I don't see a problem with us entering beers in the competition - but will check. I think that getting beer to the US in a decent condition for competition could be an issue.
Cheers
P1
Knowing I was going to Minneapolis for the 2010 NHC, I entered a beer. Sent an IIPA which was probably not the right style to enter on the west coast of USA. Scored 30.5 in the first round. All International entries were sent to Southwest Region, which was in San Diego. The AHA have plastered all over their entry forms not to use US Postal Service. So I sent mine Express Courier for $75. A lot of money, but imagine if I managed to jag a second round entry.
NHC was amazing. I've never seen anything like it.
The BNA5/NB17 was an awesome party. They had four or five refrigerated trailers with about 10 taps sticking out of each. Some breweries had made beers especially for the night. It was all free pour, with noone watching the taps. The first beer I had was Rodenbach Grand Cru to give you an idea of the quality of beer at the event. Tasty was pouring Janet's Brown Ale to select tasters (me) and I was pouring a few bottles of a spiced old ale with brett. It was great to put faces to all the BN Army people I know from the shows and forum.
NHC itself was just a huge celebration of beer. Some really informative talks. The John Blichman setting up a homebrewery was chock full of info. Justin Crossley from the Brewing Network gave a talk about sharing your beer and talking to other brewers. It was pretty entertaining. Another interesting talk I dragged myself out of bed at 9am for was the Stein Beer one. I think all the slides from the talks are on the AHA website.
Pro Brewers night had some incredible beers. Sure there were some that I could take or leave. But others, like the Town Hall Brewery cask conditioned Russian Imperial Stout were a pleasure to taste.
Club night was great. I had previously met up with a couple of New York City Homebrewers Guild guys. I had about 15 bottles of beer that I wanted to pour and they were gracious enough to offer me some of their table and a tub of ice for the bottles. They even walked the floor with me while pouring my Chocolate RoggenBock. Then the table next to the New Yorkers opened up. So I set up the Western Sydney Brewers stand on my own. Two moments stick out in my mind: 1) Tasty McDole said I had cloned the Nogne O 100, then came back for a second pour 20 minutes later. That was really cool. 2) Some guy came up to the stand and said I've heard you have an amazing eisbock, can I try it? --- Little things, but it felt great at the time.
Then the grand banquet with Sean Paxton the Homebrew Chef preparing three courses of Rogue Ales paired dinner. I wasn't even interested in having a beer that night. But the Rogue beers were paired perfectly with Paxton's dishes. The recipes are also on the AHA website.
If you get a chance to go to NHC2011 in San Diego, DO IT! I can't go, we'll have a 6-month old in the house by then. That's why I made the most out of Minneapolis. It may be the only one I ever go to.