Craft Beer Professionals

The craft beer industry is facing difficult times. Having weathered the COVID pandemic, breweries are now operating in a market where alcohol beverage consumption in the U.S. is declining to historic lows. On top of that, the hemp beverage market, which has been providing a lifeline and stabilizing revenues, is under threat of extinction. How are breweries dealing with these difficult economic circumstances? Hear from a panel of owners as to how they are weathering the storm and transforming their businesses to survive and thrive.Jeffrey O’Brien is a partner at Husch Blackwell and leads the firm’s Alcohol Beverage practice. For nearly 25 years, he has worked with breweries, wineries, distilleries, and other beverage companies on everything from acquisitions and growth plans to licensing, distribution, and regulatory issues. Jeff works closely with producers across the country and regularly advises businesses on emerging issues affecting the beverage industry, including the rapidly changing hemp beverage market.Joining Jeff are Zack Ward, Founder and COO of OMNI Brewing Company; Daniel Paul Wellendorf, Co-Owner and Head of Marketing at Modist Brewing Co.; and Kevin Hilliard, Co-Founder of Insight Brewing. Drawing on their experiences leading some of Minnesota's most recognized craft breweries, the panelists will discuss how breweries are responding to shifting consumer trends, competitive pressures, and economic challenges while identifying new opportunities for resilience and growth.Join us in person for CBP Connects TampaDecember 7-9, 2026Come get inspired, leave with actionable strategies: https://cbpconnects.com/

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 human-centric SOPs and HR policies, share strategies for capturing institutional knowledge, and define where AI can safely assist versus where it poses a risk to your beer, culture, and compliance. Great breweries are built by great people, not algorithms.This conversation features:

• Betsy Lay (Lady Justice Brewing)
• Jon Hyman (Wickens Herza Panzer)
• Laura Lodge (StartABrewery.com)
• Ren Navarro (B. Diversity Group)

Join us in person for CBP Connects TampaDecember 7-9, 2026Come get inspired, leave with actionable strategies: https://cbpconnects.com/

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 at each step, which systems are idea for different size breweries, and discuss how these systems are implemented. We'll touch on hygienic design, cleanability, service and maintenance, and some general process data to tie the whole thing together.

Christian Pettit is the Flottweg regional sales/industry manager for brewing and distilling. He has 21 years experience as a service technician, process engineer and sales engineer with the company and has worked across all industries in his tenure with them. He has been a craft beer enthusiast since 1995 and thoroughly enjoys all aspects of the industry. His favorite brewery industry events are CBC, anything CBP related, and Dark Lord Day \m/

Join us in person for CBP Connects Tampa

December 7-9, 2026

Come get inspired, leave with actionable strategies: https://cbpconnects.com/

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 and builds more self-sufficiency by reducing dependence on outside gas suppliers.Join us in person for CBP Connects TampaDecember 7-9, 2026Come get inspired, leave with actionable strategies: https://cbpconnects.com/

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 Alex Koral, regulatory general counsel for Sovos ShipCompliant, discuss the basics and not-so-basics of beer label regulations.Including:-COLAs for breweries-What must and what cannot be on a beer label-Considerations for NA beer-An overview of state brand registration requirementsBased in Boulder, Colorado, Alex Koral is Regulatory General Counsel for Sovos ShipCompliant, where he serves as lead legal researcher for beverage alcohol regulation and has become a leading expert on interstate distribution of alcohol. He has spoken on the topic at many industry events including the Craft Beer Professionals Virtual Conferences, Craft Brewers Conference, American Craft Spirits Association Convention, as well as meetings for the National Council of State Liquor Administrators and the National Liquor Law Enforcement Association. Alex has been in the beverage alcohol arena since 2015, after receiving his J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School. Join us in person for CBP Connects TampaDecember 7-9, 2026Come get inspired, leave with actionable strategies: https://cbpconnects.com/

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 music shapes everything from recipe development to branding to the taproom experience, what two decades in the trades taught him about craftsmanship behind the kettle, and the realities of opening a brewery in today's market.

Join us in person for CBP Connects Tampa

December 7-9, 2026

Come get inspired, leave with actionable strategies: https://cbpconnects.com/

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 another source of revenue.

You'll learn how to strategically use merchandise as both a storytelling tool and revenue driver—integrating it into your current marketing to spark conversation and build brand awareness.

Leah Keggi is a marketing professional specializing in brand strategy and business development. With more than a decade of experience in brand and trade marketing, she has worked cross functionally with sales, operations, and finance teams to build stronger brands while driving measurable business results.

Her work focuses on closing the gap between brand marketing and the end consumer, helping businesses create more intentional, effective connections with their audience. She regularly shares insights, ideas, and resources on brand strategy and creative marketing through her writing.

Leah is also the author of The Merch Blueprint, a practical guide for business owners, marketers, and creatives looking to use merchandise as a strategic tool. The book outlines four core types of merchandise, retail, uniforms, promotional items, and incentive pieces, and shows how each can be used to grow brand affinity, extend reach, and strengthen customer relationships.

Join us in person for CBP Connects Tampa
December 7-9, 2026
Come get inspired, leave with actionable strategies: https://cbpconnects.com/

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 respond to AI driven content, and pull in real world perspectives from the Craft Beer Professionals community so the conversation stays grounded in what’s actually happening in taprooms and marketing teams today.

BrewedAt is a Local Beverage Events & Marketing company specializing in Social Media Marketing, Event Marketing, Experiential Events, and B2B & B2C Advertising Campaigns — all with a focus on connecting brands with the next generation of drinkers.

Our mission is to bridge the gap between the current beverage landscape and Gen-Z consumers, using the BrewedAt brand to create fresh, memorable experiences that engage new audiences.

Join us in person for CBP Connects Tampa
December 7-9, 2026
Come get inspired, leave with actionable strategies: https://cbpconnects.com/

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 in a way that translates directly to the taproom world. He runs bottle club classes built around getting to know his customers, books events, and has figured out how to make every interaction feel personal at scale.

We get into the parallels between brewing and distilling, what it actually looks like to run a family operation, and how chasing the right partnerships can open doors you didn't know existed.

Join us for a conversation on what we can learn from our peers in the spirits world.

Join us in person for CBP Connects Tampa
December 7-9, 2026
Come get inspired, leave with actionable strategies: https://cbpconnects.com/

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 Traffic

-Grow Membership Revenue

This session is a must for Brewery Owners, Marketers and GMs! All attendees will receive a free copy of the Brewery App Bible including simple marketing checklists you can follow based on the goals you have for your taproom. Ring the bell! Class is in session!

Ross Stensrud accidentally graduated from UCSD while studying lacrosse and spending plenty of time at O’Brien’s. After a brief stint designing pool cleaners (yes, really) in an effort to justify the cost of his degree, he pivoted and began recruiting smart friends to help build app marketing tech for local businesses—starting with music, then golf, and now craft beer with TapWyse. He lives in Carlsbad with his wife Laurel and their two boys, Roscoe (11) and Mason (9). When he’s not working, you’ll likely find him biking down PCH or shuttling his kids to basketball, golf, music, and skateboarding.

Join us in person for CBP Connects Tampa
December 7-9, 2026
Come get inspired, leave with actionable strategies: https://cbpconnects.com/