2024 Summit Keynote
9:30am, Northwest Ballroom
Dr. J Jackson-Beckham – Director of Social Impact, Brewers Association
As a former professor of Communication Studies, Dr. J Jackson-Beckham dedicated her academic career to the study of American beer. Today, she helps craft beverage organizations develop practices that drive success, build communities, and empower individuals. She is an author, speaker, vocal advocate for the craft beverage community, homebrewer, beer educator, and Certified Cicerone. In 2018, Dr. J was named the Brewers Association’s first-ever Diversity Ambassador. In 2020, she was named Imbibe Magazine’s Beer Person of the Year.
Dr. J leads the Brewers Association’s social impact efforts in diversity, equity, and inclusion, member and community engagement, high-ROI philanthropy, and association accountability. She is the founder of Craft x EDU (pronounced “craft by e-d-u”) and a founding board member of the Michael Jackson Foundation for Brewing and Distilling and the National Black Brewers Association. When she’s not working to drive positive social impact in the small and independent beverage community, you can find her in her garden and working on DIY projects.
Educational Sessions 11:30-5:00pm*
Lunch provided. 12:30-1:30pm.
4 sessions running simultaneously in the Evergreen Rooms 1-4 . Read details below.
*Sessions and session times subject to change
11:30am Educational Sessions
Forging Financials from Beskar: Protecting Our Breweries from Financial Distress
Evergreen Ballroom 1
Speaker:
Audra Gaiziunas (Brewed For Her Ledger, LLC)
Description:
In this Star Wars-themed technical financial talk, learn which financial ratios are most applicable to calculate now, where to find the data to calculate each, what each means, and how you can affect those numbers to hit sustainable benchmarks. Take a deeper dive into the debt service coverage ratio and learn how to perform a breakeven analysis for your specific brewery economic model. Gain a greater grasp on what goes into an overhead calculation and how we should utilize that number as a part of our pricing strategy. Learn where to look for possible signs of financial distress before the symptoms are felt.
All attendees of this session will receive an innovation costing Excel workbook to take home to their respective breweries.
Supporting Watershed and Ecosystem Conservation through Brewery/Partner Collaboration
Evergreen Ballroom 2
Speakers:
Levi Wyatt – Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Yakima Chief Hops
Layne Carter – Operations Manager, Aslan Brewing Company
Chris Chappell – Brewshed Alliance Director, Washington Wild
Rachel Verhey-Goicoechea – Director of Relationships, Cold Stream Malt & Grain Brian Muegge – Farm Program Manager, Salmon-Safe
Description:
This panel discussion will explore how breweries can become involved in resource conservation efforts around the PNW. From discussing how breweries can forge new partnerships with nonprofits regionally to support a myriad of conservation initiatives, describing how breweries can be powerful drivers of how hops and grains are stewarded by growers by sourcing conservation-focused materials, to how supporting these efforts may lead to a market advantage with new consumers, this panel will look to foster an educated discussion targeted at breweries. Ideally a Q&A session to follow.
Brewing on the Cold Side
Evergreen Ballroom 3
Speakers:
Kevin Davey and Lisa Allen, Gold Dot Beer
Description:
Designing a Flywheel Marketing Strategy: Fueling Continuous Growth
Evergreen Ballroom 1
Speakers:
Julie Rhodes, Not Your Hobby Marketing
Maura Hardman, Seattle Cider Co
Description:
Say goodbye to the outdated marketing funnel and embrace the power of the flywheel. In this session, you’ll learn how to design a self-sustaining marketing strategy that builds momentum and drives continuous growth for your craft beverage brand. We’ll dive into the principles of the flywheel model, showing you how to reduce friction, enhance customer retention, and keep your growth engine running smoothly. Walk away with actionable strategies to create lasting customer relationships and keep the momentum going strong.
1:45pm Educational Sessions
Behind the scenes, Judging Competitions and Insights
Evergreen Ballroom 1
Speakers:
Jesse Brown, Formula Brewing
Barry Chan, Lucky Envelope Brewing
Mark Emiley, Washington Beer Awards
Description:
This talk will describe what goes into professional judging at competitions. Get a sneak peak behind the scenes and what to look for in feedback. The panel will further go over how to present your beers in a competition and why you should get involved in judging.
The World’s Most Relevant Beer Talk
Evergreen Ballroom 2
Speaker:
Julia Herz, American Homebrewers Association Executive Director
Description:
Beer is the world’s most popular fermented beverage. Do you know why? Will it always be that way? Don’t miss this opportunity to discuss and dissect the beverage of beer with Julia Herz, beer educator, brewer, and Executive Director of the American Homebrewers Association based in Boulder, Colorado, USA. Attendees of this session will demystify and intensify our collective appreciation, drill down on why we like and don’t like certain styles, and investigate the beverage’s relevance and future. Herz will also demonstrate how beer’s popularity is interdependent with the art of brewing and how those who ferment establish an authentic affection connection to geography, agriculture, history, science, culture and most important…community.
