Craft Beer Professionals

Breweries are being bombarded with promises about what AI can do—automate your marketing, write your contracts, even predict your next big seller. But in a highly regulated and deeply human business like craft beer, not all automation is worth the risk. In this session, alcohol law attorney John Szymankiewicz and fractional marketing strategist Madeline McMahon will walk attendees through real-wor...

This presentation will provide an overview of how to prepare for visits from Immigration and ICE officers, in light of increased ICE investigations, workplace raids, and community visits associated with immigration applications. Kathleen A. Spero has a long-standing interest in immigration and foreign relations. She graduated from San Diego State University magna cum laude with a dual major in Pol...

The craft beer community thrives on passion and collaboration, yet many breweries lack the resources to address workplace harassment effectively. This interactive series, hosted by WeVow with support from industry partners, brings together legal experts and seasoned leaders to provide practical tools you can use immediately. Join us to: Learn from specialists who understand the unique culture of c...

Most brewery leaders step into leadership because they’re good at what they do. They care. They work hard. And they want the people around them to succeed. But at some point, that’s not enough. Passion doesn’t automatically translate to progress, and well-meaning effort doesn’t always grow a healthy team. This session offers a practical look at what it means to lead people on purpose. We’ll explor...

Listen to this presentation to learn more about technologies breweries are implementing to cut costs, increase efficiencies and cut waste. It also covers a bit on what to look for when planning an improvement projects, what a basic business case looks like and some "pro tips" for how to run these projects (without revealing too much: start small, and build on proven success). Sharing fro...

Tired of long lead times, big minimums, and confusing label costs? In this 30-minute session, Andrew Johnston will break down the most common bottlenecks breweries and brands face with label printing—and show exactly how Craft Brew Prints is changing the game. From 48-hour turnaround and no MOQs to a streamlined online ordering portal and premium materials, you’ll see how Craft Brew Prints helps b...

Breweries are finding inventive ways to grow—even in a tough market. From new beverage lines to taproom makeovers, this fast-paced session highlights real-world strategies breweries are using to boost revenue and stay relevant. You’ll also learn how creative financing can help bring these ideas to life without crushing your cash flow. Stick around for a Q&A to swap ideas and ask questions. Ric...

In today’s competitive craft beer market, saving money can boost your bottom line faster than chasing every new trend. This session will share five quick, practical strategies you can use right now to cut costs without cutting corners. You’ll learn how to tap into your network to find trusted vendor recommendations, leverage your state guild’s discounts and preferred partners, and re-negotiate wit...

Oxygen is both a friend and a foe in the beer-making process. Used wisely, it sets the stage for strong fermentation. Used incorrectly—or introduced at the wrong time—it can compromise the flavor, shelf life, and quality of your beer. This session examines the real-world impact of using pure oxygen versus compressed air in the fermentation process, offering insights brewers can apply to improve pr...

The busy summer season often masks small inefficiencies that quietly drain time, money, and energy from your brewery. In this practical, no-fluff session, we’ll guide you through an essential “autumn reset” to identify and fix hidden inefficiencies before the holiday rush hits. Whether you’re managing your brewery with a whiteboard, spreadsheets, or brewery management software, this talk is for yo...

This session will walk you through the key legal steps to build a business that’s ready for investment and eventually for sale. We will dive into the legal side of raising capital. From friends and family to private investors or venture capital. We will demystify the capital raising process – covering commonly used private placement exemptions like Regulation D (Rules 506(b) and 506(c)), basic com...

Making great beer doesn’t automatically mean you’re ready to lead people—but in most breweries, that’s exactly what happens. Talented brewers, servers, and production crew get promoted into leadership without ever being shown how to actually lead. The result? Frustration, burnout, and team dynamics that drag down quality, morale, and margins. In this session, you’ll learn three proven leadership t...

