Grand Rapids To Host National Beer Conference

Grand Rapids has built a reputation for being a great place to enjoy a local beer.

That reputation continues to grow as a national beer conference will bring 3,500 beer lovers and brewers to Grand Rapids.

DeVos Place will host the national conference of the American Homebrewers Association in 2014.

The National Homebrewers Conference will take place from June 10 - 14, 2014.

Grbj.com has more:

The conference will bring an estimated 3,500 visitors to Grand Rapids and its bustling beer scene for seminars and workshops at DeVos Place, said Eric Fouch, president of the Primetime Brewers Association, a Grand Rapids homebrew club.

AHA Director Gary Glass said the association first researched Grand Rapids for the 2010 conference but passed, now settling on the 2014 date. Michigan hosted the conference in 2000 when it came to Livonia.

Grand Rapids beat out several cities for the event, including Austin, Texas, which was knocked out by strict liquor-control laws that prevented further consideration.

Glass said one of the major draws was DeVos Place and how willing the hotels are to offer great deals.

Fouch said there has been talk of a seven-city rotation for the conference, and he hopes Grand Rapids would be included.

The number of breweries in Grand Rapids continues to grow, including the recent opening of Grand Rapids Brewing Company.

The quality of our breweries is nationally known.  Grand Rapids was named Beer City USA earlier this year.

All of this makes Grand Rapids a logical choice for a national beer conference.  Not just for this year, but beyond.

Cheers!