Ohio Craft Brewers Conference: A National Gathering
Mark your calendars and pack your bags! This January, the city of Toledo will play host to brewing industry professionals not just from Ohio but also from all over the country. That’s right, the ninth Ohio Craft Brewers Conference is all set to take place on January 17 and 18, 2024, at the esteemed Glass City Center. If you want to learn, share and network in the brewing industry, then you should be securing your seat at this event, pronto!
Points of Discussion
This year, the conference’s rich agenda delivers an impressive array of 30 seminars and panel discussions. These sessions will dive deep into a multitude of brewing industry topics. Additionally, aspiring brewers can look forward to focused sessions on startup issues, covering the unique challenges faced by both newly established breweries and those still in the planning stages.
Keynotes to Watch Out For
What sets apart this conference is its well-selected keynote addresses that provide in-depth learning opportunities. The conference will feature a keynote address on each day, along with seminars on technical brewing, beer sales and marketing, business administration, and more.
Day One: An Insight Into Consumer Behavior
The first keynote address, scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2023, is by Michael Varda from Craft Beer Advisory Services. Focusing on an analysis of craft beer consumer behavior and motivations, Varda’s talk will provide valuable insight for breweries. His firm is the pioneering and only full-service market research firm exclusively catering to the craft beer industry.
Day Two: The Art and Science of Tasting
Get ready to delve into the science and imbibe the art of tasting on day two. The renowned craft beer educator, author, and consultant, Randy Mosher, will be gracing us with his sage wisdom. With seminal books like Tasting Beer and The Brewer’s Companion under his belt, and co-ownership of Forbidden Root breweries, Mosher’s insights are not to be missed!
An Opportunity for All
Ohio Craft Brewers Association Executive Director Mary MacDonald puts it succinctly, “In a matured craft beer market, breweries need to focus on setting themselves up for sustainable success in the years to come. Our educational conference provides everyone in the industry a platform to learn from each other and foster connections that will bolster their small businesses.”
Networking and Trade Show
This year’s conference anticipates more than 650 industry professionals. The concurrent trade show offers a platform for 100 businesses to present their goods and services that support Ohio’s 430 independent craft breweries.
Individuals and tradeshow exhibitors can register for the 2024 Ohio Craft Brewers Conference at https://ohiocraftbeer.org/conference. Members of the Ohio Craft Brewers Association receive discounts on registration as well as trade show exhibitor spaces. More details on association membership are available at https://ohiocraftbeer.org/memberships/
Connect, Learn, and Excel
The Ohio Craft Brewers Association is dedicated to promoting, preserving, diversifying, and unifying Ohio’s craft brewing industry. This conference will further the association’s mission by fostering connections, providing education, and driving economic impact for the industry. So, come along, learn, make connections, and elevate your brewing passion to a whole new level!
