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.

Mass Brewers Guild Technical Brewing & Business Conference Returns to Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers on Monday, Nov. 7

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. | The Mass Brewers Guild’s 5th annual technical brewing and business conference (MBG Con) - presented by GHM Insurance - will return to Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers on Monday, Nov. 7 for a daylong series of workshops, panel discussions, lectures and networking to support the craft beer community.

The event, which draws 160 professional brewers from Massachusetts and the New England area, provides affordable brewing education and the opportunity to learn from industry experts and peers.

The topics covered reflect the unique needs of the craft beer industry and seek to support owners, managers and their staff on everything from brewery safety, to perfecting lagers, hiring best practices and managing stress and burnout. Attendees can choose between two tracks that best fits their skillset in the industry – technical brewing and business.

The day begins with a keynote address from nationally respected restaurateur, Garrett Harker. Known for creating craft beer prominent dining establishments such as Eastern Standard, Row 34 and Island Creek Oyster Bar, Garrett has achieved enduring success while ensuring that every element of his establishments stays true to his personal philosophy of elevated hospitality. Attendees will learn more about his symbiotic love story with the craft beer industry and the strategies he uses to overcome a saturated market and layer revenue in every area you can. Other sessions offer legal advice, hands-on practice fixing common issues in your brewery, video marketing best practices and a craft malt sensory workshop.  

“With the onslaught of challenges that seem to be arriving daily for our small business community we hope that our annual conference will leave our brewery owners and their teams feeling inspired, connected and with some new tools in their arsenal for the year ahead,” says Katie Stinchon, executive director of the Mass Brewers Guild. “We have an incredible lineup of experts to learn from. Whether you are new to the industry or a seasoned veteran, there’s something for everyone.”

Tickets are $150 a day for Mass Brewers Guild members, and $200 for non-members. All ticket proceeds support the Mass Brewers Guild and its work to protect and promote the craft beer industry across the Commonwealth.

MBG Con is presented by GHM insurance and also made possible thanks to supporting sponsors Aetna, Arryved, BeerFests.com, Bowditch, BSG, Cove Risk, DWS Printing, East Coast Renewable Energy, Eastern Standard Provisions, Harvest Hosts, Hospitality Mutual Insurance, InTouch Labels, Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers, Marcum LLP., Maine Oxy, Thielmann, USI, Vanguard Renewables, Valley Malt, Weber Packaging and Yakima Chief. These businesses are associate members of the Mass Brewers Guild and help to make our educational programs possible and affordable for member breweries.

To view the entire lineup of speakers, or to purchase tickets to MBG Con, visit MassBrewersGuild.org/mbg-con-2022.

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 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 also continues its work at the legislative level serving as the voice of craft brewers on Beacon Hill. The Massachusetts Brewers Guild is a 501(c)6 not-for-profit corporation.

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Mass Brewers Guild Technical Brewing & Business Conference Returns to Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers on Monday, Nov. 8

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. | The Mass Brewers Guild’s 4th annual technical brewing and business conference (MBG Con) - presented by GHM Insurance - will return to Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers on Monday, Nov. 8 for a daylong series of workshops, panel discussions, lectures and networking to support the craft beer community. 

The event, which draws 160 professional brewers from Massachusetts and the New England area, provides affordable brewing education and the opportunity to learn from industry experts and peers. 

The topics covered reflect the difficult past 18 months that the small business community has faced and seek to cover gaps and prepare brewery owners for the months ahead. From managing company culture, to yeast, and everything in-between – attendees can choose between two tracks that cover a wide breadth of topics. 

The day begins with a keynote address from YW Boston CEO, Beth Chandler, who will make the business case for diversity, equity and inclusion and introduce tools that breweries can bring home and apply to their business, regardless of whether there are 3 or 300 employees.

Other sessions offer advice on how to manage hot button HR issues, expand volume through contract brewing, navigate supply chain disruptions and stay ahead of your needs and unpack consumer preferences to better understand beer buying trends. 

“We spent a lot of time crafting our content lineup to ensure that we were honing in on what brewery owners and their teams need the most right now,” says Katie Stinchon, executive director of the Mass Brewers Guild. “There’s still a lot of uncertainty. The pandemic taught everyone how to be nimble, lean and creative, but we still have a ways to go before things stabilize. We hope that the conference leaves attendees feeling inspired and prepared for the road ahead.”

