Craft Brewers Conference | Seminar Proposal Submission Guidelines

The call for seminar proposals for CBC 2023 is now closed. Proposal decisions will be sent in November 2022.

The call for seminar proposals for CBC 2024 will open in Summer 2023. If you are interested in submitting a proposal to speak at CBC 2024, please fill out this form to be notified when the call for proposals opens.

For more information and questions in the meantime, contact Brewers Association Educational Content MacKenzie Staples.

2023 Submission Details & Guidelines

Seminar proposals are reviewed and selected by the CBC Seminar Subcommittee, a group of mostly brewery members of the Brewers Association, selected annually as experts in the specific seminar tracks for that year’s conference. For more information about the CBC Seminar Subcommittee or to show interest in applying to participate on the subcommittee in the future, please contact MacKenzie Staples.
Seminars are expected to provide actionable takeaways for attendees to help improve their businesses. Proposals should clearly outline the skills and knowledge that attendees will learn from the seminar.
Descriptions should accurately reflect the proposed seminar content. If selected, the title, description, and learning objectives submitted in your proposal will be used as the seminar description on the event website and in the conference program and mobile application.
Titles and content of selected seminars are subject to revision after Seminar Subcommittee review and approval.
Be prepared to provide contact information, a short biography, and a headshot for ALL proposed speakers when you submit your proposal.
Standard CBC seminars are hour-long lectures. However, submitters are encouraged to submit proposals for seminars in shorter or longer time slots and/or creative formats, where appropriate. Potential new formats could include 20- or 30-minute short lectures, workshops, roundtable discussions, hands-on demonstrations, and more. You will have an opportunity in the submission form to describe your preferred seminar format.
You can begin filling out the form and save at any point for completion at a later date, but you must submit the form on or before Friday, September 30 in order for your proposal to be considered for review. Once a proposal is submitted, you will no longer be able to make additional changes. It is highly recommended that you keep a copy of your proposal content and speaker information in a Word document or other external file in case of any errors during the submission process.
Changes (including speaker additions or changes in company affiliations) after a seminar is selected are subject to approval by the Seminar Subcommittee.
Seminar Deliverable Timeline*: Selected seminars are expected to follow a deliverable timeline (listed below). All deliverables will be reviewed by the CBC Seminar Subcommittee and feedback will be provided to presenters. Presenters are expected to make suggested changes to their seminar content based on this feedback. Selected speakers should be aware of the deliverable timeline and able to commit to submit deliverables on time. Selected speakers who do not adhere to the deliverable timeline are subject to removal from the conference schedule.
- Seminar content outline due February 3, 2023
- Presentation draft due March 3, 2023
- Final presentation deck due March 31, 2023
- Onsite presentation deck due April 28, 2023
- *Exact deliverable timeline subject to change.
Supplier Submissions: Brewers Association members have clearly expressed the sentiment that they prefer not to have supplier-generated presentations that only explore one specific product or solution in the educational tracks at the Craft Brewers Conference. Suppliers wishing to present specific information on their products or services should consider a sponsored seminar. Proposals from suppliers are welcome when balanced approaches and solutions to industry issues are presented and they do not reference specific products or services by name.
Submission Maximum: Individual submitters (or supplier groups) are limited to a maximum of 3 proposal submissions total. Any additional proposals beyond the third submission will be automatically rejected.
Speaker Registration and Travel: All accepted speakers will receive a full complimentary registration to the event. However, all speakers are responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses. We recommend booking your hotel early as they do tend to sell out. ConferenceDirect is the official housing bureau for Craft Brewers Conference & Brew Expo 2023. Through this partnership, we have negotiated the best possible rates at hotels near the conference center. Book with ConferenceDirect here.
Speaker Fees and Honorariums: Selected speakers for CBC are provided with a full complimentary conference registration in lieu of a speaker fee/honorarium.

For questions or for more information about the submission guidelines, please contact MacKenzie Staples.

Suggested Seminar Topics by Educational Track

The CBC 2023 Seminar Subcommittee has prepared a list of suggested seminar topics for each educational track. These topics are not intended to be an exhaustive list, but rather a guide to potential speakers to some of the top priority areas of focus that the committee would like to see presented on at the event. Potential speakers are welcome to submit proposals beyond the scope of these suggestions but are encouraged to keep them in mind when planning their proposal content.

