Field Notes: European Beer Bloggers Conference
We recently sponsored the fourth European Beer Blogging Conference in Dublin, Ireland. WordPress.com editor Ben Huberman reports back on this hopping community.
Automatticians, the people who build WordPress.com, participate in events and projects around the world every day. Periodically, they report back on the exciting things they do when not in front of a computer. This week, editor Ben Huberman shares his experience from the annual European Beer Bloggers Conference, an annual gathering of brewers, beer lovers, and bloggers who are one or the other (or both).
One of the best aspects of my work is that I get to interact with bloggers on a daily basis, whether it’s in an email to a blogger featured on Discover, the comments section at The Daily Post, or the Blogging U. Commons. Still, meeting WordPress users in real life is a particular pleasure. It’s a real privilege to see the faces and hear the stories of the people who bring our software to life.
This year’s European Beer Bloggers Conference was held in pint-obsessed Dublin, Ireland. The jovial atmosphere on the streets was alive and well in the conference as well, from the craft brewers who were excited to offer a taste of their ales and stouts, to the staff of the beautiful venue — a converted church that once hosted the wedding of Arthur Guinness (founder of guess-which-beer-dynasty).
The conference brought together a diverse, multinational crowd, from Polish beer guru Tomasz Kopyra to Irish craft-beer documentarian Sean Monaghan, with many other representatives from Belgium, England, Austria, and other countries (and even one Floridian — Carol Dekkers, aka the blogger behind MicroBrews USA).
We often say that blogging is all about community. It was wonderful to see how what might sound like a platitude is, in fact, true.
Over the course of the two-day event, I constantly saw bloggers helping each other out, sharing tips, promoting each other’s posts on social media, and, above all, simply enjoying the camaraderie of their far-flung beer buddies. It was just as impressive to see the collective power and influence wielded by citizen bloggers, who drew the attention of big industry names like Fergal Murray, Master Brewer at Guinness, and Vaclav Berka, Pilsner-Urquell’s Brewmaster.
Fellow Automattician Derek Springer, a home brewer and beer expert (who also happens to be a Code Wrangler), attended as well, and was very much in his element. Derek gave an excellent, full-bodied talk about the ways in which bloggers can maximize the impact and reach of their stories.
And such great stories they are — over the course of the conference, I chatted with numerous bloggers who are using their sites to tell theirs. People like beer historian Martin Cornell, who wrote an extensive history of British beer, or Belgium-based Breandan Kearney, who runs a beer-and-chocolate blog with his wife, Elisa (he covers beer, she’s on the chocolate beat).
Thirsty for more beer-blogging goodness? Try Liverpudlian author Chris Routledge’s site, or Irish blogger Simon Broderick.
If you’ve been blogging for a while and yearn for face-to-face interaction with like-minded writers, a blogging conference, whether general interest or niche, might be just what you’re looking for. Even if you don’t yet know any of the attendees, you’re bound to make new friends (and follow a bunch of new blogs) in no time. (For a crash course on blogging conferences, check out our handy guide).
In case a beer bloggers conference sounds like the Best Thing Ever but you were nowhere near Dublin last week, you’re in luck. The people behind this event in Dublin are also organizing the American edition of this conference in San Diego, California, in August, and WordPress.com will be there as well. If you make it, be sure to stop by our table for some beer talk, blog talk, and swag.
Sláinte mhaith!
WordPress.com News 
Beer and blogging. What more is there?? 😉
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Beer
Bloggers Conference? add me, please 😀
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Thanks for the mention! 🙂
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My pleasure; was nice meeting you, Simon!
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The beer is a great social lubricant! Have a great Fourth of July.
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Two pints for me…
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Cheers…for the topic! 🙂
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Looks like this was quite a fun Conference for all to enjoy.
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Always a delight…when bloggers meet.
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Nice article! Will there be another conference next year? Maybe this time it could be held in Belgium? 😀 I would certainly love to attend.
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There definitely won’t be a shortage of great beer in Belgium… 😉
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For sure! And also a lot of people who are passionate about beer. Maybe it could even include a tour in the new Bruges Beer Museum!
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I am enlightened–blogger conferences, whoda thunk it! Are there gelato and blogger conferences as well?
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I don’t know about gelato-specific blogger conferences (though if you do discover one, do let me know! :)) That said, there are quite a few food-blogging conferences around, including the International Food Bloggers Conference which will take place in September in Seattle, WA. WordPress.com is sponsoring that conference as well, and it promises to be fantastic.
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Seattle, eh? I’m not much of a foodie, except for the aforementioned gelato, but Seattle, ah Seattle is amazing!
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fantastic event… did you tried o’hara’s stout ?
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Yes — wonderful stuff!
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It’s local product and still fresh brand on the market, near the town of Port Laoise, where I currently live on the country side, and somehow I love it, I used to live in urban locations for most of my life… I can’t believe that, this event was right under my nose and I missed it. Do you know, where can I sign in to receive more details of such events in the future, especially in Europe, because I fly a lot…
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There’s a link towards the bottom of my post to the organizers of these conferences, Zephyr Adventures. I don’t think they’ve announced the location for next year’s Beer Bloggers Conference yet, but it might be a good idea to check out their site (and follow them on Twitter too @beerbloggers).
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I will follow them on my new twitter account… Thanks 🙂
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Wish I could have made that one! Beer and blogging go hand in hand!
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Looks like a fun conference! I love how bloggers always help each other out, as you mentioned.
But nice article!
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Great picture!!!! I would just love to have one of those pints now.
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Beer with blogging, what an idea
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You lucky ducks! 😉
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A well deserved break for a fabulous crew. Thank you wordpress team for giving me a voice in the world and opening many doors for me. I have been blogging with you since 2007, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. Cheers!
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Was living In Dublin for 3 years, I wish I could be there…Anyway now living in Andalusia…Guest what I have Guinness too & better wheather 😉
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Just when I uploaded a blog about beer I read this… But mine is in Dutch 🙂
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Thanks for the article and links ! It was a fun read. I do a WP (alcoholic) spirits website so it’s nice to read about the beer guys too. I enjoy beer a lot and try to keep up on that side of the alcohol spectrum too.Cheers, Chris
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Blogging and beer, could you get a better combination?
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Interesting arguments on both sides, blogging and beer. I look forward to discussing this further in NJ, over a cold beer of course!
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I never knew that there was a conference for beer bloggers. Sounds great though as many bloggers never actually get to meet other bloggers in their field of iinterest. Sounds like a blast!
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