Craft Beer Professionals

While ChatGPT can string words together, it doesn't know your business's quirks, local HR rules, or your team's culture. From brewing protocols to employee handbooks, generic AI documents lack the real-world context your business desperately needs to ensure its success. Join a panel of industry experts for a practical look at successful documentation. We will discuss the importance of...

In this presentation we will follow the brewing process and discuss each point where mechanical separation (centrifugation) can be used. From decanters for trub removal/wort recovery in the brew house to using decanters or sedicanters for heavy fermenter bottoms dewatering for beer recovery to disc separators for clarification of final product before packaging. We will highlight the pros and cons...

This session covers three cost saving benefits nitrogen can bring to your brewery. You'll learn how onsite generated nitrogen can replace CO2 in processes like tank purging, beer transfers, and packaging line pressure, cutting your CO2 costs directly. We'll also cover where nitrogen can't replace CO2, like carbonation, and why that matters. This same shift reduces your carbon footprint...

Having a good label for your beer is critical. The label identifies you as the producer and showcases your style to consumers, while also informing them as to what they are about to enjoy. However, that means there are a lot of rules and procedures that breweries need to follow when drafting their labels, imposed by both state and federal agencies. Get ahead of your compliance needs by hearing Ale...

Bryan Pietrzak spent over 20 years as a machinist and welder while drumming in a touring rock band for nearly two decades. In 2025, he brought both worlds together as co-founder and brewmaster of Twelvenote Brew Co. in Bridgeport, CT, a brewery built around the twelve notes of the musical scale where every beer gets its own personality and story. In this live CBP conversation, Bryan shares how mus...

Word-of-mouth often ranks among the most effective marketing tactics. And it makes sense. In the age of AI, ads, and the internet there’s a lot to distract us. From creating a positive experience worth sharing to being a catalyst for conversation, merchandise has the opportunity to break through the noise of “marketing” and help you tell your brand story in a way that is memorable while providing...

AI is already part of brewery marketing, from content planning to social posts, but using it the wrong way can weaken your brand and erode trust. In this conversation, we’ll dig into where AI actually helps, where it hurts, and how breweries can use it without losing their voice. We’ll look at real examples of AI in copy, visuals, and scheduling, explore how different generations recognize and res...

Brandon McCraney at Olde Raleigh Distillery doesn't run a typical family distillery. He's partnered with Lionsgate on a John Wick-themed bourbon release, collaborated on a Scream 7 bottle, and keeps six taps of craft beer in his tasting room because he wants to have something for everyone. In this conversation, Brandon breaks down how he thinks about storytelling, experience, and community...

Last month, breweries added 26.3 taproom visits for every push message they sent. 332 breweries have launched their own app in the past two years. And we're spilling the beans on the best kept secret in beer. In this session, we will break down exactly what goes into a successful brewery app, including best practices and real world examples on how to: -Build your Audience -Boost Taproom Traffi...

Data is truly The 5th Ingredient in your beer. Yet too often, it’s treated as an afterthought. In a tightening market where cash is scarce, maximizing efficiency in your brewhouse has never been more critical. In this seminar, Aaron MJ Gore explores how to leverage the data you already have to get more beer out of every batch. By turning insight into action, you’ll learn practical ways to reduce w...

Brewing beer is easy. Four simple ingredients, and a process so straightforward that the earliest beers were brewed by accident when wet grains started to germinate and ferment. But brewing consistently high-quality beer is a different challenge, and the modern brewing process extends far beyond the simple equation of beer = water + malt + hops + yeast. Differentiating your product in a competitiv...

In a beer industry facing rising costs, shifting consumer habits, and increased competition for attention, taproom events can no longer exist just to “fill a Monday night.” This talk is for craft brewery owners, managers, and staff who want their events to drive real engagement and revenue, not fade into the background. We’ll start by looking at how today’s economic realities are impacting foot tr...