Download the full list of suggested topics

CBC 2023 Educational Tracks

Brewing Operations & Beer Styles

Every distinct beer style has a unique history and characteristics, and is brewed using specific techniques. Similarly, every brewery—from the smallest local brewpub to the largest regional or national packaging brand—has its own set of brewing processes and engineering challenges. Brewing experts in this track will highlight current beer styles and the techniques used to brew them, as well as ways to maximize quality and efficiency in your brewery operations, no matter the size.

Fermentation metrics you should be tracking and why they are important
Small-scale yeast management
CO2, including reduction and alternatives
Filtration for very small breweries
Brewhouse preventative maintenance, including heat exchanger maintenance
Managing a brewing schedule
Variable Frequency Drives (VFDS), including where and how where to use them
Using enzymes in the brewing process
Considerations for moving your production facility and/or bringing in new equipment
Equipment procurement, including assessing and addressing used equipment
Brewhouse data to collect and what to do with it
Glycol chillers
Using technology in the brewhouse and when/how to consider new technology as you scale
Best practices for maintenance planning for maximum up time, including back up spares
Brewing recipes at different scales
Batch blending
High gravity brewing
Pasteurization methods and equipment
Centrifuge optimization and maintenance
Packaging line maintenance and quality
Decoction brewing and step mashing
Beer foam, including creation, retention, standards, measurement, and consumer perception
Chemicals used in the brewery
Oxygen, including when to measure, targets to ensure proper fermentations, acceptable levels for packaging, and how to find where you’re picking it up
Cold IPA: History, tips for brewing, tricks of the trade
German-style lager beers
Combatting increased cost with creative recipe design
Non-alcohol (NA) and low alcohol production for the craft brewer
Steel material selection for different applications

Business & Leadership

Running a brewery is about more than just making good beer. Things like finance and accounting, hiring and staff motivation, and change management are all just as important to keep your business healthy. This track is intended for owners, managers, and leaders in the craft brewing industry. Join these sessions to open your mind, be inspired, and learn to be a more effective leader.

Succession planning, including a comparison of the many options available
Connecting to your community and demographic area
Challenges and things to look for/address when buying an existing brewery
Transitioning through a change of ownership or management
Fostering a culture of continuous improvement in your business
Open book management, including success stories from breweries who have implemented it
Strategies for creating successful habits, both in your personal and business lives
Creating a mission and vision statement with your staff and setting clear goals
Establishing a strong company culture to empower your employees for success
Work/life balance, including setting boundaries, effective delegation, and time management
Business technology and project management platforms
Walking the fine line of leadership and friendship
Leadership training and developing leaders in your brewery
Parenting and supporting families in the beer industry
Leading through grief, including supporting staff and tools available
Strategies for sustainable growth in a maturing market, including ways to reimagine, reinvent and innovate
Setting Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for your business and finding the right industry benchmarks
Data-driven decision making, including getting buy-in for hiring new employees
Change management
Cash is king – planning brewery cashflow
Setting up a chart of accounts (COA) for a successful business model; How to read/navigate your profit and loss (P&L) statement and balance sheet
Calculating the return on investment (ROI) of purchasing new equipment and evaluating when and what to buy
Establishing diverse revenue streams to support your brewery
Lessons learned from the pandemic, including how to develop your assets to help sustain your business during economic downturns
The reality of inflation and planning for how and when to raise your prices, including how to communicate value to your customers
How to properly forecast and write a budget, and how to use your budget to transform your business performance

Export Development

American craft brewers are widely recognized as pioneering the now global craft beer revolution, and demand for high-quality innovative craft beer grows the world over. Seminars in this track aim to educate U.S. craft brewers about opportunities, regulations, and best practices for marketing and selling your beer abroad.

Developing a plan to consistently market and sell your beer abroad
Evaluating potential import partners
Importer/distributor relationships and expectations when exporting
Navigating export compliance and regulations
Evaluating the return on investment (ROI) of overseas marketing opportunities like festivals, trade shows, and competitions
Understanding the logistics of exporting beer
Overview of opportunities for American craft beer in specific markets

Government Affairs & Legal

It’s essential for every small business to stay up to date on the rules and regulations affecting their operations. Attend the seminars in this track to make sure you’re aware of the risks and opportunities in today’s national environment.

