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Conference Info

Welcome to The Bluebonnet Brew-off!  This year’s event features a number of changes from prior years.  We’ve removed the Brewer’s Showcase since this part of the event has been somewhat eclipsed by other commercial beer festivals, and by rearranging the remaining events hopefully more people will be able to participate in everything. We also have a new venue which should help to make the event more affordable. The full event schedule can be found here.

Friday

Registration and Pub Crawl

The famous Pub Crawl busses move to Friday evening this year, with participants driven by bus to popular pub areas. This change means attendees won’t have to choose between the tech seminars and the pub crawl. There are 2 different routes to choose from– South Side Fort Worth, and Downtown Denton.  Each route has a single stop at a popular area with multiple options available, so you won’t have to spend so much time standing in line. Sign up on-line for the Pub Crawl at the event registration page.  Busses will depart from and return to the event hotel according to the event schedule.

Beer and Food Pairing

The popular Beer and Food Pairing banquet is back this year, to be held on Friday evening at Three Wide Brewing. Bus will depart the hotel at 5:30 to get to the brewery, and the dinner is expected to begin at 6:15. This year’s dinner will include:

  • Course 1: Cheese course with Obatzer and Rye bread, paired with Maibock
  • Course 2: Grilled Panzanella or Frisee salad witl lardons, paired with Strawberry Blond
  • Course 3: Smoked stock chicken pot pie paired with Helles
  • Course 4: Braised short ribs and mashed potatoes paired with Schwartzbier
  • Course 5: Tiramisu dessert paired with Belgian Coffee Pale Ale

Saturday

Big Thirsty Hospitality Room

Saturday will feature the Big Thirsty hospitality room starting at 11am and open all afternoon, where you can relax and enjoy the chance to sample a rotating selection of commercial beers and hang out with friends. The Cigar Clinic will be operating in the afternoon, with hand-rolled cigars available for purchase. Event registration also opens at 11am on Saturday.

Technical Talks

We will be featuring a technical discussion on mead making from this year’s keynote speaker, Carvin Wilson. Other technical programs will be posted here as they are confirmed.

Keynote Speaker

The 2023 Bluebonnet speaker is Carvin Wilson.  Carvin’s Keynote speech will be on Saturday at 4PM.

The Bluebonnet Awards

This is what it’s all about– handing out those beautiful steins! Our awards ceremony will start at 6:30PM– but not before everybody gets a chance to grab some dinner at our pizza buffet, a new feature included with your ticket price! Dinner is now included with your admission, so you won’t have to fend for yourself. Then sit back and wait for your name to (hopefully) be called– or at least your raffle number.

Homebrew Showcase

The Homebrew “Club Night” Showcase will be Saturday evening, immediately after the Awards Ceremony honoring those that won a coveted award in the Bluebonnet Brew-Off Homebrew Competition.  Attendees will have the opportunity to sample and evaluate home brew from some of the region’s best amateur brewers, and cast their vote for which home brew club makes the best beer.

Stein Holding Competition

Before the awards are handed out, attendees will have the opportunity to demonstrate feats of strength and stamina in our stein holding competition.  Contestants will receive a 1-Liter German-style dimple glass stein with the Bluebonnet logo, filled with beer; prizes will be awarded to the top three folks in both the Men’s and Lady’s divisions who can keep them held aloft the longest.  Participation in the Stein Holding competition is $15, and all participants will get to keep the glass stein (along with the beer it contains!)

VIP Access

Once again included year is the availability of a limited-quantity VIP access ticket that will provide a select number of attendees the opportunity to meet our keynote speaker on Saturday, sample some special rare beers from several different local breweries and enjoy a complementary taco bar in the Saturday VIP lounge from 12-1:30, enjoy fast-pass access to beers in the hospitality room, and go home with some one-of-a-kind gifts available only to VIP ticket holders.  Only 100 VIP tickets are available!

Event Tickets

Event tickets can be purchased here.

  • VIP Tickets – $70.00
  • Online Advanced Tickets – $45.00
  • Day-of Event Tickets (Walk-up) – $50.00

Special Events (additional ticket required)

  • Stein Holding Competition – $15.00, includes glass dimpled German mug.
  • Pub Crawl – $25.00 per person
    Routes include:
    FW: Stop is in Near Southside district, with options including Funky Picnic, HopFusion Ale Works, Southside Beer Cellar, Bearded Lady, T&P Tavern, Rahr Brewing and Locust Cider.

    Denton: Stop is in downtown district, with options including Denton County Brewing, Bearded Monk, Eastside Denton, Oak St. Draught House, Howling Mutt Brewery, Barley and Board, and Harvest House Beer Garden

    LIMITED TO 50 PPL PER BUS
  • Beer and Food Pairing – A multi-course dinner banquet featuring pairings with locally brewed beers! To be held at Three Wide Brewing, Fort Worth, TX. Includes transportation between hotel and dinner venue.
  • Cigar Clinic – Varies based on cigar chosen

Hotel Discounts

Come stay with us at the Holiday Inn!  It’s by far the best way to experience everything the Bluebonnet has to offer without having to worry about a safe ride home.  Hotel discounts are available, click here for details. Get your reservations quickly, before the hotel sells out!

The Bluebonnet Brew Off does not condone drinking and driving, participants are expected to drink responsibly.