Connect with the craft beer industry at the annual Mass Brewers Conference

The state’s biggest professional development day for craft brewers returns to Framingham on Monday, November 6.

The craft beer industry is fond of saying, “a rising tide lifts all boats” when it comes to building business. These days, it can feel like the tide is receding and we’re all in the same boat. As MBG members are aware, market growth for beer overall is trending down and craft brewers have had to adapt in many ways to stay ahead. 

One of the major ways the Massachusetts Brewers Guild achieves its mission to promote the interests of craft brewers — and help them navigate headwinds — is to provide professional development opportunities. The Mass Brewers Guild Technical Brewing & Business Conference (MBG Con) presented by Allen Craft Beverage Insurance, is the biggest opportunity of the year for beer industry pros to connect with fellow business owners and MBG members, and it’s coming up in November.

MBG Con, returns to Jack’s Abby in Framingham on Monday, Nov. 6. The day-long series of workshops and lectures begins with two presentations addressing big-picture issues facing the craft beer industry, and the event winds down with happy hour and a vendor exhibition. Throughout the day, attendees can choose a track, Technical Brewing or Business, to attend smaller discussion sessions led by experts. Running from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. with a lunch break and vendor exhibit in the Jack’s Abby Beer Hall, hour-long sessions start at 9 a.m. and end with happy hour at 4 p.m.

Here’s a glimpse at the practical, relevant topics on tap.

The opening keynote of MBG Con will set the tone for the day, as Brewers Association chief economist Bart Watson digs into “Craft’s Complicated Marketplace.” Watson will provide economic and consumer context for the numbers.

The second keynote presentation centers on employee well-being, specifically “The Burden of Burnout.” The founder of nonprofit Infinite Ingredient, Katie Muggli is working to support mental health in the craft beverage industry. She will lead a talk on identifying burnout and its causes, and discuss what leaders can do to create healthy and sustainable environments where people work and have fun.

Sessions include diverse panel discussions with leaders from across the state and country, in brewery production, taproom operations, sales and more. Check out the detailed lineup of events at massbrewersguild.org/mbg-con-2023.

Here’s what you’ll get.

A continental breakfast, lunch, and happy hour is included in the ticket price of $175 for members and $225 for non-members — plus invaluable advice from others in the industry and networking opportunities throughout the day. Attendees are encouraged to bring packaged beer of any type/ size to measure the carbonation, DO, and TPO of your packaged products right on the spot at the Gehaltebus that will be parked just outside the beer hall. If you’re unsure of your MBG member status, please reach out to executive director Katie Stinchon.

Sponsors make this valuable and fun day possible. 

This year’s MBG Con is presented by Allen Craft Beverage insurance (formerly GHM) and the Guild’s associate members. This conference and all MBG educational programming is possible and affordable for member breweries thanks to associate members Amherst Label, Beverage Processors Group, Bluedrop Water, Boelter, Bowditch, CFT Packaging, Crosby Hops, Cove Risk, EquipNet, Four Star Farms, the Hop Guild, Hopsteiner, InTouch Labels, Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers, JNKidds, Ohanafy, Restaurent, Thielmann, UCD Law, USI and White Labs.

Massachusetts Craft Brewers Festival is for local brewers, by local brewers

Our marquee event returns with a new name and the same dedication to Bay State beer.

What better way to support Massachusetts craft breweries than with a big ol’ beer fest? So that’s exactly what we at the MBG are doing: Bringing our fans and friends together for our biggest fundraiser of the year. The Massachusetts Craft Brewers Festival, coming up on Saturday, April 29, at the Cyclorama in Boston, showcases more than 40 local breweries pouring the beers they’re most excited to share.

Known as the Power Beer Fest since our first foray in 2017, we changed the name this year to amplify that the Massachusetts Craft Brewers Festival is run by local brewers, for local brewers.

From the Berkshires to the South Shore, areas throughout the state are represented in the brewery lineup. With great anticipation, we’re watching as they share their draft lists ahead of the festival: Beer fans will have a chance to try:

• Holy Schnitt! Munich Helles by True North Ale Co., a 2022 Best of Craft Beer bronze medal winner

• Quaffable Waffle Blueberry Pastry Stout by Bright Ideas Brewing

• a plethora of New England IPAs

• a few flavor-forward finds from new-to-Mass. brewery Long Live Beerworks

• and many, many more. (Here’s where we remind everybody to please drink responsibly!)