How current and past legislative issues have and can change the face of the brewing industry
An in-depth look at Commerce Clause issues
Legal considerations for making other alcohol beverage products in your brewery
A look at government affairs issues in craft beer through the lens of the overall economic landscape of the greater beverage alcohol industry
Sustainability and environmental legislation and its impact on the brewing industry
Cybersecurity and privacy law for small companies
What does cannabis legalization mean for brewers?

Quality & Ingredients

Quality and ingredient management is critical for continued success in the brewing industry. Seminars in this track will help you build your own sensory and quality programs, as well as source, analyze, and properly use the highest quality ingredients to brew the best beer possible.

The importance of quality training for brewing staff
Essential lab equipment for various brewery sizes
Critical testing points in your brewhouse and effective uses for your quality lab and data
Microbiological plating and analysis
Training a sensory panel to detect hop smoke taint
Free amino nitrogen (FAN) in relation to beer flavor and staling
Can filling quality control and assurance, especially for small to medium-sized breweries
Pasteurization 101: basic methods and practices
Consumer sentiment towards bioengineered foods, beverages, and craft beer specifically
Quality, stability, and food safety considerations for making non-alcohol (NA) beer
Raw ingredient storage conditions and best practices
Understanding fermentation profiles, including what pH values mean for yeast health
Best practices for yeast storage and handling
Considerations for brewing with experimental and/or unfamiliar yeast
Effectively utilizing a malt Certificate of Analysis (CoA) with various levels of equipment
Advanced hop products and usage from the brewery perspective
Brewing with sugar, including types, options, nutritional considerations, and fermentations
Flavoring methods for beyond beer products
Brewing water composition and quality
Understanding and adjusting water chemistry using different purification processes

Safety & Sustainability

In order to ensure the long-term success of the craft beer industry, it is vital that every brewery is committed to safety and sustainability. Nothing is more important than maintaining a safe and healthy environment for your employees and customers. This track is all about providing you with the resources you need to build a culture in your brewery that fosters environmental stewardship and protects your staff and equipment from harm.

Developing a culture of safety in your brewery, including strategies for effective safety communication
The financial benefits of prioritizing safety in your brewery
Safety training specifically for front of house staff
Physical safety concerns related to burnout
Emergency preparedness and response, including active shooter training and conflict de-escalation strategies
Safety and regulatory differences between brewing and distilling
Compressed gas safety
Electrical safety
Hazard communication
Brewery safety considerations and regulatory concerns for non-employees
Top OSHA violations in craft breweries and how to address them
Employee and customer safety in relation to alcohol consumption
Preventing heat disorders, heat stress, heat exhaustion and stroke
Using sustainability data to create a culture of sustainability in your brewery
Sustainability communication, including defining what sustainability means in craft brewing
Sustainability 201: What’s next after the low-hanging fruit?
CO2 recapture, reduction, and efficiency
Assessing your environmental impact and the sustainability of your supply chain
Wastewater and side streaming of brewing byproducts, especially for small brewers
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and bottle bill legislation
Hosting zero-waste beer events
Sustainable growing practices and regenerative agriculture in barley cultivation

Sales, Distribution & Marketing

It doesn’t matter how good your beer is if no one is buying it. The seminars in the Sales, Distribution & Marketing track will provide breweries with best practices for selling beer on- and off-premise, working with retailers and distributors, and designing successful marketing strategies to grow your brand.

Marketing and Branding

Risks and opportunities of partnering with influencers to market your brand
- Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) policies for working with college athletes
Marketing strategies for targeting different audiences, especially age demographics
Working with philanthropies, including choosing the right organizations to partner with for your brand, budgeting for donations and events, effective messaging, and how and when to say “No”
Rebranding and/or refocusing your brand
Social media management and engagement on a limited budget
How to partner with your distributor on social media efforts
Staying on top of current social media trends and leveraging them effectively
Creative video and reel marketing
The financial and human resources cost of social media marketing, including the cost of “one bad post”
Legal questions associated with marketing alcohol
Email marketing content strategies and analysis
Designing your merchandising program
Website 101, including essential elements, design, and user experience
- ADA website compliance

Sales, Distribution and Retail

Bridging the gap between brewers and sales managers
Sales considerations for contract brewing and alternating proprietorships
Structuring the right compensation plan for your sales team
Successfully partnering with retailers, including exclusive beers, events, etc.
The many options for distribution and how the find the right strategy and partner/s for your brewery
Understanding distribution contracts and negotiating mutually beneficial distribution agreements
Product release planning
What makes a successful ride-along; best ways to support to your distribution and retail partners in selling your beer

Taprooms & Brewpubs

Some of the most important issues for on-premise breweries are simply about hospitality – how can you continue to make meaningful connections with your visitors to keep them coming back for more? This track will include seminars on enhancing your customer experience, training taproom staff, building programs for successful events and entertainment, and maintaining customer engagement during good times and bad.

