Conference Info

The famous Pub Crawl moves 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. This year’s pub crawl route takes attendees to a single stop in the popular Downtown Denton area with multiple options available within short walking distance, 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.  Bus 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 the Knights of Columbus Hall in Keller. This year’s event features a 6-course gourmet meal crafted by Chef Dave Trosko, with each course paired with Peticolas Brewing beers and guided by Michael Peticolas. Bus will depart the hotel at 5:30 to get to the venue, and the dinner is expected to begin at 6:15. This year’s dinner will include:

• Course 1: Bacon on the Bone– Bacon Cured Pork Spare Rib, maple bourbon glaze, pickled carrot. Paired with Thrilla in Brazilla IPA
• Course 2: Scotch Devilled Egg– Preserved Egg, Scottish Ale egg mousse, Balsamic redux, Beer Braised Sausage, Crispy Onion. Paired with Great Scot! Scottish Ale
• Course 3: Pork Belly Lolli-Pop– Bacon wrapped sous vide pork belly, hickory smoked apple compote, braised greens, pickled mustard seed. Paired with Velvet Hammer Imperial Red
• Course 4: Foie de Poulet Crostini– Chicken Liver Pâté, sourdough focaccia, candied lemon, chervil. Paired with Match Day Pale Ale
• Course 5: Tamalé Bolognese– Genovese Basil Pesto Masa, Brisket Bolognese, Parmesan Cream Sauce. Paired with Irish Goodbye Irish Red Ale
• Course 6: Bourbon Butter Bread Pudding– Brioche, dried cherry, orange peel, angostura bourbon caramel sauce, whipped cream. Paired with The Usual Cocktail Beer

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.

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.

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!)