Check out the growing beer list here.

As the beverage landscape has changed and craft brewers are producing more seltzers and hard ciders, so, too, has our festival adapted. New this year: There will be a limited number of non-beer offerings available from breweries making alternative drinks. 

We’ll have water stations available, so BYO bottle to fill. Attendees are also welcome to bring snacks and pretzel necklaces. Our friends and food purveyors The Burgundunian, The Sausage Guy, and Wild Fox Pierogi will be on hand with more substantial fare for sale. Hands full? No problem. Phygit Foods will be selling pretzel necklaces and wearable snacks with proceeds benefiting the Federation for Children with Special Needs.

Sound fun? You better get tickets soon—the first session is nearly sold out. 

The Massachusetts Craft Brewers Festival spans two sessions, from 1-4:30 p.m. and 6-9:30 p.m. Tickets are $55 for general admission and $10 for designated drivers and available on Eventbrite. As always, all ticket proceeds support the Mass Brewers Guild’s mission to protect and promote the interests of craft brewers. 

Celebrate Mass Beer Week In style!

Get geared up for Mass Beer Week and help support the Massachusetts Brewers Guild with these limited-edition tees! Proceeds come back to the MBG so that we can continue our work of supporting local, independent, Mass-made beer.

T-shirts are $30 each and shipping is FREE! Click HERE to get yours today!

Pre-orders for this shirt will continue until Sunday, January 31st. Orders will begin to be fulfilled the week of February 1st so you can have them in time to strut your stuff.

Mass Beer Week takes place March 6-13, 2021.

Look for events to join at MassBeerWeek.org or get involved and host your own celebration centered around the amazing beer made in our state.

Thank you for all you do for #MABeer!

Buy This Shirt & Support Local Breweries

Hello Incredible Craft Beer Family: 

As the world stops to aid in the battle against COVID-19, local breweries that depend on bustling taprooms and open restaurants are being especially hard hit right now.  

Proceeds from the sale of this shirt will directly benefit the Mass Brewers Guild, the state’s trade association that exists to support the brewing community and assist them through this difficult time.

T-Shirts are available in men’s and women’s sizes XS to 4XL and are $25-$28 ea. + shipping. 
Presale orders are being accepted now through April 24. Click HERE to order yours today.

 What does the Mass Brewers Guild do?

• We serve as the unified voice on Beacon Hill, advocating for our breweries at the legislative level. As social distancing protocols change the way our businesses can operate, we work to keep them open and seek other avenues within the law for them to generate revenue. 

• We provide resources regarding the state and federal relief packages so they can access the critical aid they need to navigate these next few months. 

• We serve as central command for questions and advice, and help to keep our brewing family connected and informed in this ever changing landscape. 

 Please help us to continue to help our brewers. 

Stay home and stay safe, and have fresh #MABeer delivered to right your doorstep or take advantage of contactless-curbside pickup.

 Thank you for all you do for us. 

With gratitude,
Katie Stinchon 
Executive Director 
Mass Brewers Guild  

“The Great Mass Collab” Debuts in Worcester this September

The Mass Brewers Guild Brings 50 Breweries to the Worcester Common
Saturday, Sept. 21 

WORCESTER, Mass. | The Mass Brewers Guild returns to Worcester on Saturday, Sept. 21 with a new beer festival and fundraiser – “The Great Mass Collab.”

This one session beer industry event will feature more than 50 Massachusetts breweries, a collaboration tent where patrons can taste special beers brewed by teams of local breweries, food trucks, yard games and more.  

This is the third consecutive year that the Mass Brewers Guild has hosted a beer festival in Worcester. New this year, organizers offer a unique twist for craft beer lovers and attendees, shifting from the Mass Fermentational to The Great Mass Collab. 

“This festival will be a true showcase and blend of our talented craft beer community,” says Katie Stinchon, executive director of the Mass Brewers Guild. “We’ve asked our breweries to team up with a fellow craft brewer from across the state, or in their neighborhood, brew a special beer together, and debut that beer at The Great Mass Collab. So far we have more than 25 commitments from participating breweries – which means more than 25 beers that you can try first only at this event.”