Navigating the Legal Waters of 2024
Evergreen Ballroom 3
Speaker:
Mike Drumm, Attorney / Founder of BeerAttorney.com
Description:
This presentation will guide craft beer manufacturers through the complex legal landscape of 2024, focusing on key issues such as lease renewals, non-compete agreements, hop contracts, and the legal intricacies of buying and selling brewing equipment. The session aims to equip attendees with the knowledge to navigate these legal challenges effectively, ensuring compliance and protecting their business interests.
Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the critical elements of lease renewals.
2. Analyze the implications of non-compete agreements.
3. Explore the essential components of hop contracts.
4. Identify common legal pitfalls in the buying and selling of brewing equipment.
5. Gain practical tips for navigating legal disputes and maintaining compliance with evolving regulations in the craft beer industry.
6. Develop a proactive approach to legal planning and risk management to safeguard the business’s future.
Get Seen. Look Keen. Tips for Social Media Pics and Videos
Evergreen Ballroom 4
Speakers:
Michael Perozzo of ZZeppelin, Overthinkr & Vice Beer
Sean Burke of ZZeppelin (formerly The Commons & Von Ebert)
Description:
Social Media strategies that get seen and photography tips to look keen. We’ll present effective strategies to get seen via current trends with tips on how to make content creation easier and more progressional using the phone in your pocket.
3:00 pm Educational Sessions
DIY HR
Evergreen Ballroom 1
Speaker:
Stacey O’Connor, Adjunct Professor at South Puget Sound Community College’s School of Craft Brewing and Distilling
Description:
You’ve started your own brewery but how do you manage your most important asset…the people. Building an HR program can seem unnecessary and daunting but putting together crucial programs will help you to build the company culture you truly desire.
West Coast Pilsner Panel
Evergreen Ballroom 2
Speakers:
Andrew Pytel, Single Hill Brewing
Steve Luke, Cloudburst Brewing
Matt Hanson, Whistle Punk Brewing
Collin Christianson, Icicle Brewing Company
Description:
Learn about how your brewery can run on a more sustainable model at every level. We’ll explore how to source sustainable hops and malt, local organizations to partner with, the importance of water, and how it all can be used to work towards a more sustainable brewery.
Washington Brewers Guild Community Benchmarking Dataset
Evergreen Ballroom 3
Speakers:
Jamie Schild, Founder, A-Bay
Dru Ernst – DruBru, President
Daniel Olson, Executive Director Washington Brewers Guild
Description:
Up Your Taproom’s Beer Pairing Game With the Power of Cheese
Evergreen Ballroom 4
Speakers:
Courtney Johnson (PhD, ACS CCP, ACS CCSE), Co-Owner, Street Cheese LLC
Rikki Welz, Sensory Scientist, John I Haas
Description:
Beer and cheese are the best pairing partners, but many customers don’t know it yet. Add interest to your taproom offerings with a guided cheese and beer tasting that transcends grocery-store options to highlight your brews through a focus on sensory evaluation skills and pairing techniques. Learning objectives for will include: 1) sourcing and selecting a pairing menu; 2) tips for leading a tasting, including sensory techniques that apply to beer and cheese; 3) how to market a tasting event; 4) other ways to incorporate cheese into the taproom events schedule to bring in customers and sell more beer.
4:15pm Educational Sessions
Taking a Dank Dive: Using Sensory Tools and Data Collection to Further Define the Term “Dank” in Our Sensory Lexicon
Evergreen Ballroom 1
Speakers:
Ashley Hale – Yakima Chief Ranches
Dominic Wise – Yakima Chief Hops
AND MORE!
Description:
The term “dank” is often used by brewers to describe hop and beer aroma. However, when asked to further define “dank,” diverse and unclear responses create confusion around panelist training and data analysis. Join us for an interactive workshop as we apply sensory tools and perform live data collection to dive in and further define the term “dank”. Fresh noses are requested! During this session, attendees will be asked to assess reference standards, hop samples, and perform a sensory sorting task to better define this illusive descriptor.
Crafting Connections: Enhancing Brewery Operations Through Cross-Departmental Collaboration
Evergreen Ballroom 2
Speakers:
Samantha Berggren, Dru Bru, Marketing Coordinator
Sarah Burrington, Dru Bru, Taproom Operations Manager
Taylor Gale, Dru Bru, HR & Operations Manager
Description:
By fostering collaboration among departments, from brewing to marketing, various initiatives seek to streamline processes, boost innovation, and ensure cohesive teamwork. This approach not only improves product quality but also enhances overall operational success, making it a key strategy for breweries aiming to excel in a competitive market.
A State of Barley – 2024 Crop Report & Reflection
Evergreen Ballroom 3
Speakers:
Jon Mendrick/Sales Manager – Country Malt Group
Adam Hieronymus/Sales Manager – Country Malt Group
Description:
What Washington Employers Need to Know
Evergreen Ballroom 4
Speakers:
Maggie Hammond, Assistant Small Business Liaison, Labor & Industries’ Small Business Office
Description:
Being an employer in Washington comes with many obligations and responsibilities. Join one of the members from L&I’s Small Business Office as she helps guide you through what you need to know about your requirements, how to navigate them, and the many resources that are available to help you along the way.
Washington Beer Awards Ceremony and Dinner Party
6-10pm at Maxi’s – on the top floor of DoubleTree. Join us for a fantastic night of dinner, drinks, and fun!
Buy tickets here.