Craft Beer Professionals

Join us for an insightful Q&A session with Roger Kissling, VP of Sales and Client Management for Iron Heart Canning. Iron Heart's new Technical Support and Services Program is run by Mark VanGlad. Mark brings a wealth of experience to the table, having worked for Iron Heart since 2017 in various capacities, making him a trusted authority in the field. During this session, Roger will delve...

The latest Craft Beer Professionals survey shows "benefits" as a top concern of staff, yet the majority of breweries offer no health benefits at all to staff. And it's no surprise: traditional health insurance often doesn't impress staff even as it drains profit from the operation. Benefits shouldn't be "take it or leave it" and owners shouldn't have to choose b...

Who's ready to go swimming? Tip pooling is becoming increasingly prevalent in taprooms, and motivating and engaging staff members requires a nuanced approach. In this conversation, we will learn why our panelists chose the tip pool model, the challenges they've faced, and how it has been a "win" for their team. We will explore the strategies they've used to boost staff morale...

It's no longer enough to use "good beer good atmosphere" as your marketing strategy. Craft breweries face a unique challenge as they grow - how to authentically convey their story and preserve their identity amidst expansion. This panel discussion will dive into the art of developing a genuine message that resonates with both loyal patrons and new audiences. We explore practical stra...

As everyone in the brewing business knows, entropy increases in the brewery. It’s going to break. It’s not a matter of If – it’s a matter of When. And then there’s troubleshooting for that off-flavor or other issue with the beer….is it your equipment? Join our team of craft beer industry veterans as they share their best practices and investigative troubleshooting strategies in the brewery to ensu...

Craft Beer Professionals partners with Craft Beer Advisory Services to complete an industry-level report on employee satisfaction trends. Join us for a presentation of the data, a look at trends, and insight into the state of employee satisfaction in our industry. Request the report: https://craftpeak-cooler-uploads.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/craft-beer-professionals/2024-CBP_CBAS-Employee-Satisf...

In this presentation, we will provide highlights from a new book entitled Craft Breweries & Cities: Perspectives from the Field. Our goal in creating this book was to illustrate how craft breweries have helped to shape urban and community issues. It is a cross-section of research, case studies and examples of how breweries and local government have worked together to foster greater dialogue, o...

The growth in the non-alcoholic adult drinks category is a bit of a bright spot amidst recent trends in craft brewing. As more and more craft brewers consider bringing NA beers to market, compliance concerns come to the forefront. While NA beers contain scant or no alcohol, they still come with a variety of compliance concerns, not all of which may be intuitive or simple to grasp. This session wil...

Why do actors like George Clooney and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson have their own tequilas? Perhaps they love a brand and want to help it get to the next level. Or they respect the producer and believe in their story. Or maybe they just want something tasty to share with their friends at parties. Whatever their motivation, it's currently en vogue for celebrities to endorse or invest in...

We all know that good partners help you grow and bad partners cost you time/money - but why is it so hard sometimes to set up good relationships, maintain the ones you have or switch out a bad partner that is weighing you down... We have assembled a group of brewery owners who have been in business for 5 years or more and are going to talk about the value of good partnerships. Specifically, why is...

Earth To Beer is a national movement with a goal for participating breweries to create a packaged beer that’s better for the planet. The initiative seeks to affect change upstream of breweries by asking them to intentionally source environmentally responsible ingredients for their beer, as well as affecting downstream impact by donating a portion of proceeds to a local environmentally-focused nonp...

Harness the awe-inspiring power of memberships and rewards! Customer Loyalty is on the line, and the nightmare of managing these monster programs is about to get an epic upgrade. In this colossal session you will witness real-world tales of thriving beer club and mug club membership programs, and be equipped with a mighty framework to help you build and manage your own program. Storm into action a...

More than ever, the taproom is the chief revenue engine for the modern craft brewery. For many, though, the hardest challenge is not in how to get customers through the door, but in how to ensure they spend as much as possible while there, and leave feeling satisfied in their purchases. In this panel, Aaron MJ Gore, the Director of Partnerships for industry-leading POS Arryved will sit down with t...

Aseptic Fruit Purees are here to discuss the comparison of fruit purees vs fruit concentrates. When it comes to flavoring your beers, puree vs concentrate is a question many brewers ask. We would like to help by showing the pros and cons of both. We will be addressing flavors, yields, cost, production, and any other questions. We will also discuss non-alcoholic beverage ideas and flavor trends. Ph...

Join us to dissect the decline in taproom socialization, tracing its roots from the 70s to the present day. With the brewing industry facing challenges, we'll explore unexpected factors, like the impact of streaming content, social media, a decrease in bar socialization over two decades, and the rising fear of failure in the younger generation. Shifts towards home-based gatherings, evolving pa...

Explore creative ways to attract and retain customers in the craft brewery landscape with our panel of industry experts. Learn how they’ve transformed one-time and occasional visitors into loyal patrons, ensuring a steady stream of repeat business. In an increasingly competitive craft beer scene and unpredictable economy, breweries face the challenge of enticing new patrons and fostering lasting c...

In our "What's Going on in..." series. We will 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: Massachusetts This conversation features: Adam Romanow (Castle Island Beer, Founder & CEO) JP...

In today’s fragmented marketing landscape, the importance of collaboration has never been more relevant. Some of the best results come from an integrated marketing strategy that utilizes multiple channels and touchpoints to convey a cohesive message. We’ve found that those results can also be amplified by working together with other similar businesses within a local market. No one person or organi...

Hot Plate Brewing Co. is the sole Latina-owned independent brewery in Massachusetts, co-founded by Sarah Real and Mike Dell’Aquila. In their early days of homebrewing, a code violation resulted in their Brooklyn condo being without gas for several years. Undaunted by this setback, Sarah Real took the unconventional route of brewing on a hot plate, meticulously crafting and refining her recipes. Fi...

Craft Beer Advisory Services cites "family friendliness" as one of the top 4 factors that contribute to a guest returning to a taproom. As many breweries focus on how to get more guests in their taproom and spending more while they're there, considering unique forms of entertainment may be an answer. In this conversation, we're going to talk to industry experts from both the arca...

Just as a drain pour can hurt a brewery or distillery by flushing product, there are legal business planning errors that can be catastrophic to a new or established beer or spirits business. Norfolk attorney Butch Bracknell will review legal business planning principles, including -- business formation and registration, equity distribution and shareholder agreements, state ABC or equivalent licens...

Experience, experience, experience. As the brewing industry continues to evolve, creating memorable and successful events has become more crucial than ever. Whether you're organizing beer festivals, taproom events, or special releases, this session is tailored to provide you with the knowledge and tools needed to make your brewery events stand out in 2024. In this conversation, we will explore...

With a high percentage of equipment coming from overseas, particularly China, it is crucial to understand the procedures and expenses involved in the process of getting your equipment from the factory to your doorstep. So, your new shiny, expensive toys are completed half a world away, but what’s next? Join our Designated Driver, John Gonzales, as he uses his 15 years of experience in China to dri...

Craft beer and beverage demographics are accelerating in the speed of change in consumer wants and tastes. Reacting to “Fashion” is a game you never catch up with. To meet these challenges, it is important for you to establish a vibrant industry network and to invest in craft beverage education. The best way to approach this is by visiting and meeting in person the people and experiencing places y...

Are digital menus good or bad for taproom business? How do they compare in performance to paper menus or wallboards? What should you take into consideration for the visual design of a tap list? Join Adrian Pawliszko (Kegshoe Inc.) and Andrew Coplon (Craft Beer Professionals/Secret Hopper) as they discuss the latest insights from the world of taproom menus. From recent research conducted by Secret...