Beer and Blog is about bloggers helping bloggers over beers. It started as a means to swap information among peers in the Portland tech scene. It has grown into a weekly happy hour for Portland area bloggers. Sometimes we work. Sometimes we discuss. Sometimes we go on a field trip. But we mostly play and celebrate the transition from the work week to the week end. It’s the kind of place that is fun to network in, kindle ideas into side projects, and announce a release.
Get your own Beer and Blog
Chapters are now available for people that would like to carry on the Beer and Blog spirit in their neck of the woods (that’s something we Northwest forest dwellers say). Charters are issued to a single person, not an organization. To be issued a charter, a person needs to make the following commitment:
- Organize a weekly meet up (4 times a month)
- Write at least 1 post about each meet up (an announcement, recap, or something else)
Your chapter’s charter is its website, which is a sub-domain of BeerandBlog.com.
Do you have to drink beer?
No. Beer is part of the spirit because it is a social drink. Our logo is a pitcher because it’s what you buy when you want to share your beer. Beer is the alcohol most attribute to the saying, “I love you, man.” It is also known for bringing people together that might otherwise have not had the chance without the aid of beer goggles. So, while it is not required, for your sake, I hope you do buy a pitcher of beer for your fellow bloggers.
Do you have to blog?
No. Blogging is part of the spirit because it represents independent, digital publishing. While we applaud the use of Facebook and other services, belonging to most of them ourselves, blogging means you bought your own hosting, domain name, and are rolling some form of a content management system. So, while you don’t need to have a blog, not having one is like being the guy in a gang without tattoos, know what I mean?
Why do you have those commitment requirements?
Because part of what makes Beer and Blog work is it’s weekly format. It makes people feel less obligated to attend every meeting and is easier to approach by people new to the group.
Why can’t an organization be issued a charter?
Because it makes it harder for me to interface with a chapter owner. And, they tend to frown on bars and fun.
If you’d like to start a chapter, send me an email with:
- Your name, email, and website in the appropriate text field.
- Location name you’d like as well as the primary venue’s name and address.
- Why do you want to share the spirit of Beer and Blog?
- How are you able to make the time commitment?
- Own your business?
- Don’t need to work?
- Supportive employer?
- Another situation?





It seems pretty ridiculous that you are making people jump through these hoops in order to start their own ‘chapter’ of Beer and Blog. If the idea is to help other bloggers, then why not give away your ideas for free in the spirit of open source?
Chris, the ideas are freely given away (not sure where you saw a cost). In fact, I set it up so people didn’t have to buy a domain name or pay for hosting by offering my hosting account and subdomains. Honestly, if someone wants to host their own and buy their own domain name, I don’t want to get in the way of that. My motivation is to help people not have to pay for or manage those details. Subdomain Chapters will also benefit from traffic generated by other chapters from being a part of a networked set of sites.
If emailing your name, location, and the why/how they want to host feels like ridiculous hoops, you couldn’t possibly handle the responsibilities of hosting a weekly meet up
Mostly the email request is to prevent squatters and botnets from taking domains from actually interested parties.