It’s that time of year again…Crafted ERP is headed to Nashville May 7-10 for the 2023 Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) and BrewExpo America. This is one of our favorite events of the year, bringing together the leading minds and creators of craft beer from around the country.
Like at every CBC, there are certain events that we get super stoked about. While there is so much content to digest and fun to be had, we wanted to share our top 5 things to look forward to at this year’s conference.
Networking (And Neck Hugging)
There’s nothing like a gathering of like-minded people who live and breathe the same passions as you. One of our favorite parts of CBC each year is the opportunity to connect with brewers from around the country. From meetups to receptions to after-hours shindigs, CBC has ample opportunities to catch up with old friends and make new ones.
This year, CBC has book signings, specialty topics groups and even a breast cancer survivor meetup. These are all amazing opportunities to build deep connections with people from across the brewing community who have shared interests or experiences as you. We recommend you check out the agenda and find a networking event that piques your interest!
Sessions, Sessions, Sessions!
We’re not just at CBC to hang out with friends; this is a time for some serious learning and skill building! The agenda includes four days packed with workshops and educational sessions that will deepen your knowledge of craft brewing. Topics range from creating different types of beer, like gluten free and non-alcoholic, to professional and leadership development to branding and marketing, and so much more!
While we can’t go into every session we want to attend, like creating mission and value statements with your team, we do want to highlight a few that we think are MUST SEE EVENTS! [Note to self: Add to agenda in the conference app now!]
National Accounts: A Deeper Dive into Planning, Execution and Support
Monday, May 8 | 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Speakers: John Byrne (Firestone Walker Brewing Company), Billy Clayton (Odell Brewing Company), Elizabeth Isenbart (Juneshine) and Becca Keiffer Toft (Athletic Brewing Company)
The “National Accounts 101” session was so popular last year that they planned a part two! With a loaded panel of sales experts, this session will include deeper discussions about best practices when working with distributors and managing distribution, how to build a national accounts budget for any size brewery, understanding the differences when selling into different channels, among other topics. Read more details on the session.
Explosive Growth in Non-Alcohol Beer: Understanding Safety and Best Practices in Non-Alcohol Beer Production
Tuesday, May 9 | 1-2 p.m.
Speakers: Kevin Henschel, Russ Meister and Zoe Riccio of Athletic Brewing Company
Curious about non-alcoholic beer? Low- and non-alcoholic beverages are an increasingly important category, especially among Gen Z and younger Millennial consumers. Athletic Brewing Company, one of the fastest growing companies in the Americas and producer of a wide range of alcohol-free beers, is leading a session dedicated to the production of non-alcoholic beer. They will cover brewing process considerations, food safety and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) preparedness, stability and quality, as well as regulation and compliance. Check out the full description.
Approaching the Beyond Beer Category with Craft Beer Integrity
Wednesday, May 10 | 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Panelists: Sam Calagione (Dogfish Head) and Garrett Marrero (Maui Brewing)
Moderator: Bart Watson (Chief Economist for the Brewers Association)
Another growing trend in the alc bev industry is the production of ready-to-drink beverages or RTDs. These canned cocktails come in an assortment of flavors and alcohol bases, and are a convenient and cool alternative to traditional beer, wine and spirits. This panel discussion will take a look at the emerging “Beyond Beer” space, and what it takes for a brewery to move into production. You don’t want to miss this session!
And are you curious about some of the research projects being presented? You should definitely check out the poster session by Dr. Matthew Winans, research and development scientist from Imperial Yeast, on the biotransformation of hop flavor or aroma molecules.
Community Engagement Project
One of our core values at Doozy Solutions is to give back to the communities where we live. We believe in respecting the world around us, and we always try to think and act for the good of our colleagues, customers and our communities. That’s why we’re so excited to participate in the Community Engagement Project at CBC.
This year, conference attendees have the opportunity to work with the Nashville-based Community Resource Center to donate and assemble hygiene kits for kids, adults and families across Middle Tennessee. The CRC distributes kits to public school teachers and students, to families following a disaster, and to individuals and families facing housing insecurity.
Attendees can head over to Exhibit Hall A Prefunction to help box donated supplies and build the personal and household hygiene kits. This is an amazing opportunity for you and your team to give a little time for big community returns. Kit-packing will take place Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesday from 10 a.m. until noon.
Wellness is a Vibe
Deep breath in. Slow release. Repeat after me: om shanti, shanti, shanti. (Peace, peace, peace.) Owning, running and working for a craft brewery can be taxing on a person’s mind and body. There are long hours, laborious tasks, supply shortages and demanding requests, among other things that wreak havoc on your life day to day. That is why it’s so important for everyone, no matter your role, to take a moment, breathe and rest your mind, body and spirit.
Monday and Tuesday will be full of opportunities for you to pause and relax. If your feet are tired from roaming around BrewExpo America, try out chair yoga or a chair massage. If you want to learn more about meditation or how to manage your stress through breathing exercises, there are sessions for that. There are even sessions designed to help you sleep better. And you know we all could use a little more sleep!
Each wellness activity lasts about 10-15 minutes, and they are spread throughout the day in the Exhibit Hall. The sessions are here to help you build stronger mental health practices so you can be a better coworker, partner, friend, family and brewer. Why don’t you give wellness a try and make it a more mindful 2023!
Beer (At Booth 1537)
Last, but certainly not least…I mean…why are we all here? We’re here for the beer! We’re going to talk about beer. We’re going to learn about beer. And you know we’re going to drink some beer. If you want to do all three at once, stop by Booth 1537, where we’ll be pouring cold brews and demoing craft brewery software.
BrewExpo America will bring together top companies and suppliers to help you improve your craft brewing business. The expo is open Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and again on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. From equipment to ingredients to cans to kegs to brewery ERP software, you can find it all at this year’s CBC trade show. There are hundreds of vendors to meet, and in the dead center of the expo, you’ll find us. Booth 1537. Stop by and say hi!
There are too many good things to look forward to at CBC 2023, but seeing you will be the best part. If you’d like to set up a time to chat with our team, contact us to schedule a meeting in advance. Travel safe, and we’ll see you in Nashville May 7-10!
