KegCon for DC19

[snideology]

Re: KegCon for DC19

Hoochwars was fun, but it got a little out of hand on the judging, as the judges would often drink so much to the point they could had died. So the whole alcohol poising issue came up. However if it was retooled as a low count tasting type contest or such it could be fun. I think the mistake we made was using the hard stuff...(although I personally love to taste your shine and such..)

We did Hoochwars for 3 years I think, before it became obvious it could become a serious liability, but bringing it back for this sounds better and more in tune to the original goals.

Also..regarding sharing at the riv, Ive shared for 6 years now, just carry a 1-2 gallon bug sprayer, no one at the Riv ever asked any questions.. :)

If it sounds good, see if we can get a spot back and have it at the Toxic.

Well, in fact I was wondering if we could have basically two events, both independent but obviously related: a homebrew tasting, along with a microbrew event.

Basically, my main desire is a microbrew event. What I envisioned is for people from different areas of the country to bring a local microbrew keg, for all to enjoy. I believe there are a number of microbrewers who would actually kick in a keg for the publicity, but this I cannot guarantee. We certainly do not need many, and I like the feel of local brews being shared at a national event. I had envisioned that after the event, we could bring the leftovers to the Riv for a finishing off party, which may kill the point, since we may well not remember the next day what we tried.

The other idea, of which a number of people seem interested, is hackers bringing in their own brews, and not so much of a judging, but just a public tasting, leaving the judging to be entirely informal. However, I most certainly will bow to whatever y'all want to do with that!

I would love if we could get the Toxic organizers to approve these ideas, and somewhat soon, since the home brewers need time, and also as next year rolls around, I probably should start preparing for the contest I plan on entering.

[Salem]

Re: KegCon for DC19

Also..regarding sharing at the riv, Ive shared for 6 years now, just carry a 1-2 gallon bug sprayer, no one at the Riv ever asked any questions.. :)

Yeah, but when people see a bug sprayer they don't automatically assume you're dispensing free booze. But carry around a keg on your back and security gets all sorts of uppity.

[Dallas]

Re: KegCon for DC19

Hoochwars was fun, but it got a little out of hand on the judging, as the judges would often drink so much to the point they could had died. So the whole alcohol poising issue came up. However if it was retooled as a low count tasting type contest or such it could be fun. I think the mistake we made was using the hard stuff...(although I personally love to taste your shine and such..)

We did Hoochwars for 3 years I think, before it became obvious it could become a serious liability, but bringing it back for this sounds better and more in tune to the original goals.

Also..regarding sharing at the riv, Ive shared for 6 years now, just carry a 1-2 gallon bug sprayer, no one at the Riv ever asked any questions.. :)

If it sounds good, see if we can get a spot back and have it at the Toxic.

Well, I have been perusing the forums, and unless I am mistaken, this does seem the most logical place to push for a reinstatement of Hoochwars, or Kegcon19, or whatever y'all deem best for a moniker. However, if there is to be a home-brewing contest, that ball must be rolled fairly soon, since the beer must age (beer freshness dates; yeah, THAT makes sense!). Also, we can start seeking sponsors for a microbrew tasting, and hopefully bring in some kegs from different places around the country.

There clearly is an interest; a handful of people have asked me where it will be next year, and I surely have no say in it, so I ask those of you on this forum with substantially more experience at DefCon than I for advice on whom we should contact. Really, I would imagine it is up to the Toxic organizers if they will allow us to do this.

[veruus]

Re: KegCon for DC19

Well, I have been perusing the forums, and unless I am mistaken, this does seem the most logical place to push for a reinstatement of Hoochwars, or Kegcon19, or whatever y'all deem best for a moniker. However, if there is to be a home-brewing contest, that ball must be rolled fairly soon, since the beer must age (beer freshness dates; yeah, THAT makes sense!). Also, we can start seeking sponsors for a microbrew tasting, and hopefully bring in some kegs from different places around the country.

There clearly is an interest; a handful of people have asked me where it will be next year, and I surely have no say in it, so I ask those of you on this forum with substantially more experience at DefCon than I for advice on whom we should contact. Really, I would imagine it is up to the Toxic organizers if they will allow us to do this.

I'll make inquiries.

p.s. kegcon.com is regged

[snideology]

Re: KegCon for DC19

Well, I have been perusing the forums, and unless I am mistaken, this does seem the most logical place to push for a reinstatement of Hoochwars, or Kegcon19, or whatever y'all deem best for a moniker. However, if there is to be a home-brewing contest, that ball must be rolled fairly soon, since the beer must age (beer freshness dates; yeah, THAT makes sense!). Also, we can start seeking sponsors for a microbrew tasting, and hopefully bring in some kegs from different places around the country.

There clearly is an interest; a handful of people have asked me where it will be next year, and I surely have no say in it, so I ask those of you on this forum with substantially more experience at DefCon than I for advice on whom we should contact. Really, I would imagine it is up to the Toxic organizers if they will allow us to do this.

[Salem]

Re: KegCon for DC19

It was a little concerning when the bus left to go on a beer run and didn't come back for 2 hours or so, but luckily it returned.

Not so much a beer run, more of a rescue mission. People were broke down with large amounts of gear, and we went to pick them up and get them and their stuff to the riv. Thanks to EvilMofo and FPenguin for being so awesome about the spontaneous rescue mission.

[DCFluX]

Re: KegCon for DC19

First time going to the Toxic BBQ this year. Figured I should go one of these years and I took advantage of a unique opportunity when the Hackbus pulled up to the curb in front of the convention center.

