked in a couple great speakers for this year.
Doug Constantiner from Societe Brewing will deliver this years keynote. Who better to speak on the importance of quality to beer, and our beer community.
Jim Crute, PhD from Lightning Brewery has decided to join the speaker list this year, and we are stoked to have him. Did you notice he has a PhD? He could very well be the Dr. House of Beer.
Kevin Wright from Hangar24 Brewery is back by popular demand. He has always been a crowd favorite so how could we not bring him back.
Ryan Lamb from West Coaster – uh, this was a no brainer. They have been writing about our beloved San Diego Beer Scene for some time. I’ve been told his presentation skills are as good if not better than his writing skills.

FOOD
Yes we will provide lunch. Rumor has it that we have been talking with Churchills to not only provide a lunch paired with a beer, but to also lead a food and pairing presentation prior to, to get your taste buds ready… It’s still a rumor but we’re working hard on it.

LOCATION – NEW – Marina Village
Gone are the sound issues, view of the airport, odd kind of functioning bathroom.

Replaced By Separate rooms, awesome air, views of the Marina and Water, a couple restroom choices…

IN CLOSING
We are very excited for this year. Remember, our goal is to provide an event for beer lovers by beer lovers, so please feel free to send us any ideas and recommendations and to spread the word.

Remember: Beer, it’s the best damn drink in the world.

Cheers,
Michael Bowen

The presentations below include:
Kevin Wright – Hangar24
Neva Parker – White Labs
Gwen Conley – Port / Lost Abbey
“Dr” Bill Sysak – Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens

Beer-Con Presentations

Julia Herz hails from the Brewers Association as a homebrewer, BJCP beer judge, Certified Cicerone and serves as the BA’s Craft Beer Program Director and publisher of CraftBeer.com. Wow, what an amazing background and wealth of knowledge! We truly cannot wait to hear more from Julia. Expect to learn about her experience at the Brewers Association and hear her perspective and insights on the landscape of American craft beer culture.

Megan Flynn is the Publisher and Editor of Beer West Magazine, reporting on all things craft beer on the West Coast. Beer West was born from the idea of bringing news of the craft beer world to beer geeks and beginners alike. Based in Portland, OR but serving a vast audience of thirsty readers, Megan will be sharing her story, the Beer West story and the roles they play in the craft beer world.

Congratulations to both of these ladies for being named among the top 10 women revolutionizing the beer scene in 2012!

Get your tickets today to hear them speak at Beer-Con! You won’t want to want to miss out on these and all our other amazing speakers. This is your chance to mix and mingle with the industry folks who are creating social change for craft beer!

Get Tickets Here and use promo code “LoveBeer” for $20 off your 2-Day craft beer journey with Beer-Con.

Download the new iPhone and Android apps

That’s right! All the information for Beer-Con is now available on-the-go with mobile apps for iPhone & Android! Now you won’t miss a beat at this year’s 2-Day event. Use the mobile app to plan your Beer-Con weekend on August 24th & 25th so you don’t miss out on a single thing. Follow the speaker tracks and seminar content, full schedule and event details, even plan your beer tasting rotation at Tap Haven!

And if you haven’t reserved your space yet, Click Here to get in on all the Beer-Con action! You won’t want to miss this amazing experience. Brewery tours, beer education, craft beer drinking- really what more could you ask for?

BE A PART OF THE CRAFT BEER MOVEMENT!

Throughout his tenure as a beer connoisseur, Bill has displayed a true talent for tracking down the rarest, tastiest beers from around the world. During his travels he garnered an impressive roster of connections in the beer industry, aiding him greatly in the acquisition of rare beer and augmentation of his cellar. However, Bill’s deep roots in the industry and awe-inspiring cellar aren’t the only things he’s known for. His numerous extravagant beer-tasting events are nothing short of legendary.

At this years Beer-Con, Dr. Bill will take your taste buds on a journey filled with beer and cheese. Beer is the de facto complement for cheese in many cultures worldwide. The simple fact is that cheese and beer are ideal partners. The flavors of beer and cheese – earthy, yeasty, musty, fruity, rich, toasty, floral – jibe in a way that many feel those of wine and cheese cannot.

So get ready for a pairing that is everything Cheesy!

Oh, and if that wasn;t enough, we’ll also have a Beer and Chocolate pairing during the Tap Haven.

Beer-Con is not your average beer festival. It is a unique 2-day craft beer convention for beer lovers, by beer lovers.

