Craft Beer Professionals

The craft beer industry is constantly changing and competition is fierce everywhere you turn. Breweries are opening and closing everyday, so how does one stand out from the crowd? Today, we discuss a number of everyday activities that can be done to help maximize growth in a strategic fashion. We can't just rely on making good beer anymore. We'll explore topics such as "knowing your why" and then...

Stainless steel is an alloy of iron that is resistant to rusting and corrosion. It is also known as rustles steel or corrosion-resistant steel. It contains at minimum of 10.5 % chromium and usually nickel, and may also contain other elements, such as carbon, to obtain the desired properties. Stainless steel's resistance to corrosion results from the chromium, which forms a passive film that can pr...

As we move into 2025, the taproom experience is being shaped by an ever-evolving landscape of guest preferences, expectations, and behaviors. Craft beer alone won’t keep guests coming back—today's successful taprooms are those that create a seamless fusion of exceptional beverages, a welcoming atmosphere, and an engaging staff. To stay ahead of the curve, it's critical to understand how th...

They’re new, novel for many, and sales are booming. Hemp-derived THC drinks are changing store shelves and consumer purchase behaviors. This segment represents some of the highest potential for compound annual growth rate across all forms of cannabis and cannabis-adjacent products in coming years. Most importantly, those sales increasingly occur in common places people are already shopping: bottle...

One of the most important legal contracts in the early life of a brewery is the lease. In this presentation, attendees will gain an overview of the negotiation process for a brewery lease, starting with the letter of intent all the way through to execution. The discussion will include the types of commercial leases, key provisions (both generally and specific to a brewery business), and practical...

Kate, Judy & Mike with their business partners spearheaded The South Baltimore Brewery District, a grassroots and self-funded initiative between Pickett Brewing, Wico Street Beer Co., Checkerspot Brewing, and M8 Beer Co. The breweries eye a future that amplifies collaboration in the craft alcohol community beyond Baltimore to the entire state of Maryland. After developing a joint marketing and...

Join us as we dive into the essentials of dust collection in breweries and distilleries, including when it’s needed, how to implement it, and the latest advancements in the field. We’ll cover common questions about benefits, implementation options, and maintenance, while also exploring the new dust collection models recently introduced by ABM Equipment. Join us to learn more and ask your own quest...

Experiential tourism is on the rise, and breweries have a unique opportunity to become must-visit destinations for travelers. This session dives into how breweries can attract new customers, build lasting relationships, and create memorable guest experiences with the help of Harvest Hosts. Join Harvest Hosts employees as they share insider tips and real-world success stories from breweries already...

Buzzwords like "biotransformation" and "thiolized" are thrown around a lot in modern hop forward brewing techniques and products, but what is actually happening during fermentation that makes these aromatic compounds shine? The goal is to get the most terpenes and thiols possible out of your hops, and by learning about the complex mechanisms responsible we can harness the power of yeast to maximiz...

In a rapidly shifting market, breweries face the challenge of adapting to survive. This talk explores how thoughtful, strategic branding and package design can be a lifeline, helping breweries make the right moves to reach their target audience. We’ll discuss the value of brand audits to leverage existing equity, identify smart improvement areas, and make informed decisions on hiring the right des...

As more Gen Z consumers reach drinking age each year, breweries face the question: how can they attract this new audience to craft beverages? To effectively appeal to Gen Z, it’s essential to understand their values, drinking habits, and experiences they prioritize—and how these differ from those of previous generations, like millennials. This panel will explore Gen Z’s top priorities in a brand,...

In our "What's Going on in..." series we partner with State Guilds to spotlight their current successes, challenges, and trends. There is so much we can learn from one another and we hope these conversations can provide you with valuable insights applicable to your state. Next up: Ohio This conversation features: Carmone Macfarlane (The Phoenix Brewing Co.) John Haggerty (Warped Wing...