I got on the bus and rode both ways. It's not just an experience, it was an adventure. More a DEFCON rite of passage. The conditions were comparable to a hot sweaty ball sack. approx 135 degrees with high humidity. But I did meet some nice people along the way and learned some interesting things.

It was a little concerning when the bus left to go on a beer run and didn't come back for 2 hours or so, but luckily it returned.

[Xeon]

Re: KegCon for DC19

I'm in for whatever happens.

The Toxic BBQ seems like the ideal venue to me.

Let me know when this gets rolling, I'd love to help out.

[snideology]

Re: KegCon for DC19

I'm curious; why no hackbus love?

Really? Wow maybe y'all in front had it easier. Those of us standing in the very rear were having a VERY rough time. Surely if you were back there you were aware of the problems. I had thought the front had them as well. By the time we got back to the Riv, we GLADLY tumbled out the emergency exit in back. Until this thread, everyone else I talked to mentioned the lack of oxygen (no air vents, no a/c, and some fumes from the exhaust), the less-than-fun sway at the very rear for those standing who had imbibed somewhat more than is healthy, the intolerable heat, and the balls to butt sardine packing.

There was one very quiet fellow in back who did not complain (who did not talk!), and perhaps those that did - myself included - were playing it somewhat for the sense of shared suffering; nevertheless we DID suffer!

But I was told by people who rode the bus to DC that it was a pretty nice ride...with 12 people, not (guessing) 30+

[veruus]

Re: KegCon for DC19

I'm curious; why no hackbus love?

[snideology]

Re: KegCon for DC19

Actually, the more I think about it, the more I think the Toxic would be the place. More room for more microbrew kegs, nice picnic tables to set up home brew stations, and being outside in that heat makes the beer taste even better. And no worries about the Rio.

Being offsite is a concern, but it is not far, and one CAN take the DefCon bus (God knows I never will again!!!), but sharing a cab or limo is cheap, and we can also make available the city bus routes.

There is a deactivated link on the Toxic site that says 'Hootchwars" that would be a pity not to reactivate for DC 19. While I am no brewer (alas!), I gladly proffer my meager services to promote these two ideas.

[Salem]

Re: KegCon for DC19

(do NOT tale the DC bus!!!!!)

Are you referring to the HackBus (bus != owned by defcon)? Why not take it? Its a great way to get to and from, its a hell of a lot of fun, and if you need to bring large items (kegs, tanks, chillers) there is storage room. Thats how I always got all 4 of my kegs to the park.

If I remember correctly, there used to be a homebrewers meetup at con. There was also HoochWars (which significantly changed over the years).

Given the Riv's ruleset and knack for freaking out, I would have said this would be a very difficult thing to do. The Rio may be a lot easier. The rooms are all larger, which will facilitate more people giving and partaking in tastings. On the same note though, they may have much higher cork fees.

My suggestion would be to make sure its and very very unofficial, disconnected from defcon event. If you are to do it, you have to make sure that tis a bunch of people interested in homebrewing, who just so happen to be meeting at the same time and place. Offsite may make the event easier to host, but it would make it less desirable to attend.



All that said, I'm in. I brought cider a couple years straight and it went fast. I would love to meetup with more brewers and do a tasting/bottle swap.

[hexjunkie]

Re: KegCon for DC19

Sorted. Thanks.

hexjunkie: that looks tits. That thread also answered a few of my questions about hotel policy in general. I wonder if a hotel room is "private" enough to not be an issue. Definitely not looking to throw a rager, but a decent get-together would be nice. Perhaps Toxic BBQ would be a good spot after all.

I'm thinking the same thing, though policies have changed tis year with the move, perhaps you should start the inquries to the rio about backpack keg, keg con, and rc bar to keep things ordered.

If you won't I'll get started on it sometime around shmoo once project is running full capacity.

[veruus]

Re: KegCon for DC19

Naw, you just have not been around in a while...

<destructions here>

Good luck!
-Cot

Sorted. Thanks.

hexjunkie: that looks tits. That thread also answered a few of my questions about hotel policy in general. I wonder if a hotel room is "private" enough to not be an issue. Definitely not looking to throw a rager, but a decent get-together would be nice. Perhaps Toxic BBQ would be a good spot after all.

[TheCotMan]

Re: KegCon for DC19

I've been hoodwinked!

Naw, you just have not been around in a while...

A few years back, there was interest in having a space on the forums that was "like the old days" with fewer rules, where flaming was allowed, and more like the old west.

To answer that, and not add noise to the forums that other people preferred not to see, we created a new forum called "/dev/random" and made it "user subscribable". We announced it in the forums and we forced and force all new users signing up to the forums to be part of the user-subscribable usergroup that gives them access to it, but allow them to leave it any time they want. For users accounts that existed before /dev/ranom, we did not force a subscription.

The details of how to join "All_Social" are described here. Basic summary: you visit your forum UserCP, enroll in a usergroup "All_Aocial" and you can now see and post to /dev/random ... Read the rules in that forum. You will see that there are very few rules so you can flame users there if you want. We pretty much just say: No Politics/Religion, No Spam, and Nothing illegal. Also, search engines don't index /dev/random as it is not available to non-users of the forums like "guest" users.

If you later decide it is not for you, visit your UserCP again and remove yourself from "All_Social" and the forum is now invisible to you and searches will not provide results in that forum either.

Good luck!
-Cot