A list of all the beers featured at the The Great Mass Collab will be available in the coming weeks through the Mass Brewers Guild’s mobile app, Mass Craft Beer. Tickets are $45 for general admission and $10 for designated drivers. General admission includes unlimited beer samples from participating breweries. 

Breweries on tap include local favorites such as Wormtown Brewery, Redemption Rock Brewing Co., and Greater Good Brewing Co., as well as Tree House Brewing Co., Night Shift Brewing, Medusa and Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing Co. New to the craft beer scene breweries includes Faces Brewing Co., Loophole Brewing and Two Weeks Notice Brewing Co. For a complete list of featured breweries, visit masscollab19.eventbrite.com

The Mass Brewers Guild is a membership based trade association that works to protect and promote the interests of Massachusetts craft brewers. Its festivals are the only beer events run by brewers for brewers -- with all proceeds benefitting the craft beer community to provide resources, education and government affairs support. Last year, the event raised $17,000 for the nonprofit. 

“We are excited to continue to grow this signature event in the heart of the Commonwealth and are grateful for all the support we’ve received from the city of Worcester and Discover Central Mass,” says Stinchon. This event is also made possible thanks to our sponsor MassLive.com.

For more information about the Mass Brewers Guild, visit MassBrewersGuild.org. To purchase tickets, or for more information, visit masscollab19.eventbrite.com or download the Mass Brewers Guild’s mobile app, Mass Craft Beer, available for free in iTunes and Google Play Stores.  

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About the Mass Brewers Guild
Founded in 2007 by a group of committed and passionate brewers, the Mass Brewers Guild, is organized for the purposes of promoting craft brewing and protecting the interests of craft brewers across the Commonwealth. The association is membership based and open to all Massachusetts breweries licensed by the federal Tax and Trade Bureau and the Commonwealth’s Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission. The nonprofit creates a community of brewers while shining light on the broad range of breweries and styles offered throughout state.Through industry and educational events, its mobile application beer trail map, and by providing resources and marketing support to brewers, the nonprofit works to highlight Massachusetts as a top travel destination for craft beer in the U.S. The board of directors also continues its work at the legislative level, fighting for license and franchise law reform, and serving as the voice of craft brewers on Beacon Hill. The Massachusetts Brewers Guild is a 501(c)6 not-for-profit corporation.

The Mass Fermentational Returns to the Worcester Common

Fundraiser and Beer Festival Hosted by the Mass Brewers Guild
Saturday, Oct. 6 -- 1 to 5 p.m. 

Raise a pint and funds for the Mass Brewers Guild during the Mass Fermentational, the organization’s second largest beer festival and fundraiser of the year, set to return to the Worcester Common on Saturday, Oct. 6 from 1 to 5 p.m. 

The Mass Brewers Guild is the state’s trade association that exists to protect and promote the interests of craft breweries across the Commonwealth. Funds raised through this beer fest will help to power the state’s mobile beer trail map, create educational and marketing programs for local breweries, and support the organization’s government affairs work. 

The event expects to draw 1,500 patrons to the green located at 455 Main St. in Worcester, MA and hopes to raise $25,000 for the nonprofit. 

Fifty seven local breweries – from fan favorites, to local legends and newly opened sud houses -- will pour alongside a few hand-picked special guest out-of-state breweries. Once inside the park, attendees can drink-in all that the Massachusetts craft beer scene has to offer. 

“We are grateful to be welcomed back by the City of Worcester to host our fall beer festival,” says Katie Stinchon, executive director of the Mass Brewers Guild. “The beautiful park and city backdrop was a great atmosphere for our attendees and brewers last year, and we are thrilled to return. We look forward to another successful event and have some great breweries in the lineup for our craft beer fans.” 

Tickets are $45 for general admission and includes unlimited two-ounce beer samples from participating breweries. Non-drinkers who wish to enjoy the atmosphere and an afternoon with friends can purchase a Designated Driver Ticket for $10. Once inside the festival, patrons can purchase gourmet eats served up by several food trucks onsite.

Mass Brewers Guild events are organized by craft brewers for craft brewers. Breweries employ locals, drive traffic and tourism to the Commonwealth and pour world-class craft beer to thirsty locals and travelers. To date there are more than 160 craft breweries in Massachusetts. 

The Mass Fermentational is a 21+ event, no exceptions. Identification required at the door. No dogs allowed with the exception of certified service animals. To purchase tickets, visit massferm.eventbrite.com.