Though separated by over 2,500 miles, Coastal Fermentory and Loose Screw Beer Co. share similar experiences as they work toward the October 2024 openings of their second taprooms. In the first half of our conversation, we’ll explore the challenges, processes, successes, and surprises they encountered before serving a pint. In the second half, we’ll examine how their expectations have matched up to...

PART 2 Beer is local. In our quest for success, the most impactful efforts often start in your brewery’s own backyard. As our industry evolves, there is immense value in having a local guild to advocate for, support, and provide resources to your area’s breweries. This session will explore the fundamentals of starting a local guild from the ground up and strategies for actively engaging its member...

In today's dynamic craft beer industry, diversifying revenue streams is more important than ever. As the Director of Business Development for promotional product company, Shore Up Supply, Emily Neville has seen firsthand how the right merch presented and marketed in the right way can be a consistent profit stream for breweries who choose to invest in it. Still, with thousands of items to choose fr...

Join us to learn how to make the most of your specialty grains to reduce costs and improve brewhouse efficiency. The industry is more cognizant of finances, and in this session, you will learn how to use brewing ingredients both more sustainably and innovatively. We will focus closely on alternative techniques as well as sustainable practices. Walk away with actionable insights to enhance your bre...

Join a conversation about what Smart Buying is, why it's important, and how you can start implementing it at your brewery this month. It's not something that happens overnight, but we walk through a few real-world examples of changes breweries have made to start Smart Buying and how it saved them money. We'll also focus on a few ways you can start to implement your program and train your staff to...

Revenue is the most important part of your business! When revenue comes in consistently and automatically every month you have achieved taproom nirvana! In this session we will do a deep dive into 3 highly successful modern taproom membership programs that add cash to the bottom line every month! Learn what works best to get people signed up. What brings guests back most often. And what is most pr...

Buying for your brewery can either be time consuming, costly, frustrating or all of the above. We’ll go over 3 ways to buy smarter and see measurable savings. We’ll also review how to save time in the process, which can be just as valuable to team running a brewery today. The outcome is techniques you can apply in the coming months at your brewery. We’ll also cover a few examples of some recent su...

Beer is local. In our quest for success, the most impactful efforts often start in your brewery’s own backyard. As our industry evolves, there is immense value in having a local guild to advocate for, support, and provide resources to your area’s breweries. This session will explore the fundamentals of starting a local guild from the ground up and strategies for actively engaging its members. Our...

Brewery owners and managers are struggling to find new drinkers. Younger consumers aren’t interested. RTDs, whiskey and tequila are having a moment. CBD, THC and functional beverages are carving out their share. Waters are exploding. And craft beer is stuck in a sea of sameness, desperate to stand out. What if there was a checklist of 40 marketing and sales tactics that could change the course of...

CBP Connects San Diego is almost here, happening from December 10-12. Join us for a conversation to discover why you need to attend and how it can help you see greater success. 14 interactive workshops, 3 nightly receptions (AleSmith, Pure Project, North Park), a trade show, and your opportunity to connect with other industry decision makers. This conversation features: Dan Hornbrook (MarketMyBrew...

In the craft beer world, where a new brewery seems to sprout up every day, a fresh logo alone won’t set you apart. Join the Brand Weaver in this rollercoaster presentation designed specifically for brewery owners ready to dive deeper than mere aesthetics. Discover the core differences between a simple redesign and a full on rebrand. This session will guide you through the key top five strategies t...

Table Tap introduced the concept of self-pour draft beverages to the United States back in 2006. Not only have we helped pioneer approvals for self-pour across almost all 50 states, but we have also been a driving force in the growth and prevalence of self-pour within taprooms, breweries, bars, and many other types of venues. In this presentation, we look forward to discussing what factors have le...

CBP Connects San Diego is almost here, happening from December 10-12. Join us for a conversation to discover why you need to attend and how it can help you see greater success. 14 interactive workshops, 3 nightly receptions (AleSmith, Pure Project, North Park), a trade show, and your opportunity to connect with other industry decision makers. This conversation features: Heather Holland (Outland Fa...