Key performance indicators (KPIs) for on-premise breweries
Contract brewing options for very small breweries
Strategies and logistics for successful collaborations with breweries and other industries/organizations
Front-of-house employee engagement and how to build a team of ambassadors that live and love your brand
How to design events to attract new customers without alienating regulars
Successful event promotion and marketing, including communication about taproom closures
Effective taproom events to keep customers coming back
Managing live music and sound levels
Handling buyout request and hosting private events, including pricing and logistics
Designing your taproom with efficiency, ergonomics, and storage space in mind
Effective bar design, including draught system layout
Standard operating procedures (SOPs) for taproom staff training and consistency
Upselling appropriately: Strategies for maximizing check size per customer, including beer-to-go and merchandise
Communicating the culture of craft beer to your customers, including encouraging responsible appreciation
Menu design and integrating your beer and food menus
Selecting the right service model for your brewery
Customer service training
Finding the right people for your front-of-house (FOH) team
Partnering with food vendors and trucks, including do’s and don’ts and lessons learned
Various food service models and considerations for each
Contracting out your kitchen
Advice and laws related to tips and tip pooling

Thrive

THRIVE is a Brewers Association (BA) initiative that takes a holistic approach to addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), human resources (HR), and physical and mental wellness in the craft brewing community. THRIVE recognizes that DEI, human resources, and wellness are related components of the workplace experience that are enriched when developed together. Through THRIVE, the BA seeks to establish “thriving human beings” alongside safety, quality, and sustainably, as cornerstones of a healthy, responsible, and profitable craft brewing industry. Experts in this track will provide informative and actionable content that improves DEI, HR, and wellness-related practices in breweries of all sizes.

All seminar proposals submitted in the Thrive track will be considered for inclusion in the Thrive Workshop, as well as the main conference educational track. The pre-conference workshop is a full day experience tailored toward practitioners and specialists in DEI, HR, and Wellness.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Ensuring safe and inclusive festival and event environments
Supplier diversity and creating a values-based supply chain
B Corp certification and options for small breweries aspiring to become certified
Community engagement, including how to effectively communicate your charitable/philanthropic efforts
Corporate social responsibility, especially for small breweries
Proactively preparing for crisis communication
Accountability measures and key performance indicators (KPIs) for DEI efforts
Inclusive recruiting; inclusive onboarding; retaining diverse talent
Cultivating team and consumer buy-in for DEI efforts
How to choose the right DEI training for your staff
Creating inclusive spaces for patrons and employees with disabilities

Human Resources (HR)

Business ethics and company culture
Compensation and benefits
- Cost analysis of raising wages vs. high turnover, especially in times of inflation
- How to be creative with benefits and/or competitive with other industries
Effective internal communication
Employee relations and conflict management
Train the trainer workshop, specifically for front-of-house managers
Handbook and policy development
Attracting and retaining employees, especially in a tight job market
Hiring and onboarding, including interviewing, screening, and employment paperwork
Legal compliance
Payroll
Performance management and employee coaching
Recruitment processes, including creative recruiting practices in a tight labor market
Training and development, especially how to build your own training on a budget
Workers’ compensation
Inspiring a sense of ownership and empowering your staff to help drive your brewery’s messaging
HR for breweries without an HR department, including options for outsourcing

Mental and Physical Wellness

How to keep your employees safe in the brewery; Establishing safety policies and procedures
Substance abuse prevention, including alcohol and controlled substance policies, and recognizing and intervening in problem behavior
Employees assistance programs (EAPs)
Supporting sobriety in the craft beer industry; Creating an inclusive environment for sober employees
Combatting and mitigating stress and burnout in the craft beer industry
Promoting work-life balance, especially for owners
Mindful journaling and vision boarding