AGENDA

We have divided content into four different aspects of beer blogging: Writing, Technology, Industry, and Tasting. All sessions are at The Metropolitan Hotel in Leeds unless indicated. We will provide full details as soon as possible.

Thursday, May 17, 2012
7:00 PM           Optional Pub Crawl: Local blogger Leigh Linley from The Good Stuff and other Leeds beer bloggers will take us on a tour of the local pubs, including hot spots such as The Brewery Tap, The Hop, The Grove, The Cross Keys, The Midnight Bell, and the Adelphi.

Friday, May 18, 2012
12:30 PM        Registration and Trade Show
1:45 PM          Conference Officially Starts
2:00 PM         Blogging – Beer Blogging in Europe
3:00 PM         Blogging – Improving Your Beer Writing
4:00 PM         Technology – Blog Platforms and Website Design
5:20 PM         Comparative Beer and Glass Tasting with Spiegelau
7:00 PM         Dinner provided by MolsonCoors
9:00 PM         Night of International Beers

Saturday, May 19, 2012
10:00 AM      Blogging – Taking It to the Next Level
11:00 AM       Technology – Social Media and Your Blog
12:00 PM       Lunch on your own
1:30 PM         Industry – The Current State of the Hops Industry
2:30 PM        Keynote Speech with Head Brewer Stuart Howe from Sharp’s Brewery
3:30 PM        Wrapup Group Discussion
5:00 PM        Tasting – Live Beer Blogging
7:00 PM        Dinner at Anthony’s Restaurant provided by Pilsner Urquell
9:00 PM        Evening Party with Pilsner Urquell

Sunday, May 20, 2012
See EBBC Logistics page for more information on Sunday brewery visits.

10:40 AM     Train departs Leeds for Huddersfield and optional Magic Rock visit
10:54 AM     Train departs Leeds for Knaresborough for optional Roosters visit
11:02 AM      Pickup from the Huddersfield station for optional visit to Magic Rock Brewery for tour, tasting, and lunch
11:39 AM      Pickup from the Knaresborough station for optional visit to Roosters Brewing for tour, tasting, and lunch

CONTENT SESSION DESCRIPTIONS

• Beer Blogging in Europe: Last year we had an interesting panel that focused on the beer scenes in other European countries. This year we’ll focus on the beer blogging scene throughout the Continent. Panelists include Pelle Stridh in Sweden, Ludmil Fotev from Bulgaria, Marco Pion from Tyrser Tavern in Italy, and Jan Menken from Bier & Trein in The Netherlands.
• Improving Your Beer Writing: You are already a beer blogger, which makes you a beer writer. Learn how to improve your beer writing from two of your peers who have achieved acclaim in the industry. Simon Jenkins is a Yorkshire Evening Post columnist and was the 2010 British Guild of Beer Writers’ Beer Writer of the Year.  Adrian Tierney-Jones is a journalist and writer and current winner of the British Guild of Beerwriter’s Award for National Journalism. His blog is Called to the Bar and his books include Big Book of Beer, 1001 Beers You Must Try Before You Die and his highly acclaimed Great British Pubs.
• Blog Platforms and Website Design: Learn from an expert how to better use standard blog platforms such as Wordpress to make your blog even better. Leonard Austin has over ten years experience of designing and developing around web technologies including HTML, CSS, PHP, WordPress, Javascript, JQuery, SQL, and SEO. He currently teaches Wordpress for Users and Wordpress for Developers classes at the Northern Technology Institute in Leeds.
• Comparative Beer and Glass Tasting With Spiegelau: Spiegelau, one of the oldest glassmakers in the world dating back to 1521, will host a tasting that highlights the importance of glassware in beer. Not only will you learn about various beer styles and why the glassware affects the taste, smell, and look of the beer but you’ll walk away with your own Beer Connoisseur Set from Spiegelau.
• Taking It To The Next Level: Now that you are a beer blogger, what’s next? Learn about moving from blogging to published writing, working for breweries, creating local beer events, etc. Panelists include beer bloggers Mark Dredge from Pencil and Spoon, Marverine Cole from Beer Beauty, and Zak Avery from The Beer Boy.
• Social Media and Your Blog: Yes, we are all on social media now. Learn how to better utilize social media to achieve the goals you have for your blog, be it greater readership, increased involvement, or more interaction with your fellow beer bloggers. Liz Cable runs the Leeds-based social media training business Reach Further.
• The Current State of the Hops Industry: Paul Corbett, Managing Director of Charles Faram, will tell us everything we wanted to know about hops, from the history to the current state of the industry to which hops are likely to become popular in the future. Charles Faram have been merchants of hops for over 100 years and sell over 50 varieties in the UK.
• Keynote Speech with Head Brewer Stuart Howe from Sharp’s Brewery: We are pleased to announce that Stuart Howe, Head Brewer at Sharp’s Brewery, will provide the keynote address at the 2012 European Beer Bloggers Conference. Please see our announcement and introduction for more information about Stuart.
• Wrapup Group Discussion: This is your chance to provide your opinion about the current state of beer blogging and the brewing industry, where they might be heading in the future, how the UK compares to blogging and brewing in other countries, strengthening the community of bloggers, where we should head for the European Beer Bloggers Conference in 2013, and anything else you want to discuss. Moderated by Mark Dredge from Pencil & Spoon and Allan Wright from the Beer Bloggers Conference.
• Live Beer Blogging: The premier beer tasting event of the conference, during Live Beer Blogging you will taste 10 beers in 50 minutes, learning and writing about each beer live on the spot. This is a great opportunity to not only taste new beers but also to perfect your skill in quickly analyzing beers and coming up with a good written description. See the Sponsor page for a list of breweries participating.