“We are not in a bubble, we are knee deep in foam & the foam is still rising.” – Charlie Papazian

The author of The Complete Joy of Homebrewing, founder of the Great American Beer festival, the American Homebrewers Association and the Association of Brewers welcomed regional craft brewers, microbrewers, pub brewers, allied trade and media alike.

Thousands of people in the beer industry came to San Diego to network with one another at the 29th Craft Brewers Conference at the Town & Country Resort and Conference Center. Thirty five countries were in attendance, totaling approximately 4,500 people.

How many women out there serve as president of the oldest homebrewing club in the country? Well, there could only be one – and that is Nancy Gold.

Brewers from around the world received awards from an elite international panel of judges in the 2012 Brewers Association World Beer Cup. The ninth bi-annual competition boasted the strongest field of entrants on record, with 799 breweries from 54 countries and 45 U.S. states entering 3,921 beers in 95 beer style categories. A 17.7 percent increase over 2010, the entries were eligible for gold, silver and bronze awards in their respective categories. Judges presented a total of 284 awards.

Big beer is often portrayed as a simple way to socialize. But there is nothing ordinary about the amazing beers that are poured at Stone Brewing’s Oakquinox. This age-old tradition of barrel aging beers has returned with a flavor busting vengeance, in festival form.

Located in the village, just a few miles from Bear Mountain, Murray's Saloon & Eatery has a mountain divey-ness vibe that is unparelled. Nightly karaoke, a great menu of burgers & appetizers, billiards and a full bar make Murray's a local's favorite. Upon entering the bar, you will likely get the locals once over, reminiscent of a western saloon. But after a few drinks, you'll find one of the most eclectic groups of people - locals and tourists alike - partying together in one small dive bar.

Denver, CO – April 19, 2012 - Breckenridge Brewery of Colorado added four more 300-barrel fermenters last week, bringing it's total capacity to 75,000 barrels. This expansion follows the addition of two 300-barrel tanks and a 200-barrel Brite tank in January. With a new kegging line to come this summer, the brewery expects record growth this year as the craft beer industry continues to boom.

Join Stone for a celebration of the tasty extravagance that ensues when beer meets wood. Stone will begin pouring dozens of barrel-aged and wood-infused brews at 10 am and not stop until 4 pm. "Dr." Bill Sysak has over 100 spectacular beers lined up, and he's working on even more!

The Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) is the only industry event that serves both brewpubs and packaging breweries. On May 2nd, professional brewers will meet to exchange ideas on how to improve brewery quality and performance. CBC is the number one environment in North America for concentrated, affordable brewing education.

I’d venture to say there are few women in the world that can claim they’ve been brewing beer professionally for nearly a quarter of a century. Before brewing was all the rage, Teri was a grain handling, wort boiling, carboy carrying, yeast pitching, beer fermenting, woman, in a male-dominated industry.

Ross Steinberg is the focus of my first homebrewer highlight. Having lived in Los Angeles, it may come as no surprise that he now brews beer for bands such as Prong, Ministry and The Swingin' Utters. Cool.