Say goodbye to boring spreadsheets and hello to a budgeting process that actually works. In this workshop, we’ll show you how to create a practical, profit-driven brewery budget using real numbers, easy tools, and a dash of fun. You’ll leave with a clear plan, the right templates, and the confidence to take control of your finances. Without falling asleep at the keyboard. Kary Shumway is the found...

2024 saw more brewery closings than openings. Uncertainty is growing around rising costs and tariffs. Production is down. Consumers are looking for more diverse offerings, including non-alcoholic. Industry associations are promising bright days ahead, while member breweries are not so sure. Tired promotions and liquid social posts aren’t going to save craft. Throwing more resources and budget at t...

We know that you know beer! But what if you’re adding additional product categories? This presentation aims to give you a solid understanding of the rules and regulations around the advertising and marketing of all your brands, alcoholic beer as well as non-alc, spirits and hemp-derived beverage products. Key Objectives: Know what is considered an advertisement and the “Golden Rule” to avoid most...

CBP Connects New Orleans is almost here, happening December 8–10. Join us for a conversation with some of our event speakers and partners to hear what you can expect, why you should attend, and how it can help you reach your goals. 14 interactive sessions, 3 nightly receptions (Urban South, Parleaux, and Abita), a trade show, and countless opportunities to connect with industry decision makers. Th...

Breweries are under pressure—tight margins, unpredictable production, and old ways of managing inventory, compliance, and procurement that just aren’t cutting it anymore. In this session, we’ll explore how mid-sized breweries can reclaim efficiency and stay competitive using smarter systems, without needing an enterprise IT team. You’ll hear from Lawson’s Finest Liquids, a regional brewery navigat...

Every big decision comes with lessons, some you are glad you learned and others you wish you could have avoided. In this panel, brewery owners and managers share the moves they have made, from expansions to new revenue streams to tough calls that changed the direction of their business. Hear what worked, what did not, and what they would do differently so you can make smarter moves in your own bus...

CBP Connects New Orleans is almost here, happening December 8–10. Join us for a conversation with some of our event speakers and partners to hear what you can expect, why you should attend, and how it can help you reach your goals. 14 interactive sessions, 3 nightly receptions (Urban South, Parleaux, and Abita), a trade show, and countless opportunities to connect with industry decision makers. Th...

We are experiencing an unprecedented talent crisis in the US. We are producing more jobs than we have workers to fill them, companies are now competing for talent across all industries – not just within their own. Engagement is at its lowest in almost 10 years and the expectations among Millennials and GenZ have created the long overdue awakening about what leaders need to do to build engaged and...

Business is consistent, staff is solid, cash flow is more than adequate, and I have a great idea/opportunity for another tap room….so should I do it?"This feels like the ultimate question for the brewing industry right now, since a significant number of closings seem to be happening on the heels of a major expansion. So what are the best metrics to use when weighing this question (or) any typ...

Your service staff is tasked with presenting your beers to customers in your taproom or brewpub, which makes each of them ad hoc members of your sales staff. They might be great bartenders or servers, but if they came to you from a restaurant or other hospitality background, they might not know much about beer, and we all know how quickly beer misinformation can spread. Brewery owners are sometime...

Running a craft brewery today isn’t easy—markets are unpredictable, costs are rising, and competition is fierce. The real question is, how do you not just survive, but thrive in all this chaos? Join us as we tackle the biggest challenges facing craft breweries today—rising raw material and packaging costs, fierce competition, and unpredictable pricing and demand. We’ll break down revenue vs. profi...

For better or worse, the U.S. beer market is built on top of a sea of excise taxes, which every successful and compliant brewer must learn to navigate. As your brewery grows and enters more state markets, your overall excise tax burden only increases, adding to the confusion and risk of missing something. And, of course, each state has unique rules for how they apply and administer their excise ta...

Hiring a whole sales team isn’t always realistic, but that doesn’t mean your growth has to stall. This session explores how independent beverage brands can scale sales using lean, digital-first strategies that replace manual processes with intelligent systems. You’ll learn how to blend brand storytelling, targeted marketing, and smart automation to boost both retail and wholesale revenue. Whether...