If it weren’t for Film School, I wouldn’t be a writer.
Sure, there are other factors, but I never really learned how to tell a story until I took the first required course at Chapman University’s film program, Visual Storytelling. I’d never written a story until then, but had no problem doing it visually.
I went on to study what’s effectively a dead discipline (cinematography), only made one film (which might appear here someday), and today have nothing to do with the film industry. Yet my love for photography, and the art of light and shadow, has never waned.
I could try to piece together some narrative about the 6 days I spent in Nashville last week for the Craft Brewers Conference, but I was mainly working on the BrewExpo floor, nor attending sessions or the keynotes – next year hopefully.
So here’s a bunch of pictures with captions. Cheers!
Day 1 – Check-In & Opening Reception
This year CBC was held in the ultra-modern Music City Center, located in the heart of downtown Nashville. With a footprint of 2.1 million sq feet, it’s one of the nation’s largest conference centers. ~ Image courtesy of nashvillemusiccitycenter.comCheck in and Registration, while on the other side of the monstrous complex from the entry way, was a smooth and easy process.The Opening Reception, squeezed between the Music City Center and the Country Music Hall of Fame Museum, featured beers from 30+ regional brewers.
It was great meeting Sam Calagione again. Dude always has a swarm around him wherever he goes.The Brewers Association “Independent Craft” logo was EVERYWHERE. And of course the only pic I took of it came out blurry…
Southern Grist’s New Nations Taproom and Brewhouse
Later that night, we headed to Southern Grist’s brand new Nations TaproomPineapple Upside Down Cake DIPA and Black Currant Boysenberry Hill Lactose Sour. Both excellent.The Weeks played a legit set while brewers from Aslin, Civil Society, Finback, Heaven & Ale, Heist, J. Wakefield, Rar, Southern Grist and Twisted Trunk poured a ton of excellent hazy and other high-end tasters.
Day 2 – Brewtalks and Broadway
First Day at the Booth. The only one I’ll post, but I must say that all the hard work everyone put into CBC has thus far proven fruitful.The first of the two panels at Brewbound’s Brew Talks event. Discussing marketing with folks from Dogfish Head and Boulevard, plus JC Tetreault, the Co-Founder/Owner of Trillium, all moderated by Chris Funari.One of the few tours I wanted to do while in town, but didn’t quite get to.Dinner at Martin’s BBQ didn’t disappoint. Bonus points: the Three Floyd’s, Warpigs, Mikkeller tap-takeover while we were there.The Broadway Strip (or District?). The locals love it when you take pictures of them…Dierk Bentley’s Whiskey Row. ‘Merica.Named for Nudie Cohn, a fashion designer known for his elaborate suits, Nudie’s Honky Tonk became a regular, late-night stop.Cohn’s famous Cadillac convertible is mounted above the stage, which routinely features local rock and country acts.Singers will often sing from atop the bar. The four story complex also features some of Cohn’s famous suits on display and a DJ spinning on the rooftop dance floor.
Day 3 – Speaking Session, Americano, Music City CANarchy
My company had a speaking session featuring some of our customers. It focused on current trends and concerns in the industry and how our software can help address them.Following the session and another day on the expo floor, we hit up Americano for Spanish Tapas, including this delectable Paella.Next we caught the tail-end of the Music City CANarchy event put on by Oskar Blues craft brewery collective (Cigar City, Perrin, Squatters, Wasatch).
Day 4 & 5 – Bearded Iris, Random One-Offs and Third Man Records
Following our last day at the booth, we headed North to Bearded Iris. While the line was long, it moved quickly and there was still plenty of space.Bearded Iris’ brewhouse, tanks, and foeders.Loved this Lucky Lager ad – found at Nudie’s Honky Tonk.On Friday we checked out Jack White’s record studio – a very cool spot worth visiting.Saw a dude with an acoustic guitar cram himself into this box to record a song. Thing popped out a vinyl 45 within minutes.While we weren’t able to tour the expansive studio side of the complex, the gift shop was packed full of great artifacts, kitschy gifts and a lot of great records.Detail of the Hank Williams mosaic in the header. Found at the Loews Vanderbuilt Hotel.
Craft Beer Scribe 