Tickets are just $125 a day for Mass Brewers Guild members, and $175 for non-members. All ticket proceeds support the Mass Brewers Guild and its work to protect and promote the craft beer industry across the Commonwealth. Due to festival and event cancellations, this is the only fundraiser slated for the association this year. The event hopes to raise $10k for the Mass Brewers Guild. 

All sessions offer ample time for Q&A as well as lunch and happy hour. MBG Con is presented by GHM insurance and made possible thanks to supporting sponsors Acadia Insurance, Alpha Chemical, Amherst Label, arryved, Bowditch, Briess Malt, Brew Biscuits, Craft’d Company, Ethical Swag, Fenway Law, Four Star Farms, HawkVisuals, InTouch Labels, Hop Head Farms, Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers, Omega Yeast, USI Insurance, and Vanguard Renewables. These businesses are associate members of the Mass Brewers Guild and help to make our educational programs possible and affordable for member breweries. 

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To view the entire lineup of speakers, or to purchase tickets to MBG Con, visit MassBrewersGuild.org.

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 also continues its work at the legislative level serving as the voice of craft brewers on Beacon Hill. The Massachusetts Brewers Guild is a 501(c)6 not-for-profit corporation.

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MBG Con Goes Virtual - Offering Three Days of Online Learning

Technical Brewing, Business & Communication | Oct 5, 6 & 7

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- (9/16/2020) The Mass Brewers Guild, a non-profit trade association dedicated to protecting craft breweries across Massachusetts, today announces that MBG Con, the organization’s 3rd annual technical brewing and business conference, will shift to an online model starting Monday, Oct. 5 and will run through Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. 

A lineup of renowned experts, including Rob Tod, founder of Allagash Brewing Co., Matt Stinchfield, Safety Ambassador of the Brewers Association, Dr. J. Nikol Jackson-Beckham, Diversity Ambassador for the Brewers Association, Jim Koch founder of Boston Beer and Dan Kenary, founder of Mass Bay Brewing Co., will share best practices, hard lessons learned, and strategies for survival during these challenging times. 

This year’s conference will have three main areas of focus; technical brewing, business, and communication, covering everything from SOPs to bookkeeping, paid advertising strategies and yeast management. Attendees can choose the day, or track, that best suits their role within the industry, or they can attend the entire conference. 

“It’s been a difficult few months for the brewing community, to say the least,” says Katie Stinchon, executive director of the Mass Brewers Guild. “Despite the fact that we all can’t be together -- learning, listening, and being inspired by fellow brewery owners and colleagues is the best way to survive this pandemic. Even now, with all of the heightened competition, our brewers are ready to share how they are navigating these waters -- what’s working, what’s not – in order to support one another. It’s what makes the brewing industry so unique and amazing to be a part of.” 

Tickets are just $25 a day for Mass Brewers Guild members, and $50 for non-members. All ticket proceeds support the Mass Brewers Guild and its work to protect and promote the craft beer industry across the Commonwealth. Due to festival and event cancellations, this is the only fundraiser slated for the association this year. The event hopes to raise $7k for the Mass Brewers Guild. 

“We wanted to make this event as accessible as possible for our beer family,” says Stinchon. “One of the great perks of a virtual event is that we can draw experts and attendees from all over the country. Our goal is to ensure that the brewing community is armed with the knowledge and skills it needs to remain successful, independent, small businesses that continue to stimulate the economy, revitalize downtown communities, and employ locals.”

All sessions offer ample time for Q&A and ticket holders will receive supporting materials and the recording of each session for later viewing. MBG Con is made possible thanks to presenting sponsor, Bernstein Shur and supporting businesses ABS Commercial, Acadia Insurance, arryved, Bowditch, Cavallo & Signorello Insurance, Drink Tanks, Four Star Farms, InTouch Labels, Micro Matic, Omega Yeast, Petainer and Solar On Earth. All of these businesses are associate members of the Mass Brewers Guild and help make our educational programs possible.  

To view the entire lineup of speakers, or to purchase tickets to MBG Con, visit MassBrewersGuild.org.

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 the 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 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.