For those of you in New England

[Waldo]

The ACBF is back this year heres the link. I saw a guy in a BN Army hop grenade shirt last year. Hopefully I will have one this year as well (if I don't volunteer). Here's the link. http://beeradvocate.com/acbf/

Maybe a BN Army meet up is in order?

[TheDarkSide]

Who were some of the notable brewers last year? Will we see Watermelon Wheat in cans?

[Waldo]

He wasn't ther last year.

last year they had 75 Brewers and 300 beers, small in comparison to GABF I am sure.
Stone
Rouge
Ipswich Ale
Magic Hat
Widmer
Harpoon
Tuckermans
Woodstock
(Thats all I can remember).

It was a great time I am hoping to volunteer

[Field]

I think they had these too - off my drunk memory

DogFish Head
Bruery
Terrapin - or someone else who did a collaborative brew with Terrapin and brought the collab beer,
I know I had a Terrapin rye something
Brooklyn - with a pretty good presentation by Garret Oliver and the Schneider-Brooklyn and
Brooklyn-Schneider copies f their beer
Southern Tier
Mayflower
Atwater Block

[Waldo]

I remember terrapin, I talked to the brewer about his interview with the BN....They had good beer. This year I will bebringing a Driver, I wasn't able to try as much as I wanted to. I would love to see Russian River there this year.

[ApresSkiBrewer]

I volunteered last year, and probably will this year as well. I might have to buy a BN army hat to wear with the volunteer shirt.

I think a meet up/call to arms is a necessity. We should bring it strong.

The ACBF is pretty f'in huge too... I think its second or third largest (obv. behind the GABF).

The new venue is sick too.

Anyway.

[Waldo]

I got an email about volunteering this year I may go that route. Are you able to sample while working?

[ApresSkiBrewer]

Yes and no... it really depends on the session. I did the friday evening session, and the saturday evening session last year. I guess sat. was a zoo all day... not much sampling, but friday evening was pretty laid back. Techiniquely you arn't supposed to sample with your volunteer shirt on, but you do get a few breaks (maybe 30-60 mins total) to eat/and or sample.

On break, I would just rip off my volunteer shirt, and cruise around a bit. Since you still have your volunteer badge, brewers/pourers would be pretty cool about pulling you up to the front to get you a sample, since they knew you were on a tighter schedule.

I was pouring with a really laid back brewery (lions head brewery, out of PA) and I definitely did my fair share of responsible sampling while on/off duty. If you're in control, and still performing your duties, and respecting beer... you're good to go, IMO.

I will plan on working friday (at least) again, because a lot of things run out by sat night.... I don't really plan on attending unless I am volunteering. The sold out sessions on saturday really are insane though. Good times.