Jim Hightower to keynote Craft Brewers Conference

The national Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America kicks off today in Austin. As I've mentioned before, most (but not all) of this industry event is closed to regular members of the public, but I still think it's worth posting just because I think it says something about what a quality beer town we live in that they chose to hold the convention here. Tomorrow's keynote speaker is very Austin (reprinted from their website):

CONFERENCE NEWS

Just Announced! Jim Hightower to Speak at Keynote

Lauded as America's #1 populist, Jim Hightower will deliver opening remarks at the Craft Brewers Conference, Thursday, April 19.

Hightower is a national radio commentator, writer, public speaker, and author of Thieves In High Places: They've Stolen Our Country And It's Time to Take It Back. Jim Hightower has spent three decades battling the Powers That Be on behalf of the Powers That Ought To Be - consumers, working families, environmentalists, small businesses, and just-plain-folk. He broadcasts daily radio commentaries that are carried in more than 100 commercial and public stations, on the web, on Armed Forces Radio, Radio for Peace International, One World Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio.

(And back to me again: I don't know what Jim Hightower knows about craft-brewed beer other than drinking it, but I presume the theme of his speech will be to praise the microbrewing Davids vs. the Bud/Coors/Miller Goliaths, as little guys vs. big corporations is the thread that has run through his entire activist career.)