The Ale-Conner

"Go with exBEERience"

BJCP Certified
Cicerone® Certified

Are you excited and intrigued by all the new beer choices at your local pub, restaurant or liquor store? Or perhaps more importantly, are you confused and intimidated by the huge and ever-growing list of beer brands and styles from which you now have to choose?

The beer market in the United States has seen explosive growth in high quality imported beer and artisanal beer from local and regional craft breweries. This beer-friendly market has been in the making for over twenty-five years now; through it all, Marty Nachel has been an active consumer advocate and an ardent promoter of fine beer.

Given this precipitous increase in interest in craft beers, and the exponential growth of brands within the market, there is now a greater need for, and interest in, beer education. Consider these fun and educational events hosted by Marty:

• Beer Appreciation Classes
• Beer Tastings
• Beer and Food Tastings
• BEER WIZ™ Trivia games

Mirroring the growth in craft brewing has been the growth in the homebrewing hobby. Brewing your own beer at home has become extremely popular among fans of craft beer. Consider how these class offerings may enhance your brewing ability and improve your finished product:

• Beginner Homebrew Class
• Beer Sensory Evaluation Class (Identifying off-flavors)
• BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) Study Classes
• THE BEER CLINIC™

These events and classes can be arranged for large groups or small, in public venues or for private parties. If you are interested in arranging one of these events, feel free to use the contact information below:

"If you enjoy great beer as much as I do, then you understand how it can become a passion. I first started learning about beer back in the early 1980's, about the same time the American microbrewing industry was just a groundswell.

First I started brewing my own beer, then I became a Certified Beer Judge, then I began writing about the craft. Twenty-five years and four books later, I am still an avid fan of the industry. I have visited over 250 different breweries on two continents and I have had the pleasure of tasting and reviewing thousands of homebrews and commercial beers.

Along the way, I've had the honor of associating with some of the biggest names in the industry as well as evaluating beer at some of the most prestigious festivals and competitions in the U.S. I look forward to continuing to cover this fun and dynamic industry for years to come. If you should happen to read my books or attend my presentations, I hope you find my passion for the craft infectious."

Cheers!
Marty Nachel

About Ale-Conner

Ale-conner Beer Consulting was established in 1993 as a means of spreading the "Gospel of Good Beer". Borrowing the long-forgotten title of the official beer taster of 12th Century England, Marty Nachel set about the task of teaching appreciation of fine beer.

Marty started by writing about beer and brewing for regional and national beer publications; his first article was published in All About Beer magazine in 1987. Since then, his articles have appeared in print and online publications such as Brew Your Own, Brewing Techniques, Celebrator Beer News, Cooking Pleasures, Fine Cooking, Epicurious.com, Malt Advocate, and Zymurgy.

Marty published his first book, "Beer Across America" in 1995. He followed up with "Beer For Dummies" in 1996 and in 1997 "Homebrewing For Dummies" with a 2nd Edition in 2008. Also in 1997, Marty became a contributor to Microsoft's digital Encarta Encyclopedia.

In 1996, Marty was named one of the Top Three Beer Writers in North America by North American Guild of Beer Writers. In a span of six years Marty won eight Quill & Tankard awards for excellence in beer writing.

In addition to being an award-winning homebrewer, Marty has been a BJCP Certified Beer Judge since 1986 (first BJCP judge in the state of Illinois) and was a beer evaluator at Beverage Testing Institute's World Beer Championships from 1994 to 1998. In 1998, Marty was appointed to the Professional Panel Blind Tasting at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado, and in 2008 Marty joined Jim Koch at the Boston Beer Company to judge the LongShot Homebrew Competition finals.

A quarter century after discovering good beer for himself, Marty continues to advocate on behalf of good beer- by brewing, by writing, by teaching and by drinking by example!