You love beer right? One of your greatest passions in life is the pursuit of deliciously hand-crafted brews right? Have you wanted to get up close and personal with brewery professionals? Learn some of the secrets inside the industry? Beer-Con is definitely the place for you & not your average beer festival.

Look, there aren’t many events in life more fun and exciting than a beer fest. And we have no shortage of those here in San Diego. But the dozens of festivals from which you can choose often include long lines, limited tasters, un-knowledgeable volunteer staff, and that obligatory drunk guy who just wants the highest gravity beer by the end of the day.

If you are reading this you probably love beer, and know exactly what we’re talking about! Take a departure from that run of the mill beer fest and join us at the 2nd annual Beer-Con at Fifty Seven Degrees in downtown San Diego- put on for beer lovers by beer lovers.

Beer-Con is a one-of-a-kind peak behind the curtain of the craft beer industry. We extend a limited number of invitations so we can offer a unique experience for special craft beer lovers to enjoy amazing seminars from a talented lineup of brewing industry professionals, glean insights and insider knowledge from the artist brewers that create the very craft beers we all adore, and share outstanding beers together during the Tap Haven.

Grab your tickets early before the event sells out! Buy Tickets Here or Click Here for more details.

*Use discount code “LoveBeer” at checkout for $20 off each ticket!!

A home brewer in Milwaukee before going to the Davis program, Wright has been a brewer at Hangar 24 since June 2011, working with the award-winning team that produces a wide array of delicious brews including Orange Wheat, Pale Ale, Alt-Bier, Helles Lager and IPA. Hangar 24 is Wright’s first full-time job in the brewing industry. He is a product of the University of Wisconsin’s biomedical engineering department and also interned at Stone Brewing Co.

Kevin has earned the JS Ford Award, given annually to the earner of the top score in the London-based Institute of Brewing and Distilling’s general certificate in brewing exam. Originally started in the late 1800s under the name “The Laboratory Club,” the Institute of Brewing and Distilling came about as a way for the many brewers in Great Britain to discuss their craft and share trade secrets if they were so inclined.

Kevin will be one of many distinguished speakers at Beer-Con and will be answering some of your burning questions about getting into the brewing industry, the importance of the Davis & Siebel programs and what craft beer employers looking for.

You don’t want to miss out on seeing Kevin at 2012′s Beer-Con! Reserve your space today as tickets will go fast.

We’re happy to announce that LOVELIKEBEER will be apart of this years Beer-Con. Now a little about them, and what they plan to bring to this years craft beer event.

LOVELIKEBEER is a San Diego based organization creating “pop-up” dinner events pairing Craft Beer with Artisan Vegan Cuisine for a charitable purpose.  One of WestCoaster Magazines “12 to Watch in 2012,” LOVELIKEBEER partners with local chefs, entrepreneurs, and breweries to serve innovative, vegan cuisine alongside rare and world-class beers, in a unique-one-night only themed environment benefiting a unique charity each event.

The final speaker for Beer-Con 2012 is confirmed. We are honored to welcome Dennis Keller from North Coast Brewing Company to Beer-Con this year. Dennis rounds out a wealth of talented speakers in the lineup. We have put together an all-star list of industry professionals to educate, enlighten and interact with you on August 25th! The speakers encompass a wide variety of careers in the craft brewing industry- master brewers, professional tasters, beer marketers, thought leaders, beer media experts and more!

We really can’t wait to hear the tasting insight from our newest addition to Beer-Con. Dennis Keller is the Sales Manager for North Coast Brewing Company. He is a Beer Judge Certification Program Recognized Judge since 1994 and is focused on raising awareness for craft beer throughout the country and the globe. He is a beer educator and promoter of the art and science of craft beer, its creation, presentation, delivery, and consumption. Dennis developed and implemented programs for beer education and appreciation internationally and he will be sharing his insider secrets with you at Beer-Con.

Learn to taste and judge beer with the best! And speaking of beer, North Coast beers will be pouring at the Tap Haven. Beer-Con just keeps getting better!

About North Coast Brewing Co:

A pioneer in the craft beer movement, North Coast Brewing Company opened in 1988 as a local brewpub in the historic town of Fort Bragg, located on California’s Mendocino Coast.

Under the leadership of Brewmaster Mark Ruedrich, the brewery has developed a strong reputation for quality having won more than 70 awards in national and international competitions.

Don’t miss your chance to be a part of the craft beer movement. Click here to reserve your tickets today!