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.