Think about your brewery’s story — not the polished version on your website, but the real one. The batch that went sideways at 2 AM. The regular who talked you off a ledge during COVID. The moment you knew this crazy idea might actually work. Those stories? They’re probably still just living in someone’s head. And here’s the thing: memories fade. People move on. If we don’t capture these moments,...

Considering distribution? In the market for a distributor in a new territory? Or maybe simply trying to figure out what’s missing in your current distribution equation? Join us to discuss both the most important traits of a great distribution partner and some warning signs to watch out for when you’re shopping & interviewing. Plus, learn more about evaluating portfolios, market position, sales...

Despite their best efforts, most Owners, GMs, and Taproom Managers leave money on the table because their taprooms operate below their true potential. In this session, we break down 12 proven tactics the most profitable taprooms use to generate 2x-5x more profit than their peers. We’ll walk through the 4 pillars of successful taprooms, outlining specific tactics and performance benchmarks, drawn f...

An ESOP (employee stock ownership plan) can be the right succession strategy for a craft brewer. This presentation will offer a detailed look at how an ESOP can enable an owner to receive fair value for transferring ownership while preserving the unique culture and legacy of the business even after the founder steps back. We will demystify the structure and legal aspects of an ESOP, making a compl...

The craft beer industry is more competitive than ever. Rising costs, shifting consumer preferences, and complex supply chains require brewers to think beyond traditional methods of growth and efficiency. Advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), predictive analytics, and smart automation are no longer reserved for big corporations – they are increasingly accessible to breweries o...

Recent years have seen dramatic growth in brewery collaboration structures ranging from simple contract brewing to regional platforms consolidating brands under shared infrastructure. These models offer craft breweries access to professional capabilities, competitive scale, and optimized capacity utilization while maintaining independence – but only if you choose the right structure for your speci...

Join Donald Snyder, a 20+ year spirit industry leader, as he discusses the many opportunities and challenges that brewers will face when adding spirits to their brewery operations. Adding a spirits program to a brewery is never a one-size fits all. From space constraints to unique state laws, every spirits journey will be different. Donald will walk through the federal licensing steps, TTB monthly...

For brewers looking to grow their market, the prospect of the direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipping channel—and the potential to sell to consumers across the country that it brings—can be tantalizing. Indeed, a brewer with a successful DtC shipping program can reap benefits beyond simple remote sales, including eliciting distributor attention for three-tier sales. But as a complicated market, with num...

Seasonality hits every brewery differently. A beach town in July looks nothing like a mountain town in February. In this panel, we are bringing together breweries from very different markets to talk about how they plan for the swings, manage staffing and inventory, adjust events and marketing, and keep revenue steady when foot traffic shifts. This conversation will include real examples of what ha...

Craft beer is all about friendship and fun, and that can ironically make it harder for folks who are dealing with anxiety, depression, or suicidality to open up about their struggles. Because craft beer is in the business of selling a good time, the industry can be resistant to acknowledging that some of its members are struggling. Some of beer’s favorite spaces and events, such as taprooms and fe...

In an industry built on authenticity and community connection, most teams resist AI because they worry it will dilute the brand’s voice or sound generic. Used strategically, AI can protect creative energy, support consistency, and make marketing more sustainable without replacing personality. This session explores how breweries can use AI as a calibration tool that supports brand tone, improves op...

It’s hard out there for a brewery. With follower reach at an all time low and Meta no longer recommending alcohol pages, we need to flip the script. We need profitable & owned channel marketing programs! Bring your scalpel and your bunsen burner. In this session we will dissect the most profitable App Marketing programs. We will look at proven ways to drive repeat visits, real life tactics to...

If you’ve ever felt like you’re juggling tanks, taplists, payroll, a stuck mash, and three “quick questions” before your coffee kicks in? You’re not alone. Ball Theory for Brewers is a simple, fun way to sort out which parts of your job are glass balls (don’t drop these!) and which ones are rubber balls (let them bounce). This session breaks down brewery chaos into something